# Walczak Design and Build LLC **Trade:** General Contractor / Remodeling · **Address:** 25 S Main St, Ipswich, MA 01938, USA · **Phone:** (978) 238-0325 · **Website:** http://www.walczakdesignbuild.com/ · **Languages:** English **Rating: 4.4/5** (medium confidence) — from 16 reviews across 8 sources. 94% of sentiment-scored reviews read net-positive. Last 6 months: 1 reviews, 0 negative. ## The honest read Walczak Design and Build is an Ipswich husband-and-wife shop — Lisa handles design, Derek handles construction — built around North Shore renovations, additions and accessory dwelling units where one team owns the whole project. Houzz rates them 5.0 across 35 reviews with eight Houzz Awards, and BuildZoom scores them in the 90th percentile of Massachusetts contractors. Sixteen written reviews run from 2017 through April 2026 across eight platforms, almost entirely five stars, and they describe genuinely complex work: a detached in-law ADU in an April 2026 review that reviewers say is "aesthetically matched" to the original house, and a full gut renovation down to the studs with a new kitchen, butler's pantry and three bathrooms in a December 2025 review. What keeps coming up isn't just the finished work but the coordination — clients repeatedly mention interviewing several design-build firms before choosing the Walczaks specifically for handling design and construction as one team, and one reviewer who is a licensed contractor themselves wrote in an April 2024 review they'd "never seen a remodeler this organized." A 2017 review singled out how clean the jobsite stayed each day of the project. The one sour note is a 2022 one-star review describing repeated trouble getting anyone to pick up the phone to book an appointment — an outlier against an otherwise deep, consistent record, but worth following up by email if a call doesn't get through. Typical job costs on their Houzz profile run $65,000 to $1.3 million, so this fits full-scope renovations more than small jobs. Their Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration is active, and Derek Walczak holds a Massachusetts construction supervisor license. A strong match for a homeowner planning a full kitchen or bathroom renovation, an addition, or an ADU who wants one team running both the design and the build — just don't count on the phone alone to get the process started. **Strengths:** - One-team design-build — clients cite it as the reason they chose them - Handles large, complex projects — full guts, ADUs, multi-room remodels - Praised for organization — a fellow contractor called them the most organized he'd seen - Clean jobsites — a 2017 review noted daily cleanup left no trace of work **Concerns:** - Hard to reach by phone — a 2022 review described repeated unanswered calls to book ## Claims & citations Every claim below is backed by real evidence rows — uncited claims are dropped in code before publication. - Handles complex, whole-home and ADU projects, including one described as matching an original house's look exactly _(confidence: high)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT2s1elRYQmxhbTFqYUVFemNVcHBOek5EY21GdlYwRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x13f5acaa174242ed!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOk5zTXBlam1jaEEzcUppNzNDcmFvV0E%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Lisa and Derek are great to work with. They helped us build a wonderful detached in-law accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that is so aestheti…” - A December 2025 review describes a full gut renovation down to the studs with a new kitchen, butler's pantry and three bathrooms _(confidence: high)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT2xodWJXdDBSbkpKVjIxRGJsUk1NMVY1UzFGUmNWRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x13f5acaa174242ed!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOlhubWt0RnJJV21DblRMM1V5S1FRcVE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ For our full home renovation, we had a vision—remodel our home of 25 years where we had raised our three kids to make it a sanctuary for …” - Praised for coordinating design and construction as one team, cited by clients who interviewed multiple firms first _(confidence: high)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT2pKMmVFZ3llV1pyYm5OMVh5MVZhR3RIV21aVmFIYxAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x13f5acaa174242ed!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOjJ2eEgyeWZrbnN1Xy1VaGtHWmZVaHc%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ We decided to renovate our kitchen after 25 years. After meeting with several design/build firms, we chose Lisa and Derek Walczak for our…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURabDZYS1RnEAE!2m1!1s0x0:0x13f5acaa174242ed!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIDZl6XKTg%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Working with the Walczak's was a fantastic experience from start to finish! We met and interviewed several different firms and knew clear…” - A reviewer who is themselves a licensed contractor called them the most organized remodeler they'd seen, in an April 2024 review _(confidence: medium)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNEcDVDZkhBEAE!2m1!1s0x0:0x13f5acaa174242ed!