Our Team - Lee Austin

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Lee Austin, Owner/President

With a balance of creativity and functionality, Lee Austin leads an award-winning design, construction and installation team to achieve design and functional excellence in his role as owner and president of Design Studio West.

Lee has held his general contractor's license for nearly 30 years as president of Lee Austin Construction, Inc. Throughout this time, he has developed long-standing working relationships with building industry professionals, suppliers, and building department officials.

After providing construction services to Design Studio West for nearly 25 years, Lee's vision of creating a full-service, design-build company became a reality. In 2001, Lee purchased Design Studio West and today serves as president. Lee and his team provide everything from initial concepts to final designs and specifications through to final project completion.

The long-term success of Design Studio West hinges largely on Lee and the Design Studio West team forming alliances and ong-term relationships with architects, custom builders, and interior designers, and never providing products or services an alliance partner offers.

His team-driven approach instills confidence in alliance partners, clients, team members, and subcontractors alike. His strength is being able to identify challenges quickly and exceed the expectations of San Diego's most discriminating architects, custom builders, interior designers, and homeowners.

Lee, his wife Dana, and their three children are all native San Diegans. The Austin family enjoys travel, off-road sports, skiing, and youth sports. Lee formerly served as chief of the La Jolla YMCA Trail Blazers Adventure Program and on the YMCA Board of Directors.

Testimonials:

"From beginning to end, your team was terrific. Design Studio West took extra time to understand what we were trying to accomplish and shaped our ideas into a spectacular kitchen and living space. The construction and installation process went very smoothly even with the curveballs we threw in like the new roof and gas retrofit ... A good contractor can follow a plan when there are no surprises, but you demonstrated your excellence in dealing with the dynamics of our complicated project. It works terrific and work marvelously." - T. Canty

"We cannot give yoru team enough praise. Design Studio West took our wants and needs and interpreted them into a workable design, tweaking the details over and over to satisfy this designer / architect combo who have been around long enough to think they know most things. Your t eam had patience! We are thrilled with the results of your efforts." - J. Alcorn

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Testimonials

"Traci Taylor was wonderful. She listened to me and offered advice that went with our home!"

- C. Grannis
"We love our kitchen! It's lovelier than we expected. Absolutely terrific. Proud of the results!"

- G. Kelper
"We love our new kitchen. The finished product well exceeds our expectations! Marge Dean was wonderful to work with and was very creative."

- B. Zeiner
"Creative ways to deal with problems and excellent people to work with."

- T. Heitman
"You are very fortunate to have Dave as an employee. He not only lets you know when he's coming but arrives promptly, works diligently, and does a professional job. His happy disposition (never complaining) and his confidence in his ability to handle his tasks puts one to ease."

- P. Callentine
"From beginning to end, your team was terrific. Design Studio West took extra time to understand what we were trying to accomplish and shaped our ideas into a spectacular kitchen and living space. You were very gentle in redirecting our worst ideas. The construction and installation process went very smoothly even with the curve balls we threw in like the new roof and gas retrofit ... A good contractor can follow a plan when there are no surprises, but you demonstrated your excellence in dealing with the dynamics of our complicated project. We have had several large dinner parties and we are still shocked at how fast the area cleans up. It looks terrific and works marvelously."

- J. Alcorn
"From beginning to end, your team was terrific. Design Studio West took extra time to understand what we were trying to accomplish and shaped our ideas into a spectacular kitchen and living space.You were very gentle in redirecting our worst ideas. The construction and installation process went very smoothly even with the curve balls we threw in like the new roof and gas retrofit ... A good contractor can follow a plan when there are no surprises, but you demonstrated your excellence in dealing with the dynamics of our complicated project. We have had several large dinner parties and we are still shocked at how fast the area cleans up. It looks terrific and works marvelously."

- T. Canty
"It has been such a pleasure doing business with you for the past five years. I have referred many of my friends to you and hope some have contacted with you."

- B. Cope
"Having our whole project managed by one company where the designer, project coordinator, craftsman and artisans knew each other, was absolutely essential. Margaret Dean was the best! She responded immediately, shopped for ideas with me and had very creative ideas. She made a small space workable and attractive."

- G. Galdorisi