About us

Joseph has always been passionate about building and has been working in construction for more than 20 years. He started working for a builder in college as a general contractor where he developed a reputation for his close attention to detail. As he developed an expertise in project management he earned a BS in Social Ecology with a Minor in Business Management from the University of California, Irvine. Joseph is dedicated to his community and has given back academically by developing and teaching a course on the industry at the University of California, Riverside.

Suzann comes from a family of painters and has a natural gift for enhancing decorative spaces. As CFO and chief interior designer she’s developed years of finance, real estate, and design experience. Before switching industries Suzann dedicated all her energy to learning and perfecting creative solutions through the Interior Design Institute of Newport Beach. Suzann and Joseph are the creative force behind Straus Design-Build and together they make quite the team. After each project completion they gained lasting relationships and rave reviews which inspired them to take on bigger jobs. Thanks to their combined talent and expertise the work they have done throughout California has yielded an abundance of references. They have never had to invest in third party advertising and have expanded their business significantly through word of mouth recommendations alone.

The turning point of their career was the design and construction of senior affordable housing in Long Beach, an $8 million dollar project that required a green building certification. This was a major milestone for Straus Design-Build that bridged the gap between large scale commercial and residential planning. The company prides itself in being a one stop shop with multi dimensional services. From consulting to permitting to interior design and construction Straus Design-Build is a business determined to stand out in the industry. Joseph and Suzann use the latest technologies and the most efficient programs for architectural design and three dimensional rendering. Despite having these high tech programs Joseph and Suzann are intuitive and keep a hands-on approach. They bounce ideas off of each other’s vision for the space but they always keep their client’s dream at the forefront of their decision making.

Working with us means working with a family of genuine design-builders. You will receive quality custom designs through an organic and collaborative process. Although the framework for each project is unique to every client we will always maintain a design structure based on trust and clarity. What really sets us apart is our mission to deliver timeless residential and commercial spaces that live up to your individual standards each step of the way. Every detail matters at every stage, just ask and we’ll build.