From Concept to Completion
Design-forward Service at Norman Building
by Noah Nelson
Norman Building & Design was born through the hard work of Jim Norman, a self-taught entrepreneur who started as a framer building homes in Sunriver before moving up the ladder and designing homes himself. To account for the rapid growth of the Central Oregon community, Jim prioritized in-house work, starting with cabinets, doors, and millwork, and eventually founding in-house design departments to meet the unique needs of any client.
Now, Brian Murphy, Jim’s son-in-law, strives to continue the good work of the previous generation. With a focus on customer relationships, high-quality custom work, and expertly trained in-house design teams, the modern Norman Building & Design is a one-stop-shop that meets the building and aesthetic needs of their clients.
“I think we have earned a reputation for quality over the years,” says senior interior designer Selah Ewert. “When you walk into a Norman home, you feel the difference in the space. As we have stepped into a second-generation company, we have really pushed hard to keep that standard of high quality while leaning into a design-forward approach.”
“When you walk into a Norman home, you feel the difference in the space. As we have stepped into a second-generation company, we have really pushed hard to keep that standard of high quality while leaning into a design-forward approach.”
–Selah Ewert, Senior Interior Designer
That “design-forward approach” is Norman’s way of meeting the needs of an ever-changing industry and a new generation of home buyers. Many factors, from COVID and remote work to social media, have changed the way that people want to feel in their homes, and therefore, how those homes are designed. With Norman, a client can be sure that their aesthetic dream is at the forefront of the entire design process, or as Selah puts it, “from concept to completion.”
According to interior designer Brittany Grogan, “Everything, from architectural design and interior design, to milling our own trim, building cabinets, and interior and exterior doors, all happens in-house.”
Brittany continues, saying, “Not only does this mean that we have exceptional quality control, with the ability to really stand behind our products and deliver exactly what the client expects, but it also means that our entire team has an understanding and appreciation of all of the complex facets of putting together a custom home.”
That last part is paramount to the Norman Building & Design experience. By bringing together talented craftsmen and designers in-house, they have created a company that actively seeks to create spaces that not only meet functional requirements but also inspire and delight the homeowner.
“Being an interior designer who understands how a home is built, or how cabinets are constructed, really helps to elevate designs, since the craftsman in charge of executing everything is so accessible to workshop ideas and to problem-solve,” Brittany says. “Conversely, having project managers who understand and appreciate the perspective and input from interior designers has been refreshing, as it allows for a project to truly move past the mundane and for us to deliver exciting and exceptional homes,” she adds.
Another benefit that clients can expect from Norman’s expertise is a more simplified building process, keeping things easy on the client. Selah says, “The beauty of a design/build model is a construction delivery method that provides owners with a single point of contact for both the design and construction phases of a project. One entity holds single-source responsibility and contractual risk for every aspect of a build — from estimation, assessments and pre-construction to architecture, engineering, subcontracting, construction, design, furnishings, and post-construction.”
In other words, clients can come to Norman with nearly any question or concern about any part of the design and build process, and Norman will take care of it.
“Everything, from architectural design and interior design, to milling our own trim, building cabinets, and interior & exterior doors, all happens in-house.”
–Brittany Grogan, Interior Designer
John and Tracey LeMoncheck are two current clients of Norman. The duo worked with Norman from the initial design stages all the way to the final build-out, and they couldn’t be happier.
“The entire process has been a joy and despite everyone telling us that designing and building a house would be stressful, the team at Norman has made it so much fun,” they say. “The Norman team not only suggested different initial concepts, they even pointed us to areas around Bend where we might want to look for lots and came out with us on multiple site visits before we had even signed up to use them.”
Continuing, the couple says, “Their architects and designers are so easy to work with and really listen to the kind of home we wanted to build, both from a style and function point of view. They allowed us to design what we wanted rather than giving us a cookie-cutter design or something that was close to what they had done before.”
Leaning into a design-forward future, the design team at Norman Building & Design has plans to operate independently, while still under the umbrella of Norman. This means that in the future, both Norman and non-Norman clients can benefit from the expertise of the design team, providing personalized care to even more clients. Additionally, plans for a new showroom will help future clients see the breadth of services provided.
“We all respond to beauty, and we all, regardless of budget or investment level, deserve a home that feels like a respite,” Brittany says. “For each of us, that will look and feel different, and good design delivers those individualized results to each client.
