Detail Construction & Design was founded in July 2018. It exists because of what happens when design and construction stop being treated as separate parts of the same project.
I've always been able to see spaces differently.
Brendan Guthrie, Owner
Even as a kid, I could walk into a room and immediately start imagining how it could work better. I'd picture the space from every angle, rethink the layout and see possibilities that weren't there yet. Long before I knew what architecture was, I was redesigning rooms in my head.
That instinct eventually led me to the University of Arizona, where I earned my degree in Architecture. After graduating, I joined Kevin B Howard Architects, where I found myself working at the intersection of design and construction. I coordinated projects, worked closely with contractors and helped turn architectural drawings into something real in the field.
That experience taught me something I still believe today: great projects don't happen because of beautiful drawings or skilled craftsmanship alone. They happen when design and construction work together. I also saw what happens when they don't.
As my experience grew, I started noticing another opportunity in my own community. More families were choosing to buy older homes in neighborhoods they loved rather than start from scratch on a custom lot. But remodeling an existing home comes with a unique set of challenges. There are unknowns, constraints and opportunities that you simply don't encounter with new construction.
These homeowners didn't just need someone to renovate their house. They needed someone who could help them see what it could become. That's where my background in architecture and construction came together, and that's how Detail Construction & Design was born.
One of the biggest lessons of my career came with my first design-build client. I created a design I was genuinely proud of, but I allowed the design to get ahead of the budget. As the project evolved, so did the cost. Ultimately, the client decided to take the plans to another builder who could deliver a simpler version for less.
Walking away from that project was difficult. I wasn't just losing a client. I was losing the opportunity to build something I believed in.
But that experience changed the way I approach every project today. I'm still a design-first thinker. I still walk into a home and immediately see walls that could disappear, spaces that could connect and possibilities a homeowner may have simply learned to live around. That instinct is one of my greatest strengths.
But I've learned that great design isn't about seeing how much you can change. It's about understanding which changes will have the biggest impact on the way a family lives, and making sure those ideas make sense for the budget, the home and the people living in it.
That's why every project starts with a conversation about priorities.
The part of this work I love most isn't construction. It's the moment a client looks at a design and says, “we never would have thought of that.”
Most homeowners know when something about their house isn't working. They just don't always know what the solution looks like. That's where my architecture background makes the biggest difference. Sometimes the answer is removing a wall they assumed had to stay. Sometimes it's completely rethinking the layout so the home finally works for the way their family lives.
One of my favorite projects was the Cornidez home. The homeowners trusted me enough to challenge their original ideas and explore possibilities they hadn't considered. The finished home looked dramatically different from where we started. But the transformation itself wasn't what mattered most. What mattered was that the home finally supported the life they wanted to live.
I've never been fascinated by a room in isolation. I'm interested in how everything works together. How one space flows into another, how natural light changes the feeling of a room, how materials meet and how seemingly small decisions can completely change the experience of living in a home.
Whether it's a contemporary home, a Spanish Revival, a Santa Barbara-style home or a Mediterranean estate, the style alone isn't what makes a home successful. It's how every space connects. How every material complements the next. How the details work together to create something that feels complete.
They're the relationships between every space, every material and every decision that transform a house into a home.
Outside of work, I'm a husband and father of three boys. Most weekends are spent helping with school projects, coaching from the sidelines at their sporting events or heading into the desert for an off-road trip together.
It's where birthdays are celebrated. Where holidays are hosted. Where kids grow up. Where friends gather. And where ordinary Tuesday nights become memories you carry for decades. That's what I want every home we build or remodel to support.
Superintendents and a foreman who have spent decades on sites, plus the drafting and office capability that keeps a build moving.
Owner
I've always been able to see spaces differently.
University of Arizona architecture graduate who began his career at Kevin B Howard Architects, coordinating projects and turning drawings into built work in the field. That experience is the reason Detail exists: great projects succeed when design and construction work together, and fall apart when they don't.
Office Manager
I believe custom space tells a story, and every person deserves to feel seen within it.
My work has never been about managing offices or checking boxes. It has always been about bringing order where there is the perception and judgement of chaos, creating systems that support people, and building environments where trust, excellence, and relationships flourish. I am deeply solution-oriented, naturally attentive to patterns, and committed to leaving every place better than I found it. Excellence isn't about perfection; it's about presence.
Project Superintendent
Quality craftsmanship, attention to detail and practical problem-solving are the foundation of exceptional construction.
Born and raised in Sonora, professionally made in Tijuana, Baja California. I earned my Bachelor's degree in 2012 as a Mexican Architect, along with a diploma in Sustainable Construction. With more than 15 years of experience in residential construction, field operations and construction management, I bring a hands-on approach to every jobsite. As a certified electrician, I value having practical knowledge across multiple trades. Teaching at my alma mater reinforced my belief that the best professionals never stop learning.
Project Superintendent
Thirty years across residential and commercial building, starting in roofing.
I began my career in roofing before spending 25 years leading residential framing crews, building a strong foundation in craftsmanship, teamwork and project execution. I later advanced to a traveling Superintendent, overseeing hotel construction and renovation projects across the country with a focus on safety, quality, scheduling and client satisfaction. I'm passionate about building strong teams, solving problems and delivering quality results.
Project Superintendent
More than 20 years in construction, built on craftsmanship and problem-solving.
Originally from Minnesota, I began my career working in the Upper Midwest before relocating to Colorado in 2008. Having worked in both northern and western climates has given me valuable experience adapting to a wide variety of building methods, environmental conditions and project challenges. I take pride in finding practical solutions, maintaining high safety standards and working collaboratively with clients, teammates and project partners. Strong relationships are just as important as quality construction.
Project Foreman
I enjoy tackling difficult problems and building things that last.
I got my professional start in construction eight years ago and have been fortunate to work on a wide variety of residential and commercial projects, including high-end remodels, new construction, tenant improvements and historic restorations. Areas of expertise: carpentry, framing, structural modifications, demolition, remodeling, tenant improvements, field planning, jobsite coordination, project supervision, scope-gap identification and punch-list completion.
The first conversation is about priorities, not drawings. What matters most, what isn't working, and what would make the biggest difference.
Arizona ROC 320770 · Licensed, bonded and insured
Tucson, Arizona