# Cape Dreams Building & Design **Trade:** General Contractor / Remodeling · **Address:** 3 Giddiah Hill Rd, Orleans, MA 02653 · **Phone:** (508) 255-8312 · **Languages:** English **Rating: 3.6/5** (low confidence) — from 2 reviews across 4 sources. ## The honest read Cape Dreams Building & Design has built and renovated homes on the Outer Cape since the early 2000s — the kind of firm homeowners call for a full addition or a from-the-studs new build, not a quick fix. Founded by Paul Van Steensel (BBB dates the company to 2003; BuildZoom says 2004), the company describes itself as a general contractor working out of the Orleans/Brewster area, handling new construction, additions, decks, and kitchen and bath remodeling. The written record is thin but consistent: two Houzz reviews, eleven years apart, both five stars and both specific. In 2025, a homeowner described a major renovation — a second-story addition, a new deck, sunroofs, a driveway and an outdoor kitchen — with project manager Pete Martinez rebuilding two staircases at no extra charge when he wasn't satisfied with the first result. In a 2014 review, a homeowner credited owner Paul Van Steensel with a new-home build finished on time and on budget, with responsive communication throughout. BuildZoom shows a Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor license (#157603) it verified as active through August 2026, and eight permitted projects on file. Better Business Bureau gives the company an A+ rating, though it is not BBB-accredited — no complaints appear on either profile. Worth asking about before booking: the written review history is sparse (just two reviews, the most recent from last year) and the directories disagree on the current address — BBB lists a South Orleans street address, BuildZoom a Brewster P.O. box, Houzz just 'Orleans' — so confirm the current office location and ask for references from recent work directly. For a homeowner planning a major addition or full renovation on the Cape, the two reviews on file describe exactly that kind of project going well. **Strengths:** - Detailed reviews — named owner, PM and specific renovation work - Active HIC license — BuildZoom-verified through August 2026 - A+ BBB rating — no complaints on file - On-time, on-budget build — 2014 new-construction review **Concerns:** - Sparse written record — only two reviews, dated 2014 and 2025 - Inconsistent addresses — BBB, BuildZoom and Houzz each list a different one **Where sources disagree:** - BBB dates the company's start to 1/1/2003 (23 years); BuildZoom states it was founded in 2004 (22 years) — a one-year discrepancy - Directory addresses disagree: BBB lists 21 Eli Rogers Rd, South Orleans (plus a PO Box 81 South Orleans second location); BuildZoom lists a Brewster PO Box; Houzz lists only 'Orleans, MA 02653' — no single current address is confirmed across sources ## Claims & citations Every claim below is backed by real evidence rows — uncited claims are dropped in code before publication. - Better Business Bureau gives the company an A+ rating, though it is not BBB-accredited _(confidence: high)_ - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/south-orleans/profile/home-improvement/cape-dreams-building-design-llc-0021-103025) — “Better Business Bureau grade: A+” - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/south-orleans/profile/home-improvement/cape-dreams-building-design-llc-0021-103025) — “BBB Main-profile page: A+ letter grade, NOT accredited, 23 years in business (started 1/1/2003), general contractor for additions/remodeling…” - BuildZoom lists a Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor license (#157603) for the company, verified active as of August 2026 _(confidence: medium)_ - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/cape-dreams-building-design-llc) — “Licence listed on BuildZoom: Home Improvement Contractor License #157603, Active, Massachusetts, Date Issued 12-05-2025, BuildZoom verified …” - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/cape-dreams-building-design-llc) — “BuildZoom profile for Cape Dreams Building & Design, LLC, based in Brewster MA (P.O. Box 402, 02631), founded 2004 by Paul van Steensel, ser…” - Rated 5.0 out of 5 on Houzz from two detailed reviews naming both the owner and the project manager _(confidence: high)_ - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/cape-dreams-building-and-design-pfvwus-pf~848313830) — “5★ We are writing to express our utmost satisfaction with Pete Martinez, from Cape Dreams Building and Design, Brewster Massachusetts. He re…” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/cape-dreams-building-and-design-pfvwus-pf~848313830) — “5★ We cannot be more thrilled with our beautiful new home built by Cape Dreams Building and Design. Our construction (which was started in S…” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/cape-dreams-building-and-design-pfvwus-pf~848313830) — “Houzz: 5.0★ from 2 ratings” - A 2025 review describes a major renovation (second-story addition, deck, sunrooms, driveway, outdoor