Design-Build Firm in Chevy Chase & North Chevy Chase MD | NGage Properties Group
North Chevy Chase & chevy Chase, mD
One decision
changed everything.
Not because of materials.
Not because of construction.
Because of direction.
BEFORE
AFTER
The earliest decisions in a renovation are often the most expensive — and they're made long before a contractor is ever called.
I'm Nicole, your neighbor and the founder of NGage Properties Group. I'd love to start with a conversation.
FEATURED IN ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST
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FEATURED ON FOX 5 WASHINGTON, D.C.
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LICENSED GENERAL CONTRACTOR
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FEATURED ON LIFETIME TV · DESIGNING SPACES
CERTIFIED INTERIOR DESIGNER
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SERVING CHEVY CHASE · BETHESDA · DC
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WHY DIRECTION COMES FIRST
Most renovation problems don’t start
during construction.
They start before it — when the biggest decisions are made without enough clarity. Before design begins. Before a contractor is called. Before a single dollar is committed.
In my years working in homes across this neighborhood, the pattern is consistent: projects don't become complicated during construction. They become complicated because the wrong direction was set early — and everything that follows has to adjust around it.
This is the problem I help homeowners solve first. Not with more ideas or more inspiration — with clear, experienced guidance at the moment it matters most.
THE WORK
What a difference
the right direction makes.
This project began not with design, but with a single question: What is this home not doing for me?
If Your Home Has Been on Your Mind
You're probably not
asking about tile yet.
You're asking bigger things.
The kind of questions that deserve a thoughtful answer before a single dollar is committed to design or construction.
This is where most homeowners start — and where most projects go wrong.Not because the questions are bad. Because they start designing before those questions are fully answered.
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— Should we renovate…or move?
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— Is it better to add space or reconfigure what we have?
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— Are we about to overinvest in the wrong areas?
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— How long will this realistically take?
______________________________________________________
— What will this actually do for the value of our home?
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ROI
FINANCIAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT IF YOU SELLEROI
EMOTIONAL RETURN IF YOU STAYWhat We Do Differently
Clear direction before design ever begins.
As a design-build firm, we talk through those questions with you first — before any design begins. We discuss where to make the most meaningful floor plan revisions, where to consider additions, and how to structure an investment strategy that yields a measurable return.
If you plan to sell: we advise on the improvements that move the needle on resale value in this specific neighborhood and market.
If you plan to stay: we take seriously what we call EROI — your emotional return on investment. What brings you joy, peace, and resolve in your home. Some people forget to consider this.
When the direction is right, the design becomes more focused, decisions get easier, and the outcome speaks for itself.
— Former Customer
your neighbor on husted drive
Founder & CEO, NGage Properties Group
Over time, I've come to see that most challenges in a renovation don't come from construction — they come from decisions made too early, without enough clarity.
I live here and I’ve lived through my own renovations (my home was built in 1948). I understand what these homes are, what they can become, and what they mean to the families who live in them. I know the architectural character of this neighborhood, the pace of the market, and what improvements genuinely move the needle here — versus what looks good on a design board but doesn't translate to value.
As a licensed general contractor and certified interior designer, I bring both sides of a project under one roof. That means fewer surprises, tighter coordination, and a final result that reflects the original vision — not a compromise of it.
If your home has been on your mind, I'm always glad to sit down and talk it through. A thoughtful conversation over coffee can be the best place to begin.
Licensed General Contractor Certified Interior Designer Design-Build Washington DC · MD · VA
As featured in Architectural Digest · FOX 5 Washington · Lifetime TV Designing Spaces
Nicole Butler
WHAT TO EXPECT
A more thoughtful
place to begin.
01
The Conversation
We start with coffee — at your home or nearby. No pitch. No pressure. Just an honest conversation about your goals, your timeline, and what your home is or isn't doing for you.
02
Direction & Strategy
Before design begins, we help you answer the most important question: renovate, add space, or reconfigure? We build an investment strategy aligned with your goals — financial and emotional.
03
design & Planning
With direction clear, our design team develops a plan that is precise, buildable, and beautiful. Interior design, architectural drawings, materials, and permits — all under one roof.
04
Build & Deliver
Our licensed construction team executes the plan with the same attention to detail as the design. You have one point of contact from concept to completion — and a home that speaks for itself.
What your neighbors are saying.
“We had been going back and forth for two years about whether to move or stay. One conversation with Nicole gave us more clarity than everything else combined. The process was incredibly well-managed from start to finish.”
M. & D. Chevy Chase, DC Whole-Home Renovation
“Nicole helped us understand exactly where our investment would matter most and where it wouldn't. We stayed in our home, and we fell in love with it all over again. Her team’s ability to blend creativity and functionality was impressive.”
Elizabeth, Bethesda, MD Home Addition
“Having design and construction under one team was a completely different experience. The communication was seamless. They truly transformed my home with results that exceeded my expectations.”
Vicki, Bethesda, MD Whole-Home Renovation + Addition
cOMMON QUESTIONS
Answers before
you even have to ask.
The questions most homeowners have at this stage, answered honestly.
Should I renovate my home or move?
This is the most important question to answer before any design begins — and the one most homeowners try to skip past. At NGage, we help you work through it first: factoring your goals, your timeline, what the home currently costs you emotionally and financially, and what it could become. There's no universal right answer — but there is a right answer for your situation, and we help you find it.
What does a renovation of this scale cost in Chevy Chase?
In neighborhoods like North Chevy Chase and Chevy Chase, kitchen renovations typically run $75K–$150K+, and whole-home renovations range from $150K to $500K+ depending on scope and finish level. We provide investment strategy guidance as part of our early process — so you understand where your money moves the needle before you commit to a direction.
What is a design-build firm and why does it matter?
A design-build firm handles both the architectural design and construction under one contract. This closes the gap between what's designed and what's actually built — which is where most cost overruns and surprises originate. NGage Properties Group is a licensed general contractor and certified interior design firm, which means you have one team, one vision, and one point of accountability throughout.
How long does a home renovation actually take?
Pre-construction alone — design, permitting, planning — typically takes 3–6 months before construction begins. Kitchen renovations run 3–5 months in construction; whole-home projects 8–18+ months. Starting with clear direction significantly reduces the risk of costly changes mid-project, which is the single biggest driver of timeline extensions.
Is this a sales call or a real conversation?
A real conversation. If your home has been on your mind, I'd rather sit down with you over coffee and help you think it through than send a proposal you didn't ask for. Some of those conversations turn into projects. Some don't. Either way, you leave with more clarity than you came with — and that's worth the time.
Do you only work in North Chevy Chase?
No — we serve Chevy Chase (DC and MD), Bethesda, Potomac, McLean, Georgetown, and surrounding communities. But North Chevy Chase and Chevy Chase are home, and these homes are personal to me. I understand what makes them special and what they can become in ways that a firm without roots here simply can't.
START HERE
let’s chat over coffee…
If you're thinking about renovating this year — or simply want to understand what your options actually are — this is the stage that deserves the most attention.
Not more inspiration boards. Not more contractor estimates. Just clear, experienced guidance at the point where the most important decisions are being made.
Fill out the form and I'll be personally in touch within 24 hours to schedule a time that works for you. Coffee's on me.
Nicole
Founder & CEO · NGage Properties Group
Your Neighbor on Husted Drive
(202) 580-8061 · designandbuild@ngageproperties.com