Sable Building & Design is a family-owned, full-service construction and design firm based in St. John’s, Newfoundland. We deliver custom homes, renovations, and commercial projects through a clear, collaborative, and process-driven approach. We combine thoughtful design with skilled craftsmanship to create functional spaces that reflect how people live and work.
Our Process
The Sable process provides a clear path from the first conversation to the final build. We’ve built our process to be transparent, collaborative, and adaptable so you always know what to expect, and always feel in control of your project.
Step 1 Initial Connection
Reach out and we’ll connect to understand your project and determine if we’re the right fit.
Step 2 Discovery & Planning
We learn your goals, lifestyle, and vision to set a strong foundation for the project.
Step 3 Proposal & Design
We provide a clear proposal and begin plans or renderings to align before building starts.
Step 4 Collaboration & Build
Construction begins with your preferred level of involvement—from hands-on to fully managed.
Step 5 Transparency
We track materials and labour in detail, with clear updates and open communication throughout.
Step 6 Ongoing Partnership
We tailor the process to you, adapting along the way to ensure a smooth, successful experience.
Sable recently completed a comprehensive restoration of our heritage property. The project was extensive and technically complex, involving significant upgrades to water and sewer systems, plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling. In addition, floors were restored, walls and ceilings were repainted, plasterwork was repaired, a new kitchen and new bathrooms were installed, and a substantial addition was constructed. Throughout the duration of the restoration, we were consistently impressed by Sable’s professionalism and the exceptional quality of their work. Adam and his team were approachable and communicative at every stage of the project. Their expertise in working with historic properties was evident, as was their ability to address the unique challenges these projects present.
Chris Ryan
Sable is equally at home managing small, straightforward jobs as well as large, complex projects. Adam has built a team that is hardworking, capable, and committed to quality. They consistently bring a friendly, approachable, and honest attitude to their work, which makes the process easier and more collaborative for everyone involved. In my experience, whatever the challenge, Sable is top-in-class in Newfoundland and Labrador. I have every confidence they will be an excellent partner on this project and deliver results that meet, and likely exceed, expectation.
Andrew Furey
As the owner of Coastal Energy, Inc., I have worked with Sable as a client for the past 7 years and have first-hand experience of their professionalism, workmanship, and integrity. Both their management team and employees are courteous, reliable, and highly skilled. They possess excellent project management skills and are incredibly detailed and methodical in their approach, ensuring projects are carefully planned and executed with precision. Their attention to detail is second to none, and they are always looking for a challenge, which makes them a trusted partner on even the most complex projects.
Benjamin C. Peddle
I hired Sable to overhaul my back garden and could not be happier with the results and the process as a whole. The job involved landscaping and building a new deck plus tear down of the old deck and excavation of an established weed jungle. I have a row house downtown and it was a tricky job to squeeze an excavator in plus time consuming work to bring materials and sod in and out. But the team on the project were total pros. They took pride in their work and were meticulous about cleaning up after themselves at the end of every day. I also found Sable totally transparent in the initial quote and the final bill. I would highly recommend Sable to anyone who wants a good job done and peace of mind about their contractors. And I would call on them again for future projects.
Sharon Bala
I’ve had the pleasure of working on numerous residential & commercial building & renovation projects with Sable via my well-established design practice. Sable’s service standard, work ethic & ability to translate vision to reality is impeccable, their pricing is fair and their rate of client satisfaction is extremely consistent. As a busy professional within the competitive design & build industry in St. John’s, I recommend Sable to my clients without hesitation.
Doug Allen
I hired Sable to transform a two-story house into a state of the art dental clinic. This company is a pleasure to work with. Timelines were adhered to, all the employees were hardworking, pleasant and respectful, and the owners lead by example.
Gillian Peters
Sable is always a pleasure to work with. They are totally comfortable executing a plan in a time and budget friendly manner but they are so much more. You can conjure up new ideas with them and think outside the box to create something that is truly one of a kind.
Alan Doyle
Sable Building and Design Ltd. was the contractor for one of my recent projects, the renovation of #38 Hayward Avenue in the neighbourhood of Georgestown, St. John’s. I was very pleased with their dedication to this project that required nearly the complete reconstruction of an old house in a heritage conservation area in challenging winter conditions. The quality of the work of their employees and subcontractors was excellent, and Sable’s principals, Doug and Adam, were a pleasure to work with. A testament to the quality of their work was the “Built Heritage Award” we received from the City of St. John’s in February 2017.
Robert Mellin, Architect
Sable Construction, led by Doug La Prairie and Adam Steffler Minty, successfully managed and completed a major, complex renovation of our heritage, award-winning home in the summer of 2017. They efficiently organized a highly professional, friendly and reliable team of expert tradespeople and personally supervised the work throughout the process. They and their team gave 100% of their attention to a renovation that required great skill and imagination. All the while respecting our views about design, budgets and timing, they dealt quickly and with integrity with every issue that arose. We would hire Sable Construction again in a heartbeat and have recommended them to all our friends. It was a pleasure to share the summer of 2017 with Doug, Adam and their team.
Our team specializes in challenging construction projects. From architecturally designed houses, historical restorations, to extreme commercial retrofits, we are equipped to meet any and every challenge that may arise.
If you’re planning on building a custom prefab home, look no further than East Coast Modern, our architectural partner based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. ECM designs premium modern dwellings inspired by beautiful East Coast landscapes.
A highlight of Sable’s relationship with renewable energy and conservation is Stardust Solar Avalon. We work with Stardust to install solar array systems on residential homes in the St. John’s Metropolitan area. Stardust is Canada’s first coast-to-coast solar franchise network and has been operating on the Avalon since 2023. We see solar as a primary utility of the future and are eager to work it into more of our designs.
Whether you’re planning a new build, exploring design ideas, or ready to get started, our team is here to guide you through the process from concept to completion.
