Vail is a hub of sports-centered activities with its snowboarding-friendly mountains and its welcoming fly-fishing creeks. The ski resort town is a tourist hotspot, especially during the summer, but residents who gravitate towards winter sports have also taken a liking to the climate and landscape of the destination. You might be considering settling in the area permanently, and if so, the first thing you’ll require is a roof above your head.
Here are some of the best custom home builders in Vail. These firms stood out from a pool of candidates: our editorial team chose each one for its industry background, the quality of its portfolio, and the kind of client feedback the firm has consistently received. Most of these companies specialize in retreat homes and single-family residences with an aesthetic style that matches the snowy domain. The builders included here mostly work on residential properties, save for a few that do light commercial developments.
Cohen Construction
210 Edwards Village Blvd, Unit A201, Edwards, CO 81632
Cohen Construction elevates people’s lives through sustainable spaces that provide comfort and function. As a construction elite in custom home building and remodeling, the firm balances the client’s lifestyle and style preferences in every project. A collaborative process, coupled with attention to detail, consistently yields quality results.
Owner Jeff Cohen has over 30-years worth of residential and commercial project experience, and projects he has completed are spread across Eagle County. These projects include winter getaway homes, new constructs, interior remodels, and condominium units. Cohen also provides related services as a Certified Green Professional (CGB) and a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS).
The Vermont Court in Vail is a modern mountain home with two separate, yet interconnected houses. The project is a collaboration between Cohen and Berglund Architects. The residence stands on a steep hillside, which initially presented construction challenges. The complex site, however, also fostered the creation of outdoor living space. This exterior hub includes a hot tub, a fireplace, a kitchen, and a fire