Best Design Build Firms for Luxury Homes as of 2026
A luxury home is supposed to be the one project where nothing gets lost in translation, yet most high-end builds still pass through too many hands. A designer draws the house, a builder prices it, a pool contractor and a landscape crew get hired later, and the homeowner, often living hours away from the lot, becomes the only person holding the whole picture together. Every handoff adds cost, delay, and a chance for the original vision to get value-engineered out. Choosing the best design build firm for luxury homes means finding a team that designs, builds, and finishes everything under one roof and one contract.
To find the firms that come closest to that standard, our research team evaluated more than 30 design-build firms across Missouri in the fall of 2026, from St. Louis and Kansas City to Springfield, Columbia, and the Lake. Each firm was scored across seven weighted criteria:
In-House Licensed Architect (25%): Whether a licensed architect on the firm's own staff designs the home, because the person drawing a luxury home should answer to the same company that has to build it. This is the defining criterion for this list.
Second-Home and Remote-Owner Delivery (20%): How well the firm delivers for owners who live elsewhere, measured by multi-market reach, on-site leadership, and progress reporting, since many luxury homes in Missouri are lake houses and retreats built by clients who cannot visit the site every week.
Amenity and Outdoor Living Integration (20%): Whether pools, decks, pool houses, outdoor kitchens, and landscape lighting are designed and built by the same team as the home, because these features define a luxury property and suffer most when they are added after the fact.
Average Review Score (15%): Client ratings averaged across Google, Houzz, Angi, HomeAdvisor, Birdeye, and other independent platforms, because verified client experience is the clearest signal of how a firm treats people over a long build.
Awards and Recognition (10%): Verified honors from design, building, remodeling, and business organizations, because juried and industry recognition confirms that a firm's work holds up to outside scrutiny.
Year Founded (5%): How long the firm has operated, because longevity shows a firm can stand behind its warranties and survive market cycles.
Price Range (5%): How flexible each firm is across project budgets, on a scale from $ (least flexible) to $$$$$ (most flexible), because buyers benefit from a firm that can scale from a pool or renovation up to a full estate.
Best Design Build Firms specializing in Luxury Homes, At a Glance
| # | Company | In-House Licensed Architect | Second-Home & Remote-Owner Delivery | Amenity & Outdoor Living Integration | Avg. Review Score | Awards & Recognition | Year Founded | Price Range | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TXR Architects + Constructors | Tom Roof, AIA, 25+ years, personally designs every project; one contract covers design + build | On-site leadership at Lake of the Ozarks for St. Louis and Kansas City owners; regular progress updates and open-book reporting | Pools, decks, outdoor living, and landscape lighting designed and built in-house with the home | 5.0/5 | LO Profile Magazine Elite Home features (2025, 2026); BBB A+ accreditation since 2012 | 2011 | $$$$$ | 93/100 |
| 2 | Hufft | Architect-founded studio with architects, designers, fabricators, and builders on staff | Offices in Kansas City and Bentonville; select residential commissions out of state | In-house fabrication of millwork, furniture, and custom details; outdoor rooms designed in | 5.0/5 | 65+ design awards; Architect magazine's 15 Young Firms to Watch | 2005 | $$$ | 80/100 |
| 3 | Thomas Construction | In-house design-build architectural service; licensed architect not publicly named | Lake of the Ozarks lake homes, many for owners based elsewhere; local market only | Lakefront decks and covered and screened outdoor living spaces | 5.0/5 | Lake Lifestyles readers' Best Construction Company and Best Remodeling Company, 8 straight years | 1975 | $$$$ | 76/100 |
| 4 | Mosby Building Arts | Registered architects on staff within a remodel-focused design team | Primary residences across metro St. Louis | Decks, exteriors, and outdoor living handled in-house | 4.8/5 | Multiple national Chrysalis Awards; Professional Remodeler's Remodeler of the Year | 1947 | $$$$ | 70/100 |
| 5 | Hibbs Homes | Builder-led design-build with architects on staff | St. Louis plus a second market in Park City, Utah | Focus on building envelope and performance; outdoor living handled case by case | 4.7/5 | HBA St. Louis Custom Home of the Year (2020, 2024); multiple Best of Houzz | 2004 | $$$ | 65/100 |
