CASESTUDY

Gruver Cooley

Rebranding a time-tested high-end East Coast homebuilder.

The Client

As a generational builder company that has been family-owned since 1908, Gruver Cooley wanted to transform its 115-year-old business into a brand for generations to come.

The Challenge

The majority of businesses don’t last a century. Even if they do, the business has had to evolve drastically over the years. Gruver Cooley found themselves at a new chapter in their journey as the company passes to the next generation and further introduces interior design services along their building expertise and needed a brand that envelopes this and can further grow the business.

Gruver Cooley logo
The Strategy

Reposition the brand to mean more than just home building, but full estate design and build. Since the expertise is reinforced by 100 years of experience, the brand needed to be elevated to best represent the luxury homes they create as well as the award-winning interior design expertise.

The Design

The brand’s identity design needed to not just speak of luxury, but also expertise and precision. Designing the custom wordmark in tandem with a minimalistic monogram both leans into the history of the brand’s family name but also shows the expertise of their craft with refined typography.

The Creative Solution*

By elevating the perception of the brand through visual elements, the business is now able to focus on its expertise in building and designing “heirloom” homes while still leveraging its impressive century of craftsmanship. This helps move the business forward as it grows while building from its history of expertise.

The Results


A refined and elegant brand that mirrors the quality of the homes they build and that will carry them forward for the next 100 years.

As someone with a collegiate-level background in marketing and graphic design, I’ve always understood the value of strong branding. Our company, with its 116-year history, had branding that hadn’t been fully addressed in over a decade. Motif came in with deep market insight and a thoughtful approach, helping us create a brand that not only reflects who we are today but will carry us into the future. Their process was seamless, ensuring that we stayed true to our roots while embracing a more dynamic identity. The results go beyond a new logo and website—they gave us a strategic foundation that will guide our decision-making for years to come.

– Cathleen Gruver

*Learn more why our solutions drive results.

Gruver Cooley logo
Gruver Cooley business cards
Gruver Cooley print ad
Gruver Cooley website
Gruver Cooley brand mark
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