We were lucky to catch up with Kara Duncan and Humberto Rodriguez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kara Duncan and Humberto Rodriguez , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Bougie Budget Builders.
We cover all aspects of the construction process, including: project management, design, build and most importantly how to budget effectively for cost without sacrificing quality and style. The principle of “Bougie on a Budget” is primarily about cost. Being a millennial and seeing how expensive things can be, we found a way to incorporate the finer things in life without having to break the bank. We hope we add value to viewers by giving tips and tricks on what to consider each step of the process and also insight into “construction trade secrets” “hacks” and “did you knows”. We hope to bring awareness to our viewers on what to expect whether they are doing the job themselves or using a contractor. We want to show that you can build on a budget, design on a budget all while staying “bougie”.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Kara and Humberto met one week before the Covid lockdown in 2020. In 2021 we decided we wanted to live together. Humberto owned a home and asked me to live there however we both decided maybe we should buy something together instead to make it special. So we started prepping that year to purchase and in April 2022 we purchased our first home together! When we moved in we remodeled the entire house making it truly ours. We had such a fun time renovating and we started documenting the do’s and don’ts of construction remodeling. A lot of friends and family loved seeing our videos so the idea of “Bougie Budget Builders” was born.
Our company is unique because we cover all aspects of the construction process, including… project management, design, build and most importantly how to budget effectively for cost without sacrificing quality and style.
The principle of “bougie on a budget” is primarily about cost. Being a millennial, and with everything being so expensive these days, we found a way to incorporate the finer things in life without having to break the bank.
We wanted to add value to viewers by giving clues and tips on what to consider during each step of the process and also insight into “construction trade secrets”
“Hacks” and “did you knows….”
Our mission is to bring awareness to our viewers on what to expect whether they are doing the job themselves or using a contractor. After our home remodeling we built an ADU (additional dwelling unit) in the back of our property from the ground up. It is a one bedroom, one bath unit with a separate address and entrance. We put months of love and sweat into building that home. Today it is rented to someone who calls it their “dream home”. To know that we were able to create something beautiful for someone to live and feel at home is truly an amazing feeling.
We do everything from interior design, building homes from ground up, building ADU’s, remodel, renovations.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
I have always been into interior design and home decor. It started as a hobby and when I met Humberto we naturally started collaborating and I took it to the next step. Humberto has had a background in construction for over 20 years. He is a general contractor owning his own construction company called Blue Pacific Contractors. They do all types of construction, remodels, ADU’s, renovations and any large scale construction.
Our first project was renovating our new home in Los Angeles. I had to pick out the floor, tiles, windows, cabinetry, countertops, light fixtures, colors, etc. We then decided to build an ADU on the back of the property. I was in charge of everything design and decor and Humberto was in charge of executing and building. I had to be very specific with my design as he needed to know what exactly I want before building it. I created my design book and picked everything from the doors, windows, molding, etc. It was definitely very creative and I was so happy in the end to see the vision come to life. I remember one of the key milestones was seeing the framing go up. They built it so fast I almost missed it! We work so well together and always have fun. Even though it is work, we never forget to laugh and dance together along the way. We are now planning to move onto our third home in Los Angeles, where we will create more magic.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I think a lot of word of mouth has been a way to build reputation. Humberto and his company does amazing, quality work that speaks for itself. They do not cut corners and they are true professionals. Clients love to work with contractors who are very quality focused about their work. A home is somewhere you come to at the end of a busy day. Everyone wants their space to feel warm, inviting and an oasis to unwind. Our attention to detail and quality of work does exactly that.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @bougiebudgetbuilders