Kraus Associates

When you set out to design and renovate your home, it is all incredibly daunting. Deciding who to work with for the next year - trusting their decision-making, oversight and craftsmanship, and knowing they will be steering the ship that is your budget - is the most important decision you make. We couldn't be happier we chose to work with with Charles Kraus. Through the whole process he was professional, encouraging and realistic, and completely transparent. It was easy to connect with him to make a design change. It was easy to call him with a quick, panicked question. When decisions got tough, we knew we could trust him to sit across the table from us and hash out the details, always keeping our interests in mind and knowing he would be honest. We had a list of wishes that ranged from "make the house more climate resilient and environmentally friendly" to "a bigger kitchen, but not too big" to "a secret passage between the two bedrooms." We had strong opinions about materials that were used (and not used). And if Charles didn't know exactly what technology would perform the best for our project, he wasn't afraid to ask someone with more expertise. Honesty and integrity were daily assets for our job. Large renovations can't happen without hiccups and stress. But there wasn't ever a day we doubted our choice to put Charles Kraus in charge of our project. And here we are, back in our house, which feels delightfully like we never left, but now is just better, a true fit for our family

Charles is a builder and an architect, which means he can design the remodel and generate a proposed scope/budget for the work. Charles is smart, experienced, professional, personable and very straight-forward. He worked with us super transparently from the start, throughout the process, and all the way through the close. He listened to our needs, always has good ideas that can be implemented, and does them extremely well. He worked with us through the design needs, brought up any unforeseen issues through the build, and always kept a calm and solution-minded demeanor throughout. Quality and value are high on Charles' priorities, as he would for his own home. Him and his team managed all the subcontractors, and were extremely caring about our home. The level of care is very high with Charles, and he treats it like his home. He also recognizes that money and budgets do matter, and worked hard to not overshoot on the budget. Strongly recommend Charles for any size project.

When we first started our renovation in the spring of 2017 we weren’t looking to create our dream house. We were trying to solve what seemed a daunting set of problems: allowing an elderly parent to age in place safely, moving into the crazy Boston real estate market, and leaving a home that we had grown to love (and had moved into only 2 years earlier). There were so many ways this project could have gone wrong, and instead, pretty much everything went right, thanks entirely to Charles Kraus and his team. From the earliest discussions of ideas, requirements, budget, and timeline, Charles was completely honest, upfront, and practical. He never over-promised or fudged the details. He listened to what we were describing, and understood what we were attempting to do, possibly better than we did. He was incredibly easy to work with and attentive to every detail. Just as important, he brought a great sense of humor to the whole experience– very key when undertaking a project that involves a mother-in-law! We were absolutely impressed and amazed by his commitment to our project’s timeline. Within a few weeks of our first meeting we had a design that met all of our needs while still conforming to Wellesley’s myriad building requirements, no mean feat. Charles was able to recreate much of what we had loved about our previous home, based only on looking at photos and our descriptions. And even once the design was finalized, Charles put up with our occasional (or possibly more frequent!) realizations that we wanted or needed to make a change to the plans. He would calmly evaluate the idea, present several possible solutions, and provide detailed and accurate pros/cons and schedule/budget impact of each. Probably even more important, when we suggested ideas that were not very good, he gently steered us away from making a mistake we’d regret later. We were able to trust him absolutely. In addition to architecture/design services, Charles also managed the construction phase of the project, and he knocked it out of the park here as well. There was no gap between what was on paper in the design or timeline, and how or when it was implemented in construction. Once construction started, he was very personally involved – half the time we would stop by to see how things were going, he’d be there checking in himself, even when it was below zero outside or pouring rain. There was no detail too big or small for him to be willing to discuss. He always had time to answer questions, try out new ideas, and follow up if something seemed amiss. His expertise in all aspects of the engineering and systems was impressive, and he worked exceptionally closely with all of the subcontractors. If anything was less than perfect, he personally would take the initiative to have it fixed or redone. All of the subcontractors he hired – plumbing, flooring, electrical, carpentry, HVAC, painting, landscaping, solar- did an amazing job. Justin, the project manager, was equally awesome. The whole experience felt seamless and smooth, which are not words that are generally used to describe a major building project! The scope of the project- a gut renovation plus addition that took nearly 11 months- was kind of terrifying to us, as we’d done numerous much smaller projects in previous homes, most of which were not experiences we’d ever want to repeat. Working with Charles was an absolute pleasure throughout the entirety of the project. On the couple of occasions when things did not go according to plan, eg, an estimate came in substantially over what had been expected, he handled things with calm professionalism and integrity. We can’t say enough good things about Charles and his team, and would wholeheartedly recommend him for any project.It’s been about 6 months since we moved in, and looking back at where we were this time last year we almost can’t believe it. The house is bright, cheerful, modern yet classic and fits into the neighborhood like it had always been there. Our kids love all the kid-friendly features we were able to incorporate. We’ve had people stop by and say that they love the house and especially that its cheerful color makes them smile. We’re so happy that this house turned out to be our dream home after all!