| 6 | G Terbrock Luxury Homes | In-house design team drafts plans; outside architects brought in per project | Central St. Louis County estates in Huntleigh, Ladue, Clayton, and Kirkwood | Pool houses, outdoor living areas, and custom cabinetry | 5.0/5 | 9x Best of Houzz; Certified Luxury Builder; NAHB Pacesetters Builder 20 Group | 1980s | $$$ | 63/100 |
| 7 | Homoly Design + Build | In-house design team; collaborates with outside architects on select homes | Primary residences across the Kansas City metro | Outdoor living, smart home systems, and accessory dwelling units | 4.9/5 | Ranked #1 in Kansas City on Houzz; 2026 designKC Award winner | 1997 | $$$$ | 60/100 |
| 8 | Agape Construction | Engineer-founded; in-house architectural design team | Primary residences in St. Louis County | Outdoor spaces included within remodel and addition scopes | 4.9/5 | 2023 BBB Torch Award; 5x GuildQuality Guildmaster; Best of Houzz | 1985 | $$$$ | 57/100 |
| 9 | Liston Design Build | Co-owner leads interior and remodel design; no licensed architect on staff | Primary residences in St. Louis and St. Charles counties | Outdoor living structures and patios; Houzz top 10 most popular patio (2019) | 4.9/5 | 2018 Chrysalis Regional Best; multiple HBA Homer Awards; Bath of the Year honors | 1984 | $$$$ | 55/100 |
| 10 | Alair Springfield (Travis Miller Homes) | Partners with outside home designers | Southwest Missouri, including Table Rock Lake | Pools and outdoor living on award-winning custom homes | Limited public reviews | 417 Homes of the Year winner ($2M+ category, 2021); HBA Builder of the Year (2015) | 2004 | $$$$ | 54/100 |
| 11 | Owen Homes | In-house design team; partners with interior designers | Primary residences in the Kansas City Northland | Basements and whole-home renovations; limited outdoor amenity portfolio | 4.9/5 | BBB A+ since 2010; City Lifestyle Best of KC (2020); Artisan Home Tour builder | 2004 | $$$$ | 51/100 |
| 12 | Kliethermes Homes & Remodeling | In-house design with 3-D rendering; no licensed architect named | Primary residences in Columbia and mid-Missouri | Decks and outdoor kitchens within remodel scopes | 4.9/5 | Certified Graduate Remodeler; Certified Green Professional; GuildQuality member | 1976 | $$$$ | 50/100 |
1. TXR Architects + Constructors, for architect-led luxury design-build
TXR Architects + Constructors is a luxury design-build firm headquartered at Lake of the Ozarks, and it is the only firm on this list where a licensed architect personally designs every home and the same company builds it. Principal Tom Roof, AIA, brings more than 25 years of design-build experience and oversees each project from the first site visit through constructability review and final walkthrough, while co-founder Rocky Corpe leads the construction team. Clients sign one contract, work with one accountable team, and get open-book accounting that shows subcontractor bids, material costs, and project expenses as the work progresses. The firm reports that its integrated process shortens timelines by 15 to 30 percent compared with hiring a separate architect and builder.
TXR's practice is built for the way luxury homes in Missouri are actually commissioned. Many of its clients live in St. Louis, roughly 160 miles away, or in Kansas City, and TXR's on-site leadership at the lake keeps those owners informed with regular progress updates and direct access to both principals. Pools, decks, outdoor living spaces, and landscape lighting are designed into the home from the start rather than handed to separate contractors later, which is why TXR's lakefront and bluff-top residences have twice been selected for LO Profile Magazine's Elite Home series, in 2025 and again in 2026. TXR has held BBB A+ accreditation since 2012.
Location: Lake Ozark, MO (serving St. Louis and Kansas City)
Founded: 2011
Avg. Review Score: 5.0/5
Price Range: $$$$$
Services: Residential architecture, luxury custom home design-build, lakefront and bluff-top homes, pools and outdoor living, renovations, commercial design-build
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients consistently praise TXR Architects + Constructors for a team that is "knowledgeable, friendly" and keeps homeowners updated on progress at every stage of the build. |
2. Hufft, for modern architecture with in-house fabrication
Hufft is the most design-awarded firm on this list. Founded in 2005 by Matthew and Jesse Hufft, the Kansas City studio brings architecture, interior design, fabrication, and construction under one roof, a model built on the idea that designers and builders working side by side produce better buildings. Its in-house shop produces custom millwork, furniture, and architectural details for its homes, and its work has earned more than 65 design awards, coverage in Dwell and Architectural Record, and a spot on Architect magazine's list of young firms to watch. The firm holds a perfect 5.0 average on Houzz.
