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1445 Research Blvd.,
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Rockville, MD 20850
301.590.1100
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© Copyright Builders Design 2026

ORIGINS

ORIGINS

Rooted In Innovation

For 50 years, Builders Design has remained an industry leader- pioneering trend and research-driven interior design that delivers results across multifamily, model homes, and senior living.

OUR STORY

Builders Design began 50 years ago with a simple but powerful focus: designing model homes that sell. From the very beginning, our work was rooted in understanding the buyer, how people move through a space, what captures attention, and what turns interest into action. Those early years shaped our DNA and continue to influence everything we do today, instilling a residential sensibility that makes spaces feel welcoming, intuitive, and truly like home.

As the market evolved, so did we. Building on our foundation in model home design, Builders Design expanded into multifamily and senior living interiors, bringing the same sales-driven mindset, strategic thinking, and market awareness to more complex environments. Our residential roots allow us to create multifamily and senior living spaces that feel less institutional and more livable an approach that has defined our work for more than 30 years of our 50-year history. What started in residential marketing design grew into a nationally recognized firm known for creating commercial interiors that not only look beautiful but perform.

At the core of Builders Design is our design team, the creative engine behind everything we do. Comprised of NCIDQ-certified interior designers and members of ASID and IIDA, our team brings deep technical expertise, creativity, and industry knowledge to every project. Supported by a collaborative culture, they translate research and insight into interiors that balance beauty, function, and results.

Today, Builders Design is led by business partners and visionaries Joe Duffus, CEO, and Jon Nash, President, both of whom grew up with the firm. While neither began their careers as designers, their entrepreneurial leadership became one of the company’s greatest strengths. Joe and Jon introduced innovative approaches, strategic growth, and a forward-thinking mindset that helped elevate Builders Design into an industry leader across multiple markets.

Under their leadership, we’ve remained committed to excellence in design, trend-forward marketing, innovation, education, and exceptional customer service. Our work is guided by research-backed design principles that support leasing, sales, and long-term success whether in multifamily communities, model homes, or senior living environments. Our talented professionals bring passion, expertise, and collaboration to every project, giving Builders Design its edge and ensuring our legacy continues 50 years in, and just getting started.

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Joe Duffus (CEO) & Jon Nash (COO)

OUR MISSION

PASSION | CULTURE | CREATIVITY | EXECUTION

At Builders Design, our mission is grounded in passion for what we do and the people we serve. For 50 years, that passion has fueled our commitment to thoughtful, innovative interior design and to building lasting relationships with our clients, partners, and communities. We approach every project with energy, curiosity, and a genuine belief in the power of design to shape how people experience the spaces around them.

We believe a strong culture is the foundation of meaningful work. Our collaborative, people-first environment empowers our team to grow, contribute, and lead with integrity. By fostering a culture rooted in trust, accountability, and shared purpose, we create consistency, excellence, and an edge that carries through every project we deliver.

Creativity drives our ability to innovate and differentiate. As pioneers of trend- and research-driven interior design, we translate insight into environments that are both inspiring and strategic. Our creative process is informed by market research, evolving trends, and real-world performance, allowing us to design spaces that elevate everyday living and support how people live and thrive.

Ultimately, our mission is fulfilled through execution. We are committed to delivering on our ideas with precision, discipline, and care transforming vision into reality through seamless project delivery and exceptional client service.

By combining passion, culture, creativity, and execution, Builders Design creates interior environments that deliver measurable results and enduring value for our clients across multifamily, model homes, and senior living.

WHAT WE DO

We design multifamily environments that elevate everyday living and foster a strong sense of community through hospitality-inspired design. From Class A luxury developments to market-rate communities and renovations, our specialized teams bring deep expertise to every project type. We specify all interior finishes, provide turnkey services including procurement, and support our projects with an in-house drafting department ensuring a seamless process from concept through completion. Grounded in insight and research, our work is thoughtfully crafted to support leasing performance, resident loyalty, and long-term asset value.

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We design model home environments that sell homes by telling a compelling, place-based story. Working as an extension of the builder’s marketing team, we create immersive spaces that reflect the lifestyle and unique character of the local area, helping buyers connect emotionally and envision themselves at home. Our designs are tailored to a range of price points aligned with each community’s vision, while remaining grounded in research and buyer insight to elevate perceived value, support sales objectives, and clearly differentiate our builder partners in the marketplace.

