April 8, 2026

Boris Gelfenbeyn is bringing homeowners' dreams to life, one remodel at a time

Photos courtesy Haus Atelier [enlarge]

Haus Atelier specializes in single-family remodel and interior design projects.

Boris Gelfenbeyn is the founder of Haus Atelier. The design-build and interior design firm, which launched in 2015, specializes in custom single-family projects in the Seattle area, crafting what he calls “beautifully reimagined spaces” that range from fireplace to full-home remodels.

A self-proclaimed tinkerer since a young age, Gelfenbeyn has always had design-building in his DNA, it just took a few years and a “curvy path” before his passion for building and design turned into a thriving career.

Gelfenbeyn was born in Moscow, in the then-Soviet Union in 1980, and like many children of that generation was encouraged by his family to pursue a career in medicine (his father was a prominent neurosurgeon in the city). That led him to a degree in medicine and biochemistry at the Russian State Medical University followed by a career in science research, including a stint at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, and later in medical device manufacturing in Seattle and Bellevue.

At Haus Atelier, Gelfenbeyn personally leads every phase of the design and remodeling process — from working with homeowners to define their vision to hands-on construction and project oversight.

Gelfenbeyn

I recently sat down with Gelfenbeyn to talk about his career, how his unique background influences his work, his passion for helping homeowners realize their dream spaces, and some of the trends he is seeing in the local remodeling and interior design market.

Q. Why did you decide to make the switch from a career in life science research and medical device manufacturing to home remodeling?

A. Product development and product creation in life sciences and medical devices is a very long process – it can take years, and sometimes decades. I worked on many projects with many teams, but I never saw the final product. In construction, the timeline from idea to working concept and then to the final “build” (or product) is much shorter; it's usually a few months and it's emotionally rewarding. I find it very meaningful to see the outcome of my work and effort.

In design/build, I own the entire process from the idea to the actualization. Not to say that I'm the only one participating in the process, but I'm deeply involved throughout every stage. Seeing that direct and (by comparison) immediate impact from my actions and ideas is what makes my work so interesting every day.

I've also always loved engineering, the creative process, and the construction and building process itself. I'm really good at it and it comes very naturally, so it's a perfect match.

[enlarge]

Gelfenbeyn says many clients are interested in bedroom/bathroom suite remodels.

Q. How do you think your background in biotech engineering influences your work as a design-builder?

A. For me design/build feels like a similar calling to life sciences and medical devices in that I'm working to solve a problem to make life better for those I serve.

In that regard, I think I'm doing the same thing, just in a different field. When you are working in any scientific field, you're always on the cutting edge of what's understood and what's to be discovered. You're looking at what's beyond what is already known. Thus, you're always taking on a new challenge and asking yourself, “what is possible, and how could this problem be solved?”

At Haus Atelier, I operate now with the exact same mindset. What are the problems or challenges my clients are facing, and what are best possible solutions we can come up with using the most relevant technologies, products, designs, and so forth? It's a process that I find deeply satisfying.

Q. How do you help clients design the spaces of their dreams? What is the process like from start to finish?

A. It begins with a conversation — usually a series of meetings where we learn about our clients, the life they live, their daily activities, what problems they're trying to solve, and what they are looking to create.

We always start by defining what function the new space has to serve. What are the issues our work has to address and improve? Then comes the “form” and “look,” where we consider things like finishes and design details. As we approach the end of the design process, we have a very good understanding of the space we're going to build, with 3-D pictures and renderings. However, this is still not a real space, so we build into our process the ability to make changes after the physical work begins.

Typically, the design is about 80% complete when the physical work begins. This is intentional as some elements are left to be confirmed as the space starts to take its shape and clients can stand inside it, see it, and make decisions based on how they feel within that physical space.

During construction, we're in constant communication. We review every small phase and project milestone with our clients to make sure that we're still on track and that the space is coming together just the way our clients want it. By the time the project is finished, all those decisions we made along the way with our clients are reflected in their new space.

For us, it's less about one big unveiling or a big WOW moment. Instead, once it's all clean and ready for occupancy, it looks and feels as close to perfect as possible, with every small element chosen and approved by our client.

Q. What makes this line of work so enjoyable and rewarding?

A. First, I get to come up with my own concepts and bring them to life, working in collaboration with my team and with our clients.

I also come across challenges that I'm able to address, which is fun and enjoyable. It's like a riddle. You know there is a solution and you just need to figure it out.

It's very emotionally rewarding to be able to make someone happy. I get to create and deliver big things to people and watch them become jubilant about it. It's like a drug because it's so exciting and emotionally rewarding.

Q. What are some past projects that stand out to you and why?

A. I've been able to work on a few projects for clients' young children, and those were very special because watching a little kid's reaction when they see their dream come true is priceless.

Every project where we were able to really impact someone's life or where we've built something (someone has) been dreaming about is truly special.

For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic we got a call from a client whose daughter was getting married. They wanted to do it at their property, and they wanted to do it soon. They asked us to build them an outdoor space to facilitate the wedding. We managed to do it in just a few weeks, and it was super special to help bring that event to life — something that meant so much for that family — during such a challenging time.

Q. What is the biggest compliment a client could pay you?

A. “I cannot believe you guys were able to solve it. We love it and you made it so easy.”

Q. What is a dream project you would like to work on?

A. I would love to work on building a really unique custom house from the ground up — something that is designed to blend into a unique and stunning landscape — something like Kellogg Doolittle Residence in Joshua Tree, California.

Q. Since you founded Haus Atelier, what are some of the biggest shifts/changes that you have seen in the home improvement/renovation space?

A. We're seeing more homes either built our redesigned as multi-generational.

It also seems that the quality of new construction homes is lower.

Design styles have also changed due to demographics. It's much less “conservative,” and people are interested in more authentic and personalized architecture and interiors.

In addition, the growth of smart home technology is also changing how people live in their homes, and I expect we'll continue to see technology create significant — and I hope positive — impacts on residential living.

Q. How would you describe the current market/demand for home improvements/renovations in the Seattle area? Are there any trends that stand out?

A. The demand is strong, at least for our work, and I would say that most of our clients are in upper-middle income brackets.

In terms of trends, many of our clients are interested in bedroom/bathroom suite remodels, and as I said earlier, demand for multi-generational households seems to be growing. We're also doing a lot of work redesigning common living areas, as well as very specific design features like fireplace remodels.

Q. I know you are passionate about improvements that allow homeowners to age in place. What do these projects often look like and why are they dear to you?

A. When we're younger, relocating or moving is exciting and is not as big of a deal. As we get older and our lives become more settled, moving represents a huge change and can come with many risks. We have to settle into a new environment, develop new ways of living in a new space, build new connections, and more.

Because of this, for many people, the option to stay in your home and to live comfortably in the place where everything is familiar is a preferred choice. That's why we focus on aging in place modifications to help our clients get their homes ready for what's coming next.

These projects vary wildly in their scope. Sometimes it's finding a way to bring a laundry room to the same floor as the master bedroom. Sometimes it's rebuilding a bathroom with aging-in-place elements like non-slip tiles or benches or stools in showers. Sometimes it's rethinking the stairs and the handrails, or redesigning a kitchen to make it easier to reach storage, or reduce the need to carry heavy objects from one place to another (for example, by installing a faucet above the stove so that pots can be filled without being lifted).

Whatever the challenge, we work to find the right design solution that will enable our clients to live in their homes longer, and with a great quality of life.

Haus Atelier was formerly Monsters Toolbox.