Join Joseph Douglas Homes’ leadership team as they unearth the latest homebuilding trends and innovations
Since 1998, Joseph Douglas Homes (Joseph Douglas) has delivered award-winning craftsmanship to Southeast Wisconsin, constructing and remodeling the finest of homes. Proudly Milwaukee-based, the custom homebuilder brings clients’ dream home visions to life through building, remodeling, superior design, and competitive pricing. Joseph Douglas’ expertise is incredibly diverse, as the company can build either from clients’ plans as well as its own, design one-of-a-kind homes, renovate kitchens and baths, add home extensions, or finish basements. In recognition of its work through the years, Joseph Douglas has been named the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Remodeler of the Year and received the NRS Award in Customer Satisfaction. The route to achieving these accolades has been full of ups and downs, as Sales Manager, Mike Bauman, reveals.
“Next year will mark my 25th year with Joseph Douglas, which means I have been around since its early days. Initially, we were primarily a single family
homebuilder with a small team of five members. From 2005 to 2008, we grew the business from constructing a couple of homes a year to building 50-to-60 homes annually. When the 2008 crash hit and the economy crumbled, our output decreased from 50 to around three homes per year. The next year was challenging as we downsized due to having 20 employees at the time and a surplus of inventory in the market. We had to make some tough decisions, but we managed to get through that time somewhat financially unscathed. In 2009, our revival began, prompting us to reinvent ourselves. With the downturn in home construction, we transitioned into the remodeling sector and developed that side of the business, to the point where remodeling constituted 90 percent of our operations, with the remaining ten percent dedicated to homebuilding.
“In the years following this period, the homebuilding part of the business regained momentum, leading us to scale back our focus on remodeling projects. Eventually, we decided that we did not want to be a homebuilding factory producing 50-to-60 homes a year anymore, preferring to concentrate on the custom home market instead. Thus, we returned to our roots where we prioritized crafting homes, meeting all our customers, and guiding them through the journey of building their dream home. Over the last 15 years, we have completed approximately a dozen homes annually, the majority of which were custom homes. While we have many portfolio homes showcased on our website, we rarely build them and mainly use them as a guide to assist clients in deciding what they want,” he informs.
Mike reveals that although Joseph Douglas has been under the ownership of Deron Butler since its inception, it is poised for an exciting future as Andrew Kolbeck, Chief Marketing Officer, and Luke Kolbeck, Chief Operations Officer, will soon take over ownership of the business. Luke joins the conversation to express his opinion on the strengths that make Joseph Douglas stand out in a sea of competitors. “We strive to provide our custom home clients with a tailored, customer-centric experience, fostering open communication and empowering them to make informed decisions. From the design phase to material selections, we educate our customers and offer them a wide range of options to cater to their preferences. Designing in line with their budget, we present our customers with options that make the most of their investment, especially if our standard offerings do not align with their vision. By utilizing 3D design, we enable our clients to visualize their project before construction begins. Through this approach, we let them take the lead and equip them with the knowledge and information needed to make decisions,” he explains.
In the realm of custom building, Joseph Douglas is currently involved in a notable housing development named the Sanctuary at Good Hope. Andrew tells us more about this arrangement and how it fits the company’s custom home-building operations. “Located in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, the Sanctuary at Good Hope is a conservation development offering a rural ambiance despite its proximity to downtown Milwaukee and its amenities. Spanning over 150 acres with 41 home sites, the Sanctuary at Good Hope features 70 acres of common open space. Our home sites range from one-to-eight acres, which is unheard of in the region. Moreover, the site boasts two miles of natural walking trails and is surrounded by a thousand acres of Tamarack Preserve lands that will never be developed, contributing to its rural feeling. The abundance of wildlife like geese, turkeys, deer, and swans make this development a unique offering and community, considering the somewhat urban area it is located in. Most importantly, the large home sites lend themselves particularly well to custom homes, catering to individuals looking to build their forever homes in the community,” he describes.
Equipped with invaluable insights into Wisconsin’s homebuilding market, Andrew discusses the current design and technology trends the industry is experiencing. “In terms of design, there is a growing emphasis on indoor-outdoor living spaces and how the home interacts with its surroundings. In essence, this trend consists in maintaining the comfort of the home while seamlessly blending interior and exterior spaces by strategically placing windows and lighting, creating covered porch areas, and incorporating exterior fireplaces. Livability and harmonizing the home with the outdoors are becoming the focal points of our clients’ demands, thus reflecting in our designs. Additionally, warmer tones and wood colors are making a comeback, along with an emphasis on layered lighting to create varied atmospheres at different times. For their forever homes, our clients also require flexible spaces, whether for daily living or occasional purposes. However, it is crucial for us to be mindful of the size of the home so that the rooms can be transformed into entertainment spaces capable of accommodating all guests during large gatherings, for instance.
“When it comes to technology, I believe that our market is not experiencing a particularly high demand for advanced capabilities. Nevertheless, we are closely monitoring trends and have integrated several homes with technological and smart home features. For instance, we offer smart electrical panels that allow clients to control their electricity usage via their smartphones and monitor all home systems, a feature that is growing in popularity. We also have the capacity to provide electric vehicle chargers, solar panels, and other related amenities to our clients, should they be interested. While this segment represents a smaller percentage of our market at present, it is definitely expanding, especially as the younger generation becomes more involved in constructing homes of this caliber,” he continues.
Looking at the year ahead, Andrew unveils Joseph Douglas’ priorities for 2025. “To adapt to the evolving ways in which our audience engages with media and seeks information, we are making a substantial investment in our digital presence. As potential clients increasingly turn to the internet to look for builders, we want to ensure we can still interact with them and remain at the forefront. Furthermore, we will showcase a new model in the 2025 Parade of Homes, which is significant in our region as it draws 15,000-to-20,000 visitors every fall. We also have several boutique communities in the works within a 50-mile radius of Milwaukee. Among the 2025 projects is “The Cove at Custer”, a duplex community that will feature 20 for sale condominiums arranged to preserve over 80 percent of the site’s natural open space. This sheltered boutique community is focused on convenient living for working professionals and retirees,” he ends.
By navigating economic downturns and readjusting its focus, Joseph Douglas proves its agility and commitment to innovation. With a keen awareness of ever-changing trends, the company will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in the future of luxury living and custom home building in the Milwaukee region.