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We design senior living environments that support dignity, comfort, and connection while balancing operational needs and market performance. Grounded in research and insight, our work creates welcoming, residential-feeling spaces that enhance the resident experience. With deep expertise in commercial design standards, we deliver fully code-compliant environments and thoughtfully specified furnishings that meet functional, safety, and durability requirements without sacrificing beauty. Our background in selling homes gives us a distinct advantage, allowing us to create senior living interiors that meet complex commercial demands while still feeling warm, familiar, and truly like home.

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We design 55+ active adult clubhouses that inspire connection, wellness, and an engaged lifestyle. Informed by research and market insight, our approach blends hospitality-driven design with functionality to support how active adults gather, socialize, and recharge. From fitness and wellness spaces to social, hobby, and entertainment areas, we create amenity-rich environments that feel welcoming, vibrant, and intuitive tailored to the expectations and lifestyles of today’s active adult buyer.

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OUR VALUES

At Builders Design, our values are reflected in how we treat people and how we contribute beyond our work. We believe in showing up with humility, consistency, and care, for one another and for the communities connected to us. Through our GoodBDeeds initiative, we commit our time, skills, and resources to organizations and causes that make a tangible difference. Every Builders Design employee is given one paid day each year dedicated to performing a GoodBDeed in their community, reinforcing our belief that service is a shared responsibility, not a one-time effort. Whether working together on volunteer initiatives, supporting local partners, or responding when needs arise, we act with intention and heart.

These experiences strengthen our bonds, build perspective, and remind us that our impact extends beyond the walls we design. By giving back, we reinforce who we are as an organization, one guided by compassion, accountability, and the belief that positive change begins with action.

US flag raised in new residential community
Veteran with prosthethic leg enters a house
BD team in fron of veterans support poster

AWARDS
& HONORS

Our work has earned national recognition for both interior design excellence and INTREND, our award-winning trend and market research. These honors reflect more than aesthetics they represent insight, collaboration, and a disciplined approach to innovation and execution.

Awards are never the objective. Rather, they serve as affirmation of the trust our clients place in us and our commitment to delivering thoughtful design and research-driven solutions that create lasting value.

Nationals

SILVER
Trends Tuesday by Builders Design
Sand Dollar at Shellstone

Auroras

Grand Aurora

Hyde Park III at Caldera Sand Dollar Builders Design INTrend Vol. 4 Sota75 The Assembly Clubhouse Tortoise One Clubhouse Sapphire at Wild Blue

Silver

Two Rivers Key West II Caravel Trends Tuesday by Builders Design

Galas

Gold

INTrend by Builders Design

Jim Vance Award

INTrend by Builders Design

Interior Design's Top 100 Giants

Ranked 46th

55+ Housing

Gold
Jasper 3B
Hancock
Franklin Model
Jasper 3B
Hancock Model
The Pinnacle – Franklin Model

Auroras

Gold
Haven Model
Haven Model
Cobalt Model
Magnolia
Everly – Haven Model

Silvers

Gold
Tortoise One
Sota75 Clubhouse

MAX Awards

Gold
The Wells, Bexley
The Wells Bexley

The Nationals

Gold
Trends Tuesday by Builders Design

Top 100 Giants

Ranked #45

55+ Housing

Silver
Elmsleigh at Regency at Cranbury
Edison at Trailmark

55+ Golds

Gold
Elmsleigh at Regency at Cranbury
Edison

Auroras

Gold

Oakridge at Westshore

Golden Aurora

The Solstice at Star Farms

Auroras Golds

Grand Aurora

Solstice

Gold

Oakridge at Westshore Sollas at Solstice Willet at Solstice Kingston 671

BALA

Platinum
The Solstice
The Solstice

GALA

Gold
Kingston 673

Max Awards

Silver

Telaro at Tradition

Gold

Dunnet – Solstice at Wellen Park Telaro at Tradition – Haven Dunnet at Solstice at Wellen Park

The Nationals

Gold
Solstice at Star Farms
Solstice at Star Farms

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