Custom home design in East Texas
We draw your home in-house and bring it to life in photorealistic 3D
What in-house design means
Where Most of Our Homes Begin
For thirty years, homeowners have trusted us with their most important investment, whether that's a design or a full design-build process.
We start by visiting your land and learning how you live, then we develop a floor plan with real intention behind it.
Natural light, how you move from room to room, how the spaces relate to each other, and a roofline that resolves cleanly. No matter which service you choose, the result is a home shaped around your family and your site, not a stock plan stretched to fit.
Whether you go on to build with us or take your plans elsewhere, the design is yours, and we want it to fit you and your family perfectly.
Common questions
What Most Clients Ask About Custom Home Design
- Can I hire you for design only, or do I have to build with you?expand_more
- Design only is a real service for us. Plenty of clients hire us for the plans alone, and we are glad to do it. The design is yours, and you are free to build it elsewhere. That said, a lot of our design clients reach a point where they trust us enough to build it too, and because we design and build, nothing gets lost in that handoff.
- Will I be able to see the home before it is built?expand_more
- Yes. Once your plan is set, we produce photorealistic 3D renderings using Chief Architect and D5 Render, so you can see your home room by room before anything is built. It is also where changes happen, because it is far less expensive to move a wall in a rendering than in a finished house.
- How is your design different from buying a stock plan?expand_more
- A stock plan is drawn for no one in particular and then stretched to fit. We start with your land and how you live, then draw a floor plan around it. Natural light, how you move through the home, how the spaces relate, and a roofline that resolves cleanly.
- When is the right time to bring you in?expand_more
- Early, before the big decisions are locked in. If you have found land and are starting to imagine the home that goes on it, that is the right time to call us. We are less suited to a "quote my existing plans by Friday" request. Good design takes a real conversation, a look at your site, and time to get it right.
Our process
How Designing Your Home Runs With Us
Once your plan is set, we produce photorealistic 3D renderings. You can see your home in full detail, room by room. This is also where changes happen.
If a space doesn't feel right, we adjust it on screen. It's far less expensive to move a wall in a rendering than in a finished house, and far less stressful.
A lot of our design clients reach a point where they say they trust us enough to build it too. Because we design and build, nothing gets lost in that handoff.
The same team that drew your home carries it into construction, with a designer staying involved the whole way. You are also free to take your design and build elsewhere.
Plenty of clients hire us for design alone, and we're honored to provide that service.
Our Process
One team, from first sketch to final walkthrough
What a Design Package With Us Includes
Our Work
Custom Homes We've Designed For Your Neighbors Across East Texas
East Texas Custom Home Cost Guide
Before you commit to design, it helps to understand the numbers. Our cost guide walks through what families are spending to build in East Texas, broken down by tier, so you can place your project before we ever sit down.
- Clear pricing insights for custom homes, remodels, additions, and more
- What drives cost based on your plan, square footage, finish level, and site
- A realistic view of custom home costs in East Texas and the surrounding area
Where We Build
Designing and building across East Texas
We're proud to bring our services, our experience, and our deep knowledge about our communities to homeowners and future homeowners in East Texas. Even if you don't see your location on our service area list, get in touch.
Our Service Area
- Longview
- Tyler
- Henderson
- Lindale
- Gilmer
- Kilgore
- Gladewater
- Whitehouse
- Diana
- Daingerfield
In The Words of Our Clients
I cannot say enough good things about Gary and this company. I had a specific vision of what I wanted and they were able to perfectly capture it. We wanted to go more of an old world design route and Gary made my ideas a reality. The communication with them was easy and we received house plans very quickly. I don't plan to ever build again, but if we do we'll definitely use them.
Charity Stone
We were looking for someone to design our forever home. We reviewed several companies as well as Bort and Design. We finally found a company that would listen to our wants and needs to guide us through the process of the design. We also chose this company for our builder. The outcome was more than we expected and we're very happy that we chose this company.
Doreen Cimilluca
My wife and I had a great experience using Bort Design for the design and construction of our custom home. Gary and Michael were great to work with and gave us insight on improvements that made our home even better than expected. I would highly recommend them for your custom home design and construction. It was truly a wonderful experience to have known and worked with them.
William Beasley
Gary and his team are top-notch. We were told they are highly specialized professionals in home remodeling, and they absolutely lived up to that reputation. They completed our project years ago, yet they still take every call and respond to texts whenever we have questions or need help. It has truly been a blessing to work with them.
Kelley Tompkins
We had some work done on my mother's home. They did an excellent job. Very professional, creative and courteous service. Love the results, better than imagined. Gary Bort is an excellent builder. We highly recommend. Will use again.
Colleen Sweaks
Ready to Start?
Start With a Conversation and a Look at Your Land
Tell us about the home you are picturing and where you want to build it. We will set up that first conversation and a visit to your site.