Verified record
Cape Dreams Building & Design is a custom home and remodeling outfit based in Orleans, on the Outer Cape, run by Paul van Steensel since the early 2000s. The company's specialty shows up in its projects: a one-story ranch turned into a two-story Nantucket-style cottage, and new custom homes built from the ground up around Orleans and Brewster. In a 2025 review, a homeowner praised project manager Pete Martinez for that ranch-to-cottage renovation. And in a 2014 review — the earliest one on file — another homeowner said their new custom home was completed on time and on budget, with van Steensel staying closely involved throughout construction. Both accounts are five stars, though there are only two of them spanning more than a decade. BuildZoom lists an active Massachusetts home improvement contractor license for the company (#157603), and the Better Business Bureau gives it an A+ grade, though the company isn't BBB-accredited. Beyond those two reviews, there isn't much public detail to go on, so ask for references from a recent project before committing to a build of this scale. For a homeowner on the Outer Cape considering a custom home or a full-scale renovation, this is a small, experienced outfit with two strongly positive accounts behind it — worth a call, but line up a few direct references, since there isn't much else publicly documented.
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from Cape Dreams Building & Design. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
Estimated range
$23,000 – $35,000
Typical remodeling project around $29,000
“Owner Paul van Steensel founded Cape Dreams over 15 years ago after establishing a foundation of building fundamentals while working for some of the top building firms on the Cape.”
“Perched along a scenic stretch of Eastham's waterfront, this home marked the beginning of what was a defining chapter for Cape Dreams Building & Design.”
We are writing to express our utmost satisfaction with Pete Martinez, from Cape Dreams Building and Design, Brewster Massachusetts. He recently completed a major renovation project on our home. Pete transformed our one-story ranch into a stunning two-story Nantucket cottage, and the results have exceeded all of our expectations. From day one, Pete demonstrated exceptional professionalism and dedication. During our initial meeting in October, 2022, Pete spent three hours walking us through every detail of his quote. He patiently answered all of our questions and made sure we fully understood the scope of the project. His overall knowledge of the industry, attention to detail and transparency immediately put us at ease and set the tone for the rest of the renovation. Pete is honest, a great listener, and is exceptionally skilled. We met weekly on site as he updated us on every stage of the project. His expertise was evident in every recommendation he made, and we trusted him implicitly throughout the entire process. Due to the high level of trust we gained with Pete, we added more to the scope of our project as we went along and he didn't flinch. He patiently worked with us to make additions some of which included solar panels, a second floor deck, two sunroofs, a new driveway and an outdoor kitchen. Through it all, Pete also had a wonderful sense of humor, which made working with him an absolute pleasure! One of Pete's standout characteristics is his commitment to quality. He holds himself and his subcontractors to the highest standards. For example, when he was unhappy with the finished product of two staircases in our home, he insisted they be rebuilt to meet his expectations and without any additional charge to us. His attention to detail and insistence on excellence ensured that every aspect of our renovation was executed to perfection. Even now, two years later, should a question arise, Pete always responds. Additionally, Pete was mindful of our budget and worked diligently to save us money whenever possible without compromising on quality. His honesty and resourcefulness were greatly appreciated. In summary, Pete Martinez from Cape Dreams Building and Design is an exceptional Project Manager and builder who goes above and beyond for his clients. His honesty, expertise, dedication, and sense of humor made our renovation experience not only successful but enjoyable. We give you our absolute highest recommendation to Pete Martinez. Sincerely, Maureen and John Hillier Chatham, MA
We cannot be more thrilled with our beautiful new home built by Cape Dreams Building and Design. Our construction (which was started in September 2013 and completed in May 2014) was done ON TIME and ON BUDGET. The owner, Paul Van Steensel was wonderful to work with. He returned our phone calls and emails in a very timely manner and thoroughly addressed any issues or concerns we had. We highly recommend this company to anyone considering new construction, additions, or home improvements. If the need ever arose we would hire Cape Dreams Building & Design again in a heartbeat!
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1 change recorded — last scanned Sep 3, 2026.
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