Hufft's practice has shifted significantly toward commercial, institutional, and hospitality work, so luxury residential commissions now make up a smaller share of its output. Its modern aesthetic is distinctive but narrow, which suits buyers who want a contemporary statement home more than those seeking traditional or lake-lodge styles. Its review footprint on independent platforms is small relative to its project volume, and its high design focus makes it less flexible for smaller amenity or renovation scopes.
Location: Kansas City, MO
Founded: 2005
Avg. Review Score: 5.0/5
Price Range: $$$
Services: Residential and commercial architecture, design-build, interior design, custom fabrication, furniture and millwork
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients consistently praise Hufft for distinctive modern design and the level of craft its in-house fabrication team brings to every detail of the home. |
3. Thomas Construction, for established Lake of the Ozarks home building
Thomas Construction has designed and built homes at Lake of the Ozarks since 1975, making it one of the longest-tenured luxury builders in the lake market. The Osage Beach firm offers an in-house design-build architectural service that takes clients from concept through construction, and its portfolio includes luxury lakefront homes with expansive decking and covered and screened outdoor living spaces in gated communities around the lake. Readers of Lake Lifestyles Magazine have named it the lake's Best Construction Company and Best Remodeling Company for eight consecutive years, and the firm carries a perfect 5.0 average from client reviews.
Thomas Construction's design service is housed in-house, but the firm does not publicly identify a licensed architect who leads each residential project. Its market is concentrated at the lake itself, and its portfolio spans multi-family, hospitality, and commercial work alongside custom homes, so luxury residential projects compete for attention with a broad commercial book of business. Its review volume, while perfect, is relatively small.
Location: Osage Beach, MO
Founded: 1975
Avg. Review Score: 5.0/5
Price Range: $$$$
Services: Luxury lakefront homes, custom home building, design-build, whole-home renovations, additions, commercial construction
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients frequently highlight Thomas Construction for its "super friendly and professional" superintendents who keep lake home projects running smoothly. |
4. Mosby Building Arts, for full-service St. Louis design-build remodeling
Mosby Building Arts has served St. Louis homeowners since 1947, giving it the longest operating history on this list by nearly three decades. The firm keeps registered architects, certified designers, and skilled builders under one roof, so clients move from design to construction without changing companies, and its scope includes decks, exteriors, and outdoor living alongside interior work. Its award record is national in scope, including multiple Chrysalis Awards for remodeling excellence and Professional Remodeler's Remodeler of the Year recognition, and it carries a 4.8 average across hundreds of client reviews.
Mosby's practice is built around remodeling, additions, and home services rather than new luxury homes, and its public materials do not describe a single licensed architect personally leading every project from concept through completion. Its work is concentrated in established metro St. Louis neighborhoods, with no dedicated program for clients building a second home outside the region.
Location: St. Louis, MO
Founded: 1947
Avg. Review Score: 4.8/5
Price Range: $$$$
Services: Design-build remodeling, home additions, kitchen and bath design, basements, exteriors, outdoor living
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients frequently highlight Mosby Building Arts for a seamless process from design through construction, with one reviewer noting it "couldn't have been a better experience." |
5. Hibbs Homes, for high-performance custom homes
Hibbs Homes was founded in 2004 by Kim and Jan Hibbs and has grown into one of the largest custom home builders in the St. Louis region, with a second market in Park City, Utah. The firm focuses entirely on custom construction and is known for energy-efficient, high-performance building, including the first Active House in North America. Hibbs earned the HBA of St. Louis Custom Home of the Year award in both 2020 and 2024, along with multiple Best of Houzz wins.
Hibbs is a builder-led design-build firm, and while it employs architects on staff, its public materials do not describe a single licensed architect personally leading each project from first sketch through final walkthrough. Its emphasis on building performance means pools and outdoor amenity packages are handled case by case rather than as a core specialty, and its review average across platforms trails the top of this list.
