Transition of ownership dawns a new era for Joseph Douglas Homes, building further on its legacy of excellence
An exceptional home begins with an exceptional team – a belief that leading Southeast Wisconsin homebuilder, Joseph Douglas Homes (Joseph Douglas) has held close to its heart since its inception in 1998. Proudly Milwaukee-based and nationally recognized, the company is known for bringing its clients’ visions to life through collaborative design, interpersonal craftsmanship, and thoughtful execution. From comprehensive design-build projects to large-scale renovations, Joseph Douglas prides itself on its personal approach and unwavering commitment to client service, and, with authentic communication, integrity, and a relentless focus on detail, the company continues to prove its excellence in the competitive market.
Modern Home Builders last sat down with Andrew Kolbeck, Chief Marketing Officer at Joseph Douglas, Luke Kolbeck, Chief Operations Officer, and Mike Bauman, Sales Manager, back in 2025, for an exclusive interview discussing the company’s heritage and continued innovation. Now, one year later, it’s no secret that Joseph Douglas has continued to excel. In April 2025, Luke and Andrew bought the business from its Founder, Deron Butler, and, in the short amount of time that has since followed, have further built on Joseph Douglas’ longstanding legacy as one of Southeast Wisconsin’s most reputable homebuilders. In 2026, Andrew rejoins us, alongside Design Manager and architect, David Hribar, and Courtney Hengst, Design and Selections Manager, to unveil the company’s latest developments and successes, as well as some of its most exciting recent projects and its plans for the year ahead.
“The last 12 months have marked a record year for us, both in terms of the number of homes that we’re building and the caliber of the projects,” Andrew reveals. “2025 was a big year for building out our digital capabilities and really cementing our online presence. We’ve made several investments that will make it easier for prospective clients to find us before they even pick up the phone or visit one of our homes, and we’re excited to continue to evolve the way that we interact with our clients digitally in the future. We’ve also taken on some of our largest and most detailed builds to date, which has really solidified our position in the greater Milwaukee market as one of the best luxury custom builders, with that boutique client experience that we believe sets us apart.”
Special project
One such build, which Joseph Douglas proudly showcased at the Parade of Homes in 2025, is its Canyon View model home situated in Menomonee Falls, Waukesha County. The contemporary home boasts 5492 square feet across two floors, with five bedrooms and four bathrooms, and looks out on rolling greenery and the idyllic Red Crown Trail neighborhood. Indicative of the indoor-outdoor style, the Canyon View model combines high ceilings, thoughtful design, and elegant furnishings with beautiful natural elements to create a stunning home that perfectly captures the essence of effortless luxury.
Courtney tells us more: “We got a lot of positive feedback on the layout and functionality of the home. We really capitalized on the square footage that was available, making it purposeful so everything makes sense and flows; it could work for a variety of different families. We very much stuck to an earth-toned palette with touches of green throughout the home to complement the warmth and neutrality of the finish, and we loved using elements such as wood paneling and interior stone to soften a lot of the harder textures.”
In addition to its Canyon View model, Joseph Douglas has also been working on a range of boutique condos, which it is excited to move onto the next phase of the process in the year ahead.
“2025 was largely focused on building the infrastructure and the engineering for this project; this year, we’re gearing up to deliver the first buildings to market,” Andrew explains. “We’ve seen a strong demand for this project and have already developed a waiting list of interested buyers, which is really encouraging as we move onto the next phase. While this is a slightly different product than our larger single-family homes, we’re excited to bring the same emphasis on quality, thoughtful design layout, and best-in-class experience to these condo buyers as well.”
Smart and strategic
As Joseph Douglas embarks on its 28th year in business, 2026 is set to be another successful year for the company, filled with exciting projects that fulfil homebuilding dreams for even more clients.
“Our goal for 2026 and beyond is to keep our momentum going while remaining laser-focused on our execution,” Andrew says. “We have a lot of projects underway right now, with some of them on the larger and more complicated side, so executing that best-in-class customer experience is paramount. In terms of growth, there will always be challenges, but we want to ensure that we are growing smartly and strategically.”
“From both a design and client-facing perspective, our goal is to show people the personality and the connection that they’re going to get when they partner with us,” Courtney continues. “Through our social media pages, we want to show our current and future clients the personal side of what we do – that they’re in good hands with us, that we do good work, have fun, and are always here to help. One of the most personal things that people will ever do is build a home for themselves, so I cannot emphasize enough how important this is to us.”
Concluding our conversation, Andrew, Courtney, and David take a moment to reflect on the core factors that have attributed to Joseph Douglas’ longevity and continued success – and all three echo the same sentiment that the company has upheld since day one.
“It all comes down to standing by our commitment to quality, high-level design and focusing on ensuring our clients receive their dream homes through a realistic approach,” David emphasizes.
“We’ve continued to build and maintain strong relationships with our clients, suppliers, vendors, and subcontractors,” Andrew adds. “We’re blessed to work with a very talented crew who really enhance the execution and overall delivery of our projects.”
“You can’t replace the people that are here and the value they bring,” Courtney affirms as our interview concludes. “Our people are knowledgeable, communicative, and always available to the client, which is invaluable.”