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgICDp5CfHA%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Working with Lisa is amazing! I got my contractors license in Waltham Ma and worked in the Boston area for years. I have never seen a rem…” - A 2017 review noted the jobsite stayed clean throughout each day of work _(confidence: medium)_ - [HomeAdvisor](https://www.homeadvisor.com/rated.WalczakDesignandBuild.56816108.html) — “5★ Derek has been great to work with, each day when they finish working you would never know any work has been going on, so clean. Derek and…” - Houzz rates them 5.0 across 35 reviews with eight Houzz Awards and a Boston Home Rising Star 2021 award _(confidence: high)_ - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/walczak-design-and-build-pfvwus-pf~125931184) — “Houzz: 5.0★ from 35 ratings” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/walczak-design-and-build-pfvwus-pf~125931184) — “Listed certification: Boston Home Rising Star 2021” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/walczak-design-and-build-pfvwus-pf~125931184) — “Listed certification: 8 Houzz Awards” - BuildZoom scores them 103, in the 90th percentile of Massachusetts contractors, based on 22 permitted projects _(confidence: high)_ - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/walczak-design-and-build-llc) — “BuildZoom profile for Walczak Design and Build LLC at 25 S Main St, Ipswich, MA (owner Derek Walczak): BuildZoom score 103 (90th percentile …” - Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration #185455 is verified active by the state registry _(confidence: high)_ - [State License Registry](https://contractorhub.mass.gov/s/hic-contractor-search) — “MA hic license 185455 verified active” - BuildZoom lists an active Massachusetts construction supervisor license for owner Derek Walczak _(confidence: medium)_ - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/walczak-design-and-build-llc) — “Listed certification: Massachusetts Construction Supervisor license #CS-108993, status Active, BuildZoom-verified as active July 2026” - A 2022 one-star review described repeated trouble getting anyone to answer the phone to book an appointment _(confidence: medium)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURlMTVfRWNBEAE!2m1!1s0x0:0x13f5acaa174242ed!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIDe15_EcA%7C%7C?hl=en) — “1★ I do not recommend this firm, I’ve been trying to book an appointment but no one ever answers the phone. Awful customer support” - Specializes in General Contractor / Remodeling _(confidence: high)_ - [Official Website](http://www.walczakdesignbuild.com) — “A North Shore design-build firm that directs both the design and the construction of home remodels, additions, ADUs and new builds under one…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT2s1elRYQmxhbTFqYUVFemNVcHBOek5EY21GdlYwRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x13f5acaa174242ed!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOk5zTXBlam1jaEEzcUppNzNDcmFvV0E%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Lisa and Derek are great to work with. They helped us build a wonderful detached in-law accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that is so aestheti…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNMLXY3T1RBEAE!2m1!1s0x0:0x13f5acaa174242ed!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgICL-v7OTA%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Building a new home is one of life's biggest adventures - nerve shattering and exciting at the same time. At least that's what it felt l…” - Specializes in Kitchen Remodel _(confidence: high)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT2xodWJXdDBSbkpKVjIxRGJsUk1NMVY1UzFGUmNWRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x13f5acaa174242ed!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOlhubWt0RnJJV21DblRMM1V5S1FRcVE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ For our full home renovation, we had a vision—remodel our home of 25 years where we had raised our three kids to make it a sanctuary for …” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT2pKMmVFZ3llV1pyYm5OMVh5MVZhR3RIV21aVmFIYxAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x13f5acaa174242ed!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOjJ2eEgyeWZrbnN1Xy1VaGtHWmZVaHc%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ We decided to renovate our kitchen after 25 years. After meeting with several design/build firms, we chose Lisa and Derek Walczak for our…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURlXzZ5Yjd3RRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x13f5acaa174242ed!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIDe_6yb7wE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ We hired Derek and Lisa to do a remodel of our kitchen, as well as some of the other rooms on the first floor. We had some rough ideas f…” - Specializes in Bathroom Remodel _(confidence: high)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURGb19TWTBnRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x13f5acaa174242ed!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIDFo_SY0gE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ The company I work for needed an updated bathroom in a newly acquired building to meet ADA. After many inquiries to builders in the area,…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNCNWJxcnhBRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x13f5acaa174242ed!