From Houston to Ranch Country: Inside Frankel’s All-In-House Approach to Sustainable Homes

Builder in 5 is our five-question series with the leaders behind standout custom homes.

Up next: Brothers Scott and Kevin Frankel, now at the helm of Houston’s Frankel Design Build, are leading the second generation of the family firm. From city infills to sprawling Texas ranches, they oversee every aspect of their custom homes in-house—from land to home care—while building every project to LEED standards.

1. How did you approach the transition to second-generation leadership, and what’s been key to making it work?

Frankel Design Build: We are technically “third-generation builders.” Our maternal grandfather was a custom home builder before moving into the apartment space. But our dad, to his credit, went into this business by himself. When we stepped into second-generation leadership (we both started on the same day in 2006), our priority was to honor the legacy our father built while also evolving the business to meet the needs of today’s clients. 

What’s made it work is a shared vision and trust in each other’s strengths. We’ve each taken on roles that align with our talents—allowing us to make decisions efficiently while staying deeply involved in the details that matter. We’ve also built a team that embraces our family-focused culture, so clients feel that same sense of care from everyone they interact with. By blending our father’s foundation with new ideas, technologies, and design innovations, we’ve been able to keep the company both timeless and forward-thinking.

2. With all key services managed in-house, what challenges and benefits stand out? What can others learn?

Frankel Design Build: Managing everything in-house—from land acquisition to architecture, interior design, construction, pool design, and ongoing home care—means we’re responsible for every detail of the client experience. That’s a big responsibility, but it’s also our greatest advantage.

Maintaining the same high-level of standards across each department requires constant communication, alignment, and a culture where everyone feels ownership of the final product. We’ve had to invest heavily in building the right team, developing clear processes, and fostering an environment where collaboration isn’t just encouraged—it’s expected.

The benefit is that our clients enjoy a seamless, cohesive process. Every decision, from the layout of the home to the smallest finish detail, is made with the full picture in mind. It eliminates hand-offs, miscommunication, and competing priorities that can slow down or compromise a project.

For others, the takeaway is this: bringing all services under one roof only works if you’re as committed to running a great business as you are to building great homes. It’s not about control—it’s about accountability, teamwork, and making sure the client feels supported from the first conversation to years after move-in.

3. With many out-of-state buyers moving to Texas, how has this shift influenced your client approach, design choices, and delivery?

Frankel Design Build: The influx of out-of-state buyers has reinforced the importance of being both educators and collaborators. Many of our clients are new to Texas—sometimes even new to the climate and lifestyle—so our role goes beyond building a home. We help them understand everything from local architecture styles and community culture to how to design for Houston’s heat, humidity, and year-round outdoor living.

Design-wise, we’ve seen a growing demand for features that blend their familiar style preferences with the best of Texas living—think expansive indoor-outdoor spaces, energy-efficient building systems, and flexible layouts for hosting visiting family. We’re often merging regional design influences with our own approach to create something truly custom and site-specific.

4. Tell us about a time you took a risk on a project, and how it paid off. What can others apply from that?

Frankel Design Build: Expanding into ranch and acreage home building with our Gates Crossing development was a leap for us. For decades, we’d been known for building custom homes in Houston’s most sought-after neighborhoods. Gates Crossing—40 custom ranches on historic land along the Brazos River—meant entering a new market, designing on a completely different scale, and navigating the unique challenges of rural infrastructure, land preservation, and wildlife management.

It was a risk, but it paid off. We were able to combine our luxury design-build expertise with a deep respect for the land’s history, creating properties that honor their surroundings while offering our clients a true Texas ranch lifestyle—complete with features like private hunting reserves, feeder ponds, and expansive outdoor living spaces.

What others can take from this is that growth often means stepping outside your comfort zone. The key is to apply the same standards and values that made you successful in one market, while being willing to learn, adapt, and innovate for the next.

5. What's one decision you’ve made that defines how you build?

Frankel Design Build: One defining decision was committing to build every Frankel home to LEED for Homes standards, regardless of whether the client requests it. Sustainability isn’t a trend for us—it’s a responsibility. This choice influences every stage of the process, from the materials we select to the way we design for energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and long-term durability.

It’s a higher standard that requires more planning, coordination, and expertise, but it ensures our homes perform beautifully for decades while being healthier for the families who live in them. That commitment has become a hallmark of our brand and a promise our clients can trust.

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