Our History
Remodeling, Building & Designing Beautiful Spaces for Over 50 Years
History of Winston Brown Remodeling in Kansas
Winston Brown Remodeling has been a leader in residential remodeling for over 50 years, and was one of the first to introduce the design-build concept to the Topeka and Lawrence markets.
Founded in 1974 by Gary W. Brown in Lawrence, Kansas, the company quickly expanded to Topeka and established a reputation for high-quality craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and a seamless construction experience.
In 2007, Gary’s son Jake Brown took over leadership, continuing the family legacy while evolving the business for a new generation of homeowners. In 2019, Winston Brown expanded its presence to the Kansas City area with a fully staffed office, extending its trusted design-build approach throughout the region.
A Top Remodeling Company With Numerous Awards
Over the years Winston Brown has received numerous awards and recognition on both national and local levels.
We have been recognized as one of the top remodelers in Topeka by Qualified Remodeler’s Top 500.
Winston Brown Remodeling has also been named finalist and winner of the Chrysalis Award, one of the most prestigious awards recognized throughout the remodeling industry and around the country.
Most recently, we have been voted 2020 “Best Of Customer Service” Award by houzz.com, 2016 Best of Topeka by Topeka Capital-Journal, 2015 Topeka’s Favorite Remodeler by WIBW.
Winston Brown earns national ranking in remodeling industry
Winston Brown Construction, 29th and Wanamaker, now in its 15th year, has gained national recognition by being ranked 209th in the nation by “Qualified Remodeler,” a national trade publication.
The ranking was based on the dollar volume and services offered by more than 75,000 remodelers nation-wide.
Winston Brown Construction received such a high ranking because of the diversity it has obtained in the remodeling industry. Their company is located at a modern office on the west edge of Topeka, with a showroom adjacent to display kitchens, baths, cabinets, whirlpools and also every size, color and shape of plumbing fixture available on the market. An interior design specialist is available in the showroom to answer customers’ questions.
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The historical renovation of a turn-of-the-century home in the Lecompton area has been featured on a local remodeling show, Home Revision, which was created by Alan Jack, vice president of Winston Brown Construction, and hosted by Gary Brown, president of the company. The 30-minute show airs on WIBW at 11 a.m. Saturday and includes a question-and-answer session where the host responds to written questions mailed into the show.
The old stone home, which dates back to 1900, was restored as nearly as possible to its original state by the company. Because of the magnitude of the renovation project, it was also entered in a national contest for remodelers.
Large volume, fair pricing, a modern mechanized office and showroom, and a television program promoting professionalism in the remodeling industry—these are the reasons Winston Brown Construction was ranked 209th in the nation by the remodeling industry.
Topeka Profile
Gary Brown
Name: Gary W. Brown
What do you do? Remodeling contractor.
Owner: Winston Brown Construction.
What do you like best about your job? Seeing drawings turn into projects.
What was your first job? Lumberyard estimator
Of what professional, charitable and civic organizations are you a member? Topeka Home Builders Association, Remodeling “Big 50” Club. (The Remodeling “Big 50” Club is made up of the top remodeling contractors in the United States as selected by Remodeling magazine.)
Age: 42
How long have you been in Topeka or the Topeka area? 36 years.
Education: Two years of college at Pittsburg State University.
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Please describe your career:
Fun, exciting, worthwhile. I started out in a lumberyard out of college. I was basically doing remodeling at the lumberyard. We would sell not just the materials, but, a lot of times, people would come in and say, “Well, now that you’ve sold me this material for this shed can you guys build it?” So we started selling them the labor to go along with it. As a 21-year-old I was making a pretty good living. So I thought, “Wow, if I did this on my own I could make a whole lot more.” That’s exactly what I did. I quit there in 1974 and just went out on my own.
What is the one thing you need the most in your work?
Too many to mention. If you look behind you (at a large erasable marker board), there’s 80 jobs we’re in the middle of. We have about 235 customers on that schedule right now. It gets a little hairy at times. You handle a lot of different things. You’ve got to keep pace with what’s happening in the field and remodeling. We try to do stuff that nobody else can handle or wants to handle. That’s one challenge. We have a good mix of people. Over half of our home improvement personnel are salaried-type people. Send people to seminars. Bottom-up management means the people out there know what they’re doing the best possible so management lets them make more of the decisions. If you have to come in and tell them how to do it you might as well do it yourself. Instead of giving that to someone, give enough management to get things moving in the right direction. If that direction is in your best interest, let it go. And it moves up to a level of personnel that I don’t have to spend time supervising, I can market and estimate.
What do you look for in an employee and how do you determine an employee’s success?
One of the biggest things is getting an attitude test. If you have the right attitude you can move anywhere in the company no matter what your skills are. If you don’t, there’s no place in our organization. Don’t lie, cheat or steal. Always satisfy the customer.
Describe your professional philosophy:
Don’t lie, cheat or steal. Always satisfy the customer.
What would be an ideal or perfect day for you?
No rain.
What do you do in your spare time?
Lift weights, workout, spend time on the farm.
What book did you last read?
“The Coming Economic Earthquake.”
Describe your family:
Wife, Joyce. Two natural kids, three step-kids — typical blended family. Supportive wife and good kids.
Gary Brown’s Winston Brown Construction has become a fixture here, and can help you think through a remodeling.
Thinking about remodeling or adding on to your house? Think quick — Gary Brown says his Winston Brown Construction is already looking for the spring.
And if you think you need three or more bids, think again. Brown says it’s a waste of time, since there’s no earthly way of knowing what you’re comparing. Every contractor is going to bid on different items and in different ways.
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Instead, he says, choose a reputable contractor and just negotiate a fair price. It doesn’t have to be any more complicated than that.
These are just some of the do’s and don’ts you get when visiting Winston Brown’s unique and uninitimidating showroom at 4015 S.W. 21st.
A lot of people have listened to Gary Brown over the years, with good reason. He will celebrate 25 years in business next year. And from 1987 to about 1994, his advice was featured on a local television show.
Meanwhile, his Winston Brown Construction name — “Winston” came from his middle name, if you’ve ever wondered — employs about 30, specializes in residential remodeling and additions and light commercial remodeling — and has become a fixture in the Topeka community.
Perhaps that’s because Brown tells it like it is, and lets the chips fall where they may. No surprises at bid time, which you’re likely to get from a contractor who estimates on the back of a business card.
Some more do’s and don’ts, then:
• Check out your remodeler through the Topeka Home Builders Association or Better Business Bureau.
• Ask for a written certificate of worker’s compensation insurance and proof of general liability insurance; otherwise, an injury may fall under your homeowners’ insurance.
• Get everything in writing, specified.
• Don’t try shortcuts, such as in the building permit process.
Don’t do it yourself unless you’re trained. On a professional kitchen remodel of $8,500, you’ll get $8,000 back at resale, or about 94 percent.
Winston Brown Construction, 4015 S.W. 21st, 271-1661.