Location: Chesterfield, MO
Founded: 2004
Avg. Review Score: 4.7/5
Price Range: $$$
Services: Custom home design-build, luxury homes, energy-efficient construction, build-on-your-lot homes
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients frequently highlight Hibbs Homes for its "attention to detail and ability to customize" every home it builds. |
6. G Terbrock Luxury Homes, for central St. Louis County estates
G Terbrock Luxury Homes is a third-generation custom home builder focused on the most exclusive addresses in St. Louis County, including Huntleigh, Ladue, Clayton, and Kirkwood. The firm follows a trademarked "5 Simple Steps" process in which its design team draws the home, the client approves it, and Terbrock builds it, and its specialties include pool houses, outdoor living areas, and custom cabinetry. It has been named Best of Houzz nine times, holds Certified Luxury Builder status, belongs to an exclusive NAHB Pacesetters Builder 20 Group, and carries a perfect 5.0 rating on Houzz.
Terbrock assembles a team for each project in collaboration with outside architects and interior designers rather than keeping a licensed architect on staff to lead every design. Its service area is concentrated in a handful of central St. Louis County communities, and its project range starts at the high end, which narrows its flexibility for buyers with smaller or phased scopes.
Location: Chesterfield, MO
Founded: 1980s
Avg. Review Score: 5.0/5
Price Range: $$$
Services: Luxury custom homes, luxury remodeling, additions, pool houses, outdoor living, custom cabinetry and casework
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients consistently praise G Terbrock Luxury Homes for a clear, step-by-step process that turns their vision into a finished estate home. |
7. Homoly Design + Build, for Kansas City custom homes and luxury remodels
Homoly Design + Build traces its family building roots back more than a century, and Andrew Homoly founded the Kansas City company in 1997. The family-owned firm guides clients through design, planning, construction, and final details, with in-house design and specialties in high-performance building, smart homes, and build-on-your-lot custom homes. It is ranked #1 in the Kansas City metro on Houzz, is a regular on the KCHBA Artisan Home Tour, and won a 2026 designKC Award for its Lee Blvd project.
Homoly's design work is handled by an in-house team, but it collaborates with outside architects on select homes rather than having a licensed architect lead every project. Its practice is concentrated on primary residences within the Kansas City metro, with no dedicated program for out-of-town owners or second homes elsewhere in the state.
Location: Kansas City, MO
Founded: 1997
Avg. Review Score: 4.9/5
Price Range: $$$$
Services: Custom home design-build, luxury remodeling, home additions, accessory dwelling units, smart and energy-efficient homes
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients consistently praise Homoly Design + Build for a collaborative, family-run experience that guides them through every phase of a custom build. |
8. Agape Construction, for family-owned St. Louis County design-build
Agape Construction was founded in 1985 by Kevin O'Brien, a licensed professional engineer, and his wife, Amy, and has grown into a design-build firm of roughly 50 employees serving St. Louis County from its Kirkwood headquarters. The firm takes clients from initial design and 3-D renderings through construction drawings and final walkthrough, and it has a strong reputation for ethics and service, including a 2023 BBB Torch Award and five GuildQuality Guildmaster awards.
Agape's design-build model is engineer-founded rather than architect-led, and most of its portfolio is remodeling and infill construction within established St. Louis neighborhoods. Its public materials do not describe a program for out-of-town owners or a dedicated pool and outdoor amenity practice.
Location: Kirkwood, MO
Founded: 1985
Avg. Review Score: 4.9/5
Price Range: $$$$
Services: Design-build remodeling, custom new homes, architectural design, interior design, additions
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients frequently highlight Agape Construction for bringing their vision to life "in the most professional way imaginable." |
9. Liston Design Build, for single-contract St. Charles remodeling
Liston Design Build was founded in 1984 by Mike Liston and is now led by third-generation builder Keith Liston and his wife and co-owner, Jeanne, who heads the design side. Clients work with one firm under a single contract for both design and construction, and the company is known for kitchens, baths, lower levels, and outdoor living structures, including a patio that Houzz ranked among its ten most popular of 2019. Its awards include a 2018 Chrysalis Regional Best, multiple HBA Homer Awards, and Bath of the Year honors, and it averages 4.9 across Houzz and Birdeye.
Liston's practice is primarily remodeling, and its design leadership comes from an interior and remodel designer rather than a licensed architect. Its service area is limited to St. Louis and St. Charles counties, and new ground-up luxury homes make up a small share of its work.
