Innovative Design+ Build lives up to its name
Thirty years ago in Atlanta, Clark Harris worked in new home construction, specializing in carpentry and millwork. His passion for remodeling surfaced from his direct contact with clients. He realized that he enjoyed transforming old spaces into new ones that could improve his clients’ lives.
Harris founded Innovative Design + Build in 2000 with that passion in mind.
“After 26 years, I feel we still have the same core values and beliefs that we did when I founded the company: communication, consideration, organization, quality, trustworthiness and growth,” said Clark Harris, President and Founder of Innovative Design + Build.
Journey towards Design + Build
When Innovative Design + Build was established, the focus was solely on construction, requiring the team to work with outside architects and designers. But something dawned on Harris after almost two decades of operating this way.
“What we found was that clients wanted a one-stop shop,” said Harris.
In 2019, the company switched gears to become a design-build firm. Now, Innovative Design + Build’s project design and architecture is in-house. This approach solidified customer satisfaction and trust.
Making the switch proved to be the right decision. In 2025, Innovative Design + Build received the Contractor of the Year Award in 2025 from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).
This isn’t the first time Innovative Design + Build has been recognized by NARI.
The company was named the Association’s Contractor of the Year in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023.
That recognition has solidified the builder’s reputation both regionally and nationally.
Embracing Modernism
Building in Georgia brings unique challenges. Most of the homes have historic architecture; Innovative Design + Build must live up its name in preserving the best parts of the homes’ bones while bringing their clients’ vision to life.
In Duluth, Ga., the clients came to the builder with three buzzwords for the renovation of their classic, suburban home: sleek, minimalist and modernism. The renovation called for extensive window installation throughout the entire home and additional repairs to the home’s stucco exterior.
The home’s kitchen and dining room are the epitome of a modern, 21st-century home. A floor-to-ceiling window brings in light into the space, bouncing beautifully off the dark, wooden cabinetry. The white marble waterfall island serves as the heart of the space, contrasting beautifully against the raven color scheme.
Harris said that the family room is one of his favorite spaces in the project; it’s no secret why. An angular, high-vaulted ceiling and asymmetric roofline create an airy and expansive atmosphere. Triangular windows perfectly mirror the slope of the roof. Large, black-framed lower windows invite panoramic views of the surrounding trees, erasing the boundary between the indoor and outdoor environments.
Preserving Southern Charm
A home in Milton, Ga., called for a modern makeover and the preservation of its historic charm, but the builder was up for the challenge. Harris noted that challenging projects are his favorite kind.
“Those are fun because they push us outside our comfort zone, help us grow and allow us to accomplish some really exciting things,” said Harris.
The Milton Residence’s bathroom was originally outdated, with mahogany wooden cabinetry and olive green walls. The builder transformed the space into a luxury retreat with a stunning, neutral color palette throughout. The freestanding tub was replaced with an undermount tub surrounded by a thick, marble slab deck with subtle gray veining, seamlessly anchoring the tub.
The cabinetry features a split-level design, with the countertop and sink feeding into a vanity situated directly beneath the window. Warm brass accents were installed throughout, from the vanity frame to the gooseneck faucet. Elegant two-arm brass sconces feel luxurious without sacrificing Southern-heritage design.
Another project in Alpharetta, Ga., shines with personality, something Innovative Design + Build sought to amplify.
European archways and polished marble flooring in the home’s entryway feel timeless and elegant. A cascading stairwell leading up to the foyer stuns with its dark railing and wood-slab steps.
Moving further into the home, the kitchen seamlessly blends luxury with convenience, providing ample storage space within the island. A custom range hood with a bell-shaped silhouette over the marble backsplash serves as a statement piece.
It wouldn’t be a Southern home without a sunroom, allowing natural light to seep into every crevice of the space with its arched, French-door-style windows.
Every project calls for something different. While daunting for even experienced builders, Harris and his team persist with optimism.
“By having the courage to try something, you’ll eventually improve; if you never have the guts to try it, you’ll never get better,” said Harris.
Photos courtesy of Anastasia Alkema Photography and Innovative Design + Build.
By Taylor Moore. She is the Assistant Editor at Residential Contractor and can be reached at taylor@builder.media.
This story is featured in our fall issue of Residential Contractor. Read the print version here.
