Locations
Design Development NYC, Inc.
Founder
Key Contacts
Owners, Principals & Senior Executives
Chip Brian's Bio
Chip Brian didn’t start his career with the intention changing the home renovation business. He is actually a tech entrepreneur who fell into the home and renovation business because his own personal experience in renovating his first apartment in . In short, the renovation fell to pieces, and he was left trying to figure out how to finish the job himself. During that time, he knew that he could create a much better business model, and thus Development was born.
“Business leadership and technology is my background, so I took all ofthe materials that a normal business would have in place, software, hardware, protocol, and processes, and applied these to the home designworld.” Chip’s mission was to create a company that exhibited best practices all its disciplines—architecture, contracting, constructionmanagement, interior , and millwork.
In 1995, Chip had an epiphany. He had put every dime he had into buying a apartment. He had $15,000 to renovate a bath and kitchen. The contractors he hired said that they could do what he wanted within his budget, so he hired them and then he went off to work at his job at the Bank of . He came home early on a Friday afternoon to find all three the workers assigned to his apartment asleep on his floor, hung over from the night before. That day was their last day, but he had already given them all his money. He had no one but himself to turn to. While working with a friend who was much handier than he was, Chip realized that the work in and itself was not that difficult, but the the business is. Today, Development prides itself on the the business, so that no client is left high and dry as Chip was in his early days in .
With the creation Development, he applied processes to the jobs starting by requiring his workers to show up on time every day, in uniforms. He is a firm believer in total transparency with the clients. His teams document each day’s work with photographs, video and notes that are easily accessible to clients. Weekly progress reports are reviewed with clients and everything about Development is completely visible, from the budgeting to the execution.
His advice for home renovators: consult a professional. He says, “We’re the proactive company, not the reactive company. We’re going to give our clients more information than they ever expected.”
His passion for Development is founded upon servicing clients and working with a team creative professionals. His love of woodworking and furniture led him to create an entire millwork facility within their offices in Long . He believes the difference between mediocre and great lies in the joint work. From the built-ins, cabinets, lacquers and paints Development’s millwork is renown as some the best in this industry.
Chip was born in Sacramento, and grew up living between Pasadena and . He lives in Manhattan with his wife, Nina, and their two children