Gumerson Blake Design Build in Oklahoma City: Custom Home Builder with Direct Oversight

Gumerson Blake Design Build is a full-service residential construction company that handles design, permitting, and build phases under one roof, operating at the mid-to-upper range of Oklahoma City's general contractor market and serving homeowners who want a single point of accountability from conception through move-in.

What Gumerson Blake Design Build actually is

The firm operates as a design-build contractor, meaning it combines architectural design with construction management rather than acting as a general contractor who bids on plans drawn elsewhere. This eliminates the coordination gap between designer and builder that often creates cost overruns and timeline delays on residential projects. The company works on custom homes and substantial renovations, not tract development or spec builds. It is licensed and insured in Oklahoma and holds the licensing required to pull permits in Oklahoma County and surrounding jurisdictions.

Services and pricing approach

Gumerson Blake Design Build offers three core services: design consultation, permit acquisition, and construction. The company does not publish flat pricing online because residential construction costs depend on materials, square footage, site conditions, and finishes chosen. A typical custom home build in the Oklahoma City area starts around $200 to $250 per square foot for mid-range finishes (not economy, not luxury); a 3,000-square-foot home would therefore fall in the $600,000 to $750,000 range, though finishes and site prep can push that significantly higher. Renovation pricing is quoted per project after an initial consultation and site walk, usually running 15 to 25 percent higher per square foot than new construction due to unknowns and material salvage complexity.

The design phase typically costs $5,000 to $15,000 depending on project scope and the number of design revisions included. This fee is often credited back against construction costs if the client moves forward with building. Permits are pulled by the company and bundled into the overall contract; Oklahoma City municipal permits for residential construction generally run $800 to $2,000 depending on the project valuation, and this cost is passed through to the client.

Construction timelines for a custom home range from 6 to 9 months depending on complexity and material availability. The company typically requires a 25 percent deposit to begin design, another 25 percent at permit approval, and progress payments tied to construction milestones rather than a fixed schedule.

How it compares to other Oklahoma City general contractors

Gumerson Blake differs from larger production builders like Maracay Homes or Ashton Woods, which operate on standardized floor plans and faster timelines (4 to 6 months) with lower per-square-foot costs ($180 to $220 for new construction). Those builders prioritize speed and predictability; choose them if you want a known product and quick occupancy. Gumerson Blake suits homeowners willing to spend 2 to 4 extra months and 10 to 15 percent more to customize every aspect of the home.

It also differs from smaller residential contractors who take on jobs one at a time with minimal design involvement. Those operators are cheaper but offer no architectural guidance and often require owners to hire a separate architect. Gumerson Blake bundles design into the contract, reducing coordination risk and typically resulting in better-integrated systems and fewer field changes.

Compared to high-end custom builders in Nichols Hills or Edmond (which charge $300 to $400 per square foot), Gumerson Blake sits in the accessible luxury range: genuine custom design and oversight without the premium price tag of the most established names in the market.

Who it suits and who it does not suit

Gumerson Blake works well for first-time custom home builders, empty nesters downsizing to a purpose-built home, and owners with specific site constraints (wooded lots, difficult terrain) that require adaptive design. It also serves homeowners renovating older properties where existing conditions demand problem-solving beyond a standard contractor's scope.

It does not suit buyers seeking homes under $400,000, those with rigid move-in deadlines under 5 months, or homeowners who want to manage subcontractors themselves without a general contractor intermediary. It is not a fit for spec or investment builds where cost per unit is the only metric.

What the first meeting involves

An initial consultation (typically 30 to 60 minutes) includes a site walk, discussion of budget and timeline, and a review of reference homes the company has built. Owners bring inspiration images, a rough budget, and an idea of desired square footage; the team assesses feasibility given the site and local code constraints. After this meeting, the owner decides whether to move forward with a formal design contract.

Hours, location, and logistics

Gumerson Blake operates out of Oklahoma City proper with a showroom and design office on the north side (confirm current address and hours before visiting, as design-build firms sometimes operate by appointment rather than walk-in availability). The company maintains an onsite supervisor during construction phases; owners can arrange job-site visits during standard business hours, typically Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., though this varies per project.

Gumerson Blake Design Build merits inclusion because it fills the middle market between tract builders and boutique luxury firms, offering real design involvement and single-point accountability at a price most serious custom-home buyers in Oklahoma City can access.