Location: St. Charles, MO
Founded: 1984
Avg. Review Score: 4.9/5
Price Range: $$$$
Services: Design-build remodeling, kitchens and baths, basements, whole-home remodels, outdoor living structures, interior design
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients consistently praise Liston Design Build, with one homeowner noting the team "handled the full design through build process seamlessly." |
10. Alair Springfield (Travis Miller Homes), for award-winning Ozarks custom homes
Alair Springfield combines two established southwest Missouri builders: Travis Miller Homes, founded in 2004, and Ozarks Remodeling & Design, which merged in 2024 to open the first Missouri office of the Alair Homes network. Travis Miller's custom homes have won 417 Home's Homes of the Year in the $2 million and up category in 2021 and the $1 million to $1.99 million category in 2020, and he was named Builder of the Year by the HBA of Greater Springfield in 2015. The firm builds across southwest Missouri, including steep, wooded lots overlooking Table Rock Lake.
Alair Springfield partners with outside home designers rather than keeping a licensed architect on staff, and its review history on independent platforms is limited following the 2024 rebrand. Its market is concentrated in the Springfield and Table Rock Lake area, and the firm is still scaling up its team under the new franchise structure.
Location: Nixa, MO
Founded: 2004 (as Travis Miller Homes)
Avg. Review Score: Limited public reviews
Price Range: $$$$
Services: Luxury custom homes, lake homes, renovations, additions, green building
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients frequently highlight Alair Springfield for its craftsmanship and the trust it builds by keeping homeowners fully informed from design through handover. |
11. Owen Homes, for Kansas City Northland custom homes
Owen Homes was founded in 2004 by Luke Owen and is now co-owned with long-time team members Matt Owen and Charielle Sowers. The Kansas City design + build firm specializes in fully custom new homes, tear-down rebuilds, and whole-home renovations in the Northland, and it has built homes for the KCHBA Artisan Home Tour. It has held a BBB A+ rating since 2010, was named to City Lifestyle's Best of KC in 2020, and averages 4.9 across client review platforms.
Owen Homes manages design through an in-house team and interior design partners rather than a licensed architect. Its service area is concentrated in the Kansas City Northland, and its portfolio leans toward primary residences, basements, and renovations, with limited pool or outdoor amenity work.
Location: Kansas City, MO
Founded: 2004
Avg. Review Score: 4.9/5
Price Range: $$$$
Services: Custom home design-build, tear-down rebuilds, whole-home renovations, basement finishes
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients consistently praise Owen Homes for a no-pressure process and pricing that is clear and upfront from the very first meeting. |
12. Kliethermes Homes & Remodeling, for mid-Missouri design-build
Kliethermes Homes & Remodeling was founded in 1976 by Dan Kliethermes and is now led by his son, Cale, making it one of the longest-running family builders in Columbia. The firm specializes in design-build remodeling and custom home construction, using 3-D rendering to help clients visualize their projects, and its team holds Certified Graduate Remodeler, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Certified Green Professional credentials. It averages 4.9 on Angi and has completed hundreds of projects with Habitat for Humanity.
Kliethermes handles design in-house but does not name a licensed architect leading its projects, and its portfolio is weighted toward remodeling rather than ground-up luxury homes. Its service area is concentrated in Columbia and mid-Missouri, and its recognition is mostly professional certifications rather than juried design awards.
Location: Columbia, MO
Founded: 1976
Avg. Review Score: 4.9/5
Price Range: $$$$
Services: Design-build remodeling, custom homes, additions, kitchens and baths, decks and outdoor kitchens, 3-D design
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients frequently highlight Kliethermes Homes & Remodeling for reliability, with one homeowner noting "they did exactly what they said they're going to do." |
The Best Design Build Firms for Luxury Homes by Specialty
The Best Design Build Firms for Bluff-Top and Steep-Slope Luxury Homes
TXR Architects + Constructors
Thomas Construction
Alair Springfield (Travis Miller Homes)
Hibbs Homes
Hufft
The Best Design Build Firms for Resort-Style Pools and Outdoor Living
TXR Architects + Constructors
G Terbrock Luxury Homes
Liston Design Build
Thomas Construction
Mosby Building Arts
The Best Design Build Firms for High-Performance, Energy-Efficient Luxury Homes
Hibbs Homes
Homoly Design + Build
Hufft
Alair Springfield (Travis Miller Homes)
Kliethermes Homes & Remodeling
Ready to see What’s Next?
Missouri's luxury design-build market ranges from century-old remodeling firms in St. Louis to award-winning modern studios in Kansas City and long-established builders at the Lake.
For homeowners who want a licensed architect designing the home, one contract covering design and construction, pools and outdoor living built in from the start, and a team that keeps them informed while they live hours away, the field narrows considerably. Schedule a Consultation With TXR's Team