A true design-build firm where architect, builder, artisan, and craftsman are woven together into one seamless process. Serving MetroWest Boston for over 28 years.
Thorne Design & Build is a small design-build company that takes pride in crafting special spaces that bring warmth and beauty into your home. Our true design/build process seamlessly weaves together the roles of architect, builder, artisan, and craftsman into a collaborative process with our clients.
Principal Duncan Thorne holds a Bachelor of Architecture from UC Berkeley and brings over 28 years of experience to every project. He works closely with each client to understand their aesthetic interests and creates something that meets both vision and budget — whether a kitchen remodel, a basement transformation, or a complete custom home.
“The result is a home that you will truly love to live in.”
We serve Framingham, Acton, Concord, Lexington, Newton, Sudbury, Wayland, Weston, Natick, Marlborough, and throughout MetroWest Boston.
Thorne Design & Build designed and built 3 projects in our Victorian home — a kitchen remodel, basement transformation, and full construction of a study and loft. Each project was unique, creative, and beautifully designed. Duncan worked closely with me to understand my interests for each space.
Victorian Home Owner
Kitchen, Basement & Study — MetroWest, MA · ★ Houzz
From first sketch to final finish — one firm, one vision, zero hand-offs.
Ground-up custom homes designed for your site, your lifestyle, and your vision. We manage architecture, permits, engineering coordination, and full construction.
Thoughtful additions, garage conversions, and carriage houses that respect the original architecture while adding meaningful, lasting space.
Comprehensive transformations that reimagine how your home works — improving flow, light, and livability from the bones up.
Signature kitchens with built-in nooks, reclaimed wood, stained glass, and custom millwork. Basements transformed into true living spaces with acid-stained floors and creative finishes.
Custom studies with live-edge desks, ladder lofts, pipe railings, diamond windows, and bespoke details that make a room truly yours.
Initial consultations are always complimentary. Let’s talk about what you’re imagining.
Contact Us →Thorne Design & Build is exceptional. Duncan Thorne is a rare combination of designer, architect, and builder. He designs and builds beautiful, unique spaces from remodels to entire homes. The entire team was friendly, accommodating, careful, and respectful of all of my personal belongings and property.
Verified Homeowner
Full Remodel — Framingham, MA · ★ Angi
My wife and I were so nervous when water was coming in the attic and we had solar panels on the roof. They scheduled us in for a look into the cause and were able to fix that and another roof issue in the same visit. Absolute pleasure to deal with and would recommend to anyone.
Homeowner
Roof Repair — MetroWest, MA · ★ Angi
We don’t add sustainability as an afterthought. It’s embedded in how we orient a building, how we select materials, and how we detail every assembly.
Every project is designed to last longer, consume less, and age more gracefully than conventional construction.
Continuous insulation, meticulous air sealing, and thermal bridge-free assemblies that dramatically reduce heating and cooling loads.
Reclaimed wood, acid-stained concrete, live-edge lumber, and regionally sourced stone — materials that carry history and get better with time.
All new construction and major remodels are designed solar-ready and electrification-friendly from day one.
We build once, and we build it right — structures that will still be standing, and still be beautiful, in a hundred years.
Rigorous architectural training applied to every project — from a napkin sketch to a completed home.
Construction Supervisor License (CSL) and Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration.
Deep knowledge of local building codes, climate, and the unique character of MetroWest homes.
“We don’t just build green — we build buildings that will still be standing, and still be beautiful, in a hundred years.”
— Duncan Thorne, PrincipalWe have been so impressed with Duncan’s design and execution skills that we hired him for 4 separate projects on our house — a room division, living room/basement redesign, complete bathroom replacements, and a major addition of a garage & mudroom with many complex challenges.
We loved the work Duncan did building this home. The thought process during the build was extraordinary. Sunshine comes in at planned times of the day and ideal sightlines bring in the outdoors. He preserved the natural landscape so the inside of the house rolls right into it.
I’ve used Thorne Design & Build for a couple significant projects. In both cases I couldn’t have been more satisfied. His greatest asset is his creativity and vision — he brings ideas I hadn’t considered or thought possible, and the reason I will use him for my next project.
Duncan is incredible! He has done three major projects for us, including a $150k two-story addition. Everything he says is 150% honest and absolutely filled with integrity. He is a gifted designer and a great architect — years at an architecture school shows in every detail.
Duncan Thorne Design & Build has done quite a bit of work for us including a bathroom rehab, a 2-car garage with loft, and a deck with stairway down our steep hill — all much admired by neighbors. We are very happy to recommend Duncan Thorne and his company.
Thorne Design & Build designed and built 3 projects in our Victorian home — a kitchen remodel, basement transformation, and full construction of a study and loft. Each project was unique, creative, and beautifully designed. Duncan worked closely with me to understand my interests for each space.
Every great home begins with a conversation. Tell us what you’re imagining — we’ll tell you what’s possible. Initial consultations are always complimentary.