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgICB5bqrxAE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ We have only good things to say about Walczak Design + Build! Derek and Lisa were a pleasure to work with, on every aspect of our home r…” ## License Status: **active** (#185455, hic) — verified against the official MA state registry on 2026-07-29, never self-reported. Re-check at the official registry: https://contractorhub.mass.gov/s/hic-contractor-search ## Sources - [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Walczak%20Design%20and%20Build%20LLC&query_place_id=ChIJ8QpI8Mwb44kR7UJCF6qs9RM): 4.8★ from 20 ratings - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Walczak%20Design%20and%20Build%20LLC&query_place_id=ChIJ8QpI8Mwb44kR7UJCF6qs9RM): Listed on this source - [Official Website](http://www.walczakdesignbuild.com): Self-reported profile and service details - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/walczak-design-and-build-pfvwus-pf~125931184): 5.0★ from 35 ratings - [Local Chambers of Commerce](https://business.newburyportchamber.org/members/member/walczak-design-and-build-llc-14053): Listed on this source - [Angi](https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/ma/ipswich/walczak-design-build-llc-reviews-1.htm): 5.0★ from 2 ratings - [HomeAdvisor](https://www.homeadvisor.com/rated.WalczakDesignandBuild.56816108.html): 5.0★ from 2 ratings - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/walczak-design-and-build-llc): Listed on this source ## Mentions Unverified third-party mentions found on the open web — relay with attribution ("a Reddit commenter said…"), never as Tavlee's own finding. - “Contractor-wise I would suggest Walczak Design+Build from Ipswich. I worked for them and they are excellent for renovations.” — u/m8k in r/northshore (2023-07-31) — https://www.reddit.com/r/northshore/comments/15eutgc/contractor_recommendation/ju9y67c/ ## Recent reviews - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Celine Small · 2026-04-14**: Lisa and Derek are great to work with. They helped us build a wonderful detached in-law accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that is so aesthetically matched you’d think it was original! As for other considerations: • Design: we worked with them and their recommended architect from conception to completio… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Kathleen McMorrow · 2025-12-10**: For our full home renovation, we had a vision—remodel our home of 25 years where we had raised our three kids to make it a sanctuary for family visits, a great place to host holiday gatherings, and a functional accommodation for our 24/7 work-from-home lifestyle. Walczak Design + Build brought that … - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Corey Lattanzi · 2025-12-03**: We decided to renovate our kitchen after 25 years. After meeting with several design/build firms, we chose Lisa and Derek Walczak for our project. We could not be happier with team and the results. Design was well thought out to meet our needs and maximize storage space. The craftsmanship and qualit… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · John Hathaway · 2025-02-19**: Lisa and Derek epitomize the ultimate in partnership to bringing a vision to reality! Their white glove planning, craftsmanship, and execution leaves little to the imagination. I am among the many clients who made the prudent investment to make the transformation they provided for me! - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Jane Lane · 2024-06-18**: Building a new home is one of life's biggest adventures - nerve shattering and exciting at the same time. At least that's what it felt like for us - an older couple who decided to leave behind the too-big family home, head up the shore to Ipswich and tackle the construction of an accessory dwelling… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · christopher lambert · 2024-04-02**: Working with Lisa is amazing! I got my contractors license in Waltham Ma and worked in the Boston area for years. I have never seen a remodeler that was this organized. - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Meghan Lussier · 2024-01-23**: Lisa, Derek and company were wonderful to work with throughout our entire remodel project. Their partnership of builder and project planner was very important to us in keeping communication going throughout the stages of project. From team members who timely answered calls, emails, texts to custo… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · E Mulligan · 2023-11-09**: The company I work for needed an updated bathroom in a newly acquired building to meet ADA. After many inquiries to builders in the area, I found Lisa and Derek. They answered immediately, we got to work and now we have a beautiful new bathroom suitable for everyone. Thank you for everything. Your g… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Danielle Harlow Rivas · 2023-10-08**: Working with the Walczak's was a fantastic experience from start to finish! We met and interviewed several different firms and knew clearly we wanted to work with Lisa and Derek. We loved Lisa’s design ascetic and process and really trusted and respected Derek as a contractor to oversee the project… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Susan Roge · 2022-12-31**: When we decided to make renovations in our home, we knew we wanted a team that could not only design, but also build. We were frustrated with the lack of comprehensive services that other general contractors offered. We had heard good things about the team at Walczak Design + Build and gave them a c… --- Data freshness: last scanned 2026-07-29T04:09:23.281Z. Cite as: Walczak Design and Build LLC — Tavlee (https://tavlee.com/contractor/walczak-design-and-build-llc-ipswich) Source: https://tavlee.com/contractor/walczak-design-and-build-llc-ipswich