Kraus Associates functioned as the architect, general contractor, and construction manager for the total renovation of a large bathroom/laundry area. We required a barrier-free design that can accommodate wheelchair access and a shower that does not have a high threshold. Charles Kraus was a pleasure to work with on all levels. We often liked his design and detail choices, but when we provided feedback or requested alternatives, he never argued or reacted defensively. In those instances, he worked with us to modify the designs and find solutions and products that met our needs. As the general contractor and construction manager, Kraus Associates also did a fantastic job. Charles has detailed knowledge of all the construction trades and is directly involved in the planning of each step along the way. He gained our complete trust that everything would be done correctly. He also provided detailed budget tracking and schedules during the project. The final result was a beautiful space that we enjoy going into and using.

Charles and his team designed and built a third-floor addition for us, and from start to finish he was a pleasure to work with. Charles always listened to what we thought before offering his own opinion, and during the build-out he was on-site regularly, and always easily reached, so we always knew where everything stood. His entire crew were great, they were true craftsmen who were as efficient as they were meticulous. I would highly recommend Charles and his team!

Kraus Associates designed a home addition and supported construction monitoring. Very knowledgeable and provided excellent support and ideas throughout the project. Was very responsive and offered sound advice regarding the inevitable issues that arose.

Charles Kraus and his team designed, built and perfected our whole house remodel. Not only did they do an awesome job, but there was great communication throughout the project. Everything was documented, things cost exactly what we were told they would, and when the inevitable hiccups occurred, Charles worked with us to find cost effective options. Bottom line is that we got a high end project with great workmanship for a fair price. We highly recommend Kraus Associates and Charles Kraus for your design build project.

Charles Kraus shatters the negative stereotype of the unresponsive contractor. His work is of the highest standard and he was always available to discuss issues as they came up in a prompt and professional manner. While I am sure we ran somewhat over budget, Charles worked hard to negotiate with subcontractors to keep costs in line. I cannot recommend Kraus Associates highly enough.

Chuck is excellent to work with . I've utilized his talents on both business ( new build) and residential ( large scale reno) projects . He is flexible , smart , and thorough. He listens to concerns and has great suggestions for solving difficult issues between builders and owners. I highly recommend him for any project

Charles and his team were a breath of fresh air for our deck & pergola project. He has been fantastic all the way through the process: from fixing up erroneous work from 2 previous firms, quickly preparing a new detailed drawing set with thoughtful additions, to coaching me through the preparation of a zoning special permit application. Charles Kraus is the rare home improvement / design professional that actually makes your project happen faster, better, and on-budget. I would highly recommend bringing him on your team for your next project.

Charles is an excellent architect whose advice and expertise were invaluable. He was very thorough and attentive to details for every aspect of our project. He was very easy to work with and always made himself available to answer any and all of our questions. We would definitely highly recommend him to anyone looking for a good, quality architect with high standards and integrity.