Design-build ยท Santa Barbara, CASanta Barbara
Owner Kiel Kellow's in-house designers and builders plan your kitchen side by side, then give you one fixed construction price before anyone breaks ground.
Kellow Construction handles kitchen remodeling in Santa Barbara and Montecito as a design-build firm, so the people drawing your kitchen work beside the people who will build it. Owner Kiel Kellow is a design-focused builder who believes estimating and design should always go hand in hand.
That belief runs the whole job. Cabinetry, countertops, tile, hardware and lighting are picked before you sign the construction contract, and the price that follows is one fixed number.
A single project manager then runs the work from demo to punch list. On site, superintendent Rudy brings more than two decades of supervising local remodels.
Your in-house designer works with your project manager from concept through construction, so the kitchen on paper is one the team knows it can build on budget. Layouts, finishes and details are settled early, whether the house is a historic craftsman bungalow or a modern hillside home.
Primary suites, guest baths, small modern baths and historic restorations, plus Spanish-style tilework drawn from Santa Barbara's own architecture. Layout, plumbing, tile and fixtures are planned and priced before construction begins, so fewer surprises turn up once the walls are open.
For gut renovations, phased remodels and big layout changes, the team treats the house as one system. Structural changes, systems upgrades and work across kitchens, baths, living areas and bedrooms are planned together. One client's 1888 former barn was rebuilt from roof to foundation.
Additions are designed to feel like they were always part of the house. Kellow carries them from the first sketch through permits, construction and close-out, using the same design-build team and the same fixed-price contract it uses for every remodel.
Kellow works on a fixed-price, single-number construction contract. Every selection and detail is priced first, so you know exactly what you are building and what it costs before ground breaks.
The firm describes itself as big enough for complex, high-end projects and small enough that homeowners still get senior attention. Your designer works full time with your project manager and field crew.
The team has worked through Santa Barbara permitting, Montecito overlay regulations and Hope Ranch project requirements across dozens of projects. That shapes the feasibility and timeline advice you get from the first conversation.
Kellow says it is the only contractor in California holding the Earth Advantage Sustainable Homes Professionals designation, part of its aim to shrink both its own carbon footprint and its clients'.
Kiel Kellow grew up between Tillamook County, Oregon and Bainbridge Island, Washington. He sharpened his carpentry while living aboard his 1934 wooden sailboat, working on boats, high-end custom homes and in a cabinet shop.
In Portland he became a lead carpenter for an award-winning design/build firm before starting his own company. Today he leads Kellow Construction from Santa Barbara.
Office manager Emily Kellow, born and raised in town, runs contracts, accounting and insurance. Project manager Jason brings more than 15 years of carpentry, and designer Tara holds a BFA in Interior Architecture.
Kiel KellowOwner
“He sharpened his carpentry while living aboard his 1934 wooden sailboat”
A no-pressure talk about your home, goals, vision and investment range, and whether the design-build process is the right fit for both sides.
The team studies your existing home, priorities, constraints and permit issues, and lines up scope with budget while there is still room to adjust.
With a Design Agreement signed, in-house designers develop plans, layouts, materials, fixtures and finishes, with builders checking cost and constructability along the way.
Technical drawings, engineering and permits come next. Once scope and selections are defined, you get a fixed-price construction contract instead of a rough estimate.
Your project manager and site superintendent build from the plans and selections made in design, with regular updates and clear accountability until the final details.
We contracted with Kellow Construction to start a major kitchen/dining renovation the end of April, to be completed the end of August - and it was finished right on time!
They were communicative, timely, kind, and clean. We're very happy with their service and will be calling them again for future work.
We had a fantastic overall experience with Kellow Construction on the structurally complex remodel of our historic home, a former barn built in 1888. From the tip of the roof to the foundation, Kiel and team not only have the construction expertise that brought our old house back to life for another 100+ years, but are also talented at design and did beautiful finish work that went beyond our expectations.
Yes. Kellow does not ask you to commit to construction based on a rough estimate. Design, drawings, selections and pricing happen first. Once the scope is fully defined, you get a fixed-price, single-number construction contract, so you know exactly what is being built and what it costs before ground breaks.
Yes. The team works across Santa Barbara styles, from Spanish Colonial and Santa Barbara bungalows to contemporary coastal homes, and offers historic bathroom restorations. Past clients include the owners of an 1888 former barn and a 1920s craftsman, who wanted the house updated while keeping its original character.
Most clients have Kellow manage the design, but the firm also works with outside architects and interior designers. Its Iterative Design Process brings them into a shared loop that keeps ideas buildable and on budget. Kellow says it enjoys partnering with design pros who care about cost, quality and detail.
Yes. As the design comes together, the team prepares the technical drawings and specifications, coordinates consultants and engineering, and guides the project through permitting. It has worked through Santa Barbara's permit process and Montecito overlay regulations many times, which helps set a realistic timeline early.
Yes. Kellow offers what it calls a comprehensive warranty, so the team is still there for you long after the project is finished. The site does not list the length or terms, so ask for the written warranty during your consultation and review it before you sign the construction contract.
Call 805-225-3310, Monday to Friday from 7 am to 3:30 pm, or schedule a consultation online. Every project starts with a conversation about your goals and investment range.
805-225-3310