kitchen) completed to the homeowner's satisfaction, with two staircases rebuilt at no extra charge _(confidence: high)_ - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/cape-dreams-building-and-design-pfvwus-pf~848313830) — “5★ We are writing to express our utmost satisfaction with Pete Martinez, from Cape Dreams Building and Design, Brewster Massachusetts. He re…” - A 2014 review credits owner Paul Van Steensel with a new-home build finished on time and on budget with responsive communication _(confidence: medium)_ - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/cape-dreams-building-and-design-pfvwus-pf~848313830) — “5★ We cannot be more thrilled with our beautiful new home built by Cape Dreams Building and Design. Our construction (which was started in S…” - Performs custom home construction, additions and whole-home renovations, per BuildZoom and Houzz project listings _(confidence: medium)_ - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/cape-dreams-building-design-llc) — “8 project(s) shown on BuildZoom” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/cape-dreams-building-and-design-pfvwus-pf~848313830) — “Services offered (Houzz): Custom Homes, Additons, Remodeling” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/cape-dreams-building-and-design-pfvwus-pf~848313830) — “5 project(s) shown on Houzz” - Written review history is limited to two Houzz reviews, dated 2014 and 2025 _(confidence: high)_ - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/cape-dreams-building-and-design-pfvwus-pf~848313830) — “Houzz: 5.0★ from 2 ratings” - Specializes in General Contractor / Remodeling _(confidence: high)_ - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/south-orleans/profile/home-improvement/cape-dreams-building-design-llc-0021-103025) — “Services offered (Better Business Bureau): Additions, Remodeling, New Construction” - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/south-orleans/profile/home-improvement/cape-dreams-building-design-llc-0021-103025) — “BBB Main-profile page: A+ letter grade, NOT accredited, 23 years in business (started 1/1/2003), general contractor for additions/remodeling…” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/cape-dreams-building-and-design-pfvwus-pf~848313830) — “Services offered (Houzz): Custom Homes, Additons, Remodeling” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/cape-dreams-building-and-design-pfvwus-pf~848313830) — “Houzz profile for CAPE DREAMS BUILDING & DESIGN, Orleans MA 02653, phone (508) 255-1291 (matches the BBB-listed number) and website www.cape…” - Also offers Carpentry _(confidence: low)_ - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/south-orleans/profile/home-improvement/cape-dreams-building-design-llc-0021-103025) — “BBB Main-profile page: A+ letter grade, NOT accredited, 23 years in business (started 1/1/2003), general contractor for additions/remodeling…” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/cape-dreams-building-and-design-pfvwus-pf~848313830) — “5★ We are writing to express our utmost satisfaction with Pete Martinez, from Cape Dreams Building and Design, Brewster Massachusetts. He re…” - Also offers Kitchen Remodel _(confidence: low)_ - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/south-orleans/profile/home-improvement/cape-dreams-building-design-llc-0021-103025) — “BBB Main-profile page: A+ letter grade, NOT accredited, 23 years in business (started 1/1/2003), general contractor for additions/remodeling…” - Also offers Bathroom Remodel _(confidence: low)_ - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/south-orleans/profile/home-improvement/cape-dreams-building-design-llc-0021-103025) — “BBB Main-profile page: A+ letter grade, NOT accredited, 23 years in business (started 1/1/2003), general contractor for additions/remodeling…” ## License Status: **not_found** — verified against the official MA state registry, never self-reported. Re-check at the official registry: https://madpl.mylicense.com/Verification/ ## Sources - [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Cape%20Dreams%20Building%20%26%20Design&query_place_id=ChIJq4jZhdBr-4kRxBzKTAzUF38): Listed on this source - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/south-orleans/profile/home-improvement/cape-dreams-building-design-llc-0021-103025): Listed on this source - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/cape-dreams-building-and-design-pfvwus-pf~848313830): 5.0★ from 2 ratings - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/cape-dreams-building-design-llc): Listed on this source ## Recent reviews - **5/5 · Houzz · Maureen Hillier · 2025-03-05**: 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 exc… - **5/5 · Houzz · mpesanelli · 2014-08-19**: 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 e… --- Data freshness: last scanned 2026-08-22T06:56:49.506Z. Cite as: Cape Dreams Building & Design — Tavlee (https://tavlee.com/contractor/cape-dreams-building-and-design-orleans) Source: https://tavlee.com/contractor/cape-dreams-building-and-design-orleans