Welcome to KJB
KJB Homes is a woman-owned, Minneapolis area remodeling company, operating since 2015.
Discover the Heart of KJB Homes
Our company mission is to create custom remodels that preserve the integrity of traditional Minneapolis-area homes while also incorporating modern elements and fresh perspective into each design.
Our full service team of construction professionals are committed to providing personalized, professional service to our clients through every step of their remodeling journey from initial planning to project completion.
Meet Katy Bonello
Katy Bonello, owner and general contractor at KJB Homes, has over ten years of experience in the home remodeling industry. She started learning residential project management and design in 2012 through her mentor, Al Theisen of Al Theisen Homes. Her focus has always been primarily on renovations of traditional Southwest Minneapolis houses.
In 2015, she acquired her general contractors license and established her own remodeling LLC, with a vision to build a brand that worked with and honored the personality of each individual city home, and preserved the uniqueness of Minneapolis neighborhood architecture.
To date, Katy has successfully completed over 125 remodeling projects alongside a devoted team of subcontractors and vendors, and exclusively runs her business on word-of-mouth referrals and local sponsorships in the community.
Katy believes that the key to success is a combination of good communication, thorough processes, and strong, trusting relationships with her team and her clients.
Meet Derek Bonello
Derek Bonello, general manager at KJB Homes and also Katy’s husband, has an MBA from the Carlson School of Management and worked in product development and internal consulting roles in corporate america for over a decade before deciding to make a career change and join the family remodeling business in 2019.
Katy was experiencing exponential growth with KJB Homes and needed help with accounting, project management, and company development planning. Since KJB Homes welcomed him to the team, Derek has helped with multiple process improvements that include mastering the Chief Architect CAD program in order to elevate the initial design phase experience for clients, and also re-worked the model used for on site project management to making it more streamlined and efficient.
He is the primary on site project manager and oversees communications with clients regarding project status and scheduling once work begins.
Derek is also a real estate agent licensed with Coldwell Banker Realty in the State of Minnesota where he works with the Al Theisen Team.
Meet Al Theisen
Al Theisen of Al Theisen Homes has been in residential remodeling for 32 years, and has been a consultant for KJB Homes since 2015. During his tenure in the construction industry, he has been the quintessential “jack of all trades” and has a vast knowledge of all things house-related. He was a general contractor from 1993-2018, and although he now primarily focuses on real estate with his award winning team at Coldwell Banker, he is still heavily involved in the remodeling scene.
Al's committed involvement with KJB Homes brings an extra level of knowledge and perspective to our operation that is a benefit to both the KJB Homes team and our clients. Outside of work, Al is a travel and fitness enthusiast, and enjoys spending time with family, including his four children, and his first grandchild, Luca, who is Katy and Derek’s son, born in 2023.
Meet Rick Cary
Rick Cary of Cary Construction has been in the residential remodeling industry for 28 years and has experience working in a variety of trades, including siding, window installation, framing, excavation, drywall, flooring, cabinetry and trimwork.
Rick began contracting with Al Theisen Homes and KJB Homes in 2015 doing siding work, and in 2023 became a contracted project manager for KJB Homes. Rick enjoys being part of a project from beginning to end so that he can apply his knowledge and experience of the industry into various phases of a remodel, and has been a huge asset to Katy and Derek’s company since taking on the project management role due to his attention to detail and outstanding communication. Outside of work, Rick enjoys road trips, camping, and kayaking with his wife and children.
Our Remodeling and Real Estate Team
KJB Homes, LLC is a woman-owned business led by Katy Bonello, a general contractor in the state of Minnesota. Katy’s remodeling team consists of 2 project managers, Rick Cary and Derek Bonello, and over 50 subcontractors that have been part of the family business since its inception.
Derek is also a Realtor on Al Theisen’s award winning Coldwell Banker real estate team, making us a “one stop shop” for real estate, remodeling and design services in the Twin Cities area.
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Serving the Southwest Minneapolis area for over 11 years.
FAQs
Here are answers to some of the most common questions we receive about our services.
Our process begins with an initial consultation that takes place at your home to understand your vision. We then create a customized remodeling plan that includes design, budget, and timeline considerations.
Throughout the project, we maintain open communication to discuss project advancement and ensure that we are creating realistic expectations from week to week regarding on site activity, design decisions that need to be made, and other important updates.
Yes, we provide free 30-60 minute initial consultations to discuss your remodeling and/or real estate goals. This is a great opportunity to see if we are the right fit for your project. This is the time to ask questions about our company and our processes, and where we will ask you about your scope, budget and timeline goals to give us a better understanding of what you’re hoping to achieve.
We primarily serve South and Southwest Minneapolis, as well as Edina. Our team is familiar with the unique characteristics of these neighborhoods, which allows us to create designs that respect the local architecture.
We also consult on remodels in nearby suburbs like Saint Louis Park, Richfield, Bloomington and Golden Valley, and have gone as far as Summit Avenue in Saint Paul if we find that we are a good fit. We tend to only do larger scale remodels in these areas.
The duration of a project depends on its scope and complexity. We provide a timeline during the planning phase to give you a clear expectation. Our team works efficiently to keep you abreast of changes and evolution as the project progresses.
Transform Your Home with Us
Schedule a consultation to discuss your real estate and remodeling goals.
