Award-winning design is about more than beautiful spaces. It’s about creating homes that truly enhance the way people live. At Grenadier Homes, thoughtful architecture and intentional interior design come together to maximize livability, functionality, and the feeling of home.
A recent 2026 Finalist for the Texas Association of Builders Star Awards for Best Architectural Design and Best Overall Interior Merchandising of a Model, the Grenadier Homes design team, led by Kathy Costa, knows a thing or two about exceptional design. With multiple previous wins in architecture and design, the team has firmly established itself as an industry leader in thoughtful, award-winning homebuilding.
But what does award-winning design actually mean for homeowners? How does great design shape the way you live and move throughout your home?
We sat down with Kathy Costa to explore the Grenadier Design Philosophy — from the intentionality that maximizes space to tips and tricks that make a home feel effortless.
Let’s get to know you! What was your journey into architectural and interior design?
“When I was a little girl, I would stay with my grandparents every summer in New York City. I spent quite a few summers following my grandmother’s sister around her design studio in Manhattan on 5th Ave as she designed for the rich and famous, pulling fabrics and sketching tile patterns. In my early 30’s, I found myself in need of a new career after leaving emergency medicine from burnout. I still loved to design for family and friends but never considered it as a career. My sister got me an interview at a flooring company as a kitchen and bath designer. I gathered all the pics of things I did for family and friends, along with random sketches and drawings, and went for it with no formal education or background. I got the job, and I loved it. I went back to school and have been doing it ever since, working for some of the best design houses and builders in the business.”
As Head Designer, what makes you and your team different than other new home builders?
“I think the most important thing we do differently is that no two homes we build are the same. The current trend is to lather, rinse, and repeat the same inventory home package with bulk ordered products. We take the time with our staff of professional designers to make the homes beautiful and one of a kind… Not only does this make these (connected units) feel more special and less cookie cutter, but your home is also unique to you and not a carbon copy of your neighbor’s when you invariably get invited over to your new best friend’s house.
We have a 5-person architectural team that works on all our new plans and projects. This includes one of the owners, our lead architect, head of construction, and two designers. We all bring a unique perspective spanning 3 different generations and lifestyles to make sure we build not only the most fashion-forward architecture but the most functional as well.”
At Grenadier, what are some specifics that make your design stand above the rest?
“We have details that make the quality of our homes undeniable such as:
– 3-centimeter-thick kitchen counters
– Windowsills
– Tiled backsplashes
– Undermount sinks
– Ceiling fans in family rooms and primary bedrooms
– Cabinet hardware
– Acme brick
– Delta plumbing
– Samsung appliance
and more that other home builders have either removed or replaced with less expensive materials.
Where we don’t get enough credit is storage. We have large closets in every room, large pantries, and big linen closets. They might not be the sexiest, but they are key to a less cluttered and less stressful home.”
How does Grenadier Homes make the most of every square foot?
“We prefer substance over flash for ease of life and maintenance. We strive to make every space usable with lots of storage, cozy niches, window seats, and ledges. After we have our floorplans closer to completion, we enlist our interior design team to furnish them in CAD (Computer-Aided Design) to make sure real sized furniture will comfortably fit, including sectional sofas, 6-seater dining tables, king-sized beds in the primary bedrooms, and minimum of full-sized beds in the secondary bedrooms. If they don’t fit, we rework them until they do.”
Architecturally, how do you make a smaller space feel bigger?
“Light is the easiest way to make it feel bigger. Another thing we do with intention is use architectural bump outs to expand the spaces even further than our foundation footprints allow. You will see these as window seats, plant shelves, and ledges on bed walls. We also are extremely generous with our lighting plans to make sure we are light and bright even on the darkest days. Even with a large footprint, a lot of builders miss the opportunity to make their spaces light and bright, and it can feel cramped regardless of space.”
When it comes to quality and elevated design, what should someone be looking for when touring new home construction?
“I recommend looking for quality over quantity. Meaningful spaces and not just big white boxes are important for how you experience the space. Look for thoughtful window placements and passages through the home to make it comfortable to live in and move through the space; lots of storage throughout the home to allow for less clutter and easier maintenance. Use of name brand quality products throughout the home like brick, roofing, plumbing, light, appliances, flooring, HVAC and more. They make a huge difference in quality and warranty claims, if needed.”
Fun Question: What is your favorite space to design?
“That’s a hard one! For architectural and interior, the kitchen. After cooking for my large family for 31 years (I’m an empty nester now!), I know what a true workspace it is for many. There are practical ways to make that space easier to work in every day and still make the heart of the home look beautiful. I also love a bedroom for interiors too because its own little private world. You can do anything you want in there to create a cozy, intimate, unique retreat from the rest of the world.”
Explore how the Grenadier’s Design Philosophy can impact your way of life by visiting any of our DFW communities today!
