Designs by D&J LLC is a Brooklyn-based, owner-led design-build and general contracting firm serving New York City, Northern New Jersey, Westchester, and Long Island. Founded by Dominique Gabriel and Jay Sylvester, the company delivers high-quality residential, commercial, institutional, and public-sector renovation work with a focus on transparency, craftsmanship, compliance, and disciplined project execution.
The firm specializes in high-end residential renovations, including co-op and condo renovations, brownstone and townhouse restorations, kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, full gut renovations, apartment combinations, and custom interior upgrades. Designs by D&J is especially experienced with the building types that define New York City, including pre-war co-ops, condos, brownstones, townhouses, and complex urban properties that require board approvals, DOB coordination, permits, insurance documentation, and careful site logistics.
Designs by D&J is MWBE-certified, licensed and insured, OSHA compliant, and EPA Lead-Safe certified. The company combines hands-on owner leadership with institutional-grade project controls, giving clients a clear process from discovery and scope development through estimating, scheduling, construction, punch list, and closeout. Internal materials describe the firm as “Design-Forward. Owner-Led. Built Right.” and position the company as a credentialed Brooklyn design-build contractor serving NYC and Northern New Jersey.
The company is led by Dominique Gabriel and Jay Sylvester, a husband-and-wife team with deep experience across construction operations, client management, design coordination, trade oversight, permitting, scheduling, and quality control. Their leadership has been strengthened through programs including Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Columbia University’s CU Grow Construction program, Turner School of Construction Management, NYPA PowerUp 2030, and the NYC SBS Bonding Capacity Program. Your homepage rewrite also positions the firm around this credential stack and recommends making those credentials visible as a major trust signal.
For residential clients, Designs by D&J provides a structured renovation experience built around clear communication, line-item pricing, milestone-based payments, proactive updates, clean jobsite practices, and a strong finish standard. Typical project types range from $25K kitchen refreshes and $30K+ bathroom renovations to $100K+ full-home renovations and $250K+ brownstone or townhouse projects. The firm’s goal is to bring the discipline of institutional construction into private homes, so homeowners get not only strong craftsmanship but also organized documentation, scheduling, compliance, and closeout.
In addition to private residential work, Designs by D&J actively serves commercial, institutional, and public-sector clients. The company’s capability materials describe it as a certified WMBE small business delivering renovation and rehabilitation services for private, corporate, and government buildings across New York State, New Jersey, Westchester, and Long Island, with bonding capacity listed at $750,000. Past and current work includes full-gut renovations, window replacement, mechanical upgrades, interior finishes, and commercial energy-efficiency projects such as multi-family HVAC retrofits.
What separates Designs by D&J from other contractors is the combination of design sensitivity, field knowledge, owner involvement, and compliance readiness. The company is built for clients who want their renovation handled professionally from the first call to final walkthrough, with real accountability from the people whose names are on the business.
A shorter polished version:
Designs by D&J LLC is a Brooklyn-based, MWBE-certified design-build and general contracting firm led by Dominique Gabriel and Jay Sylvester. Serving New York City, Northern New Jersey, Westchester, and Long Island, the company specializes in high-end residential renovations, co-op and condo renovations, brownstone restorations, kitchens, bathrooms, full gut renovations, commercial interiors, and public-sector construction support.
Owner-led and compliance-ready, Designs by D&J combines design-forward thinking with disciplined construction execution. The firm is licensed and insured, OSHA compliant, EPA Lead-Safe certified, and experienced with board approvals, DOB coordination, permits, insurance documentation, and complex urban renovation logistics. From private homes to institutional projects, Designs by D&J delivers clear communication, transparent pricing, strong craftsmanship, and organized project management from concept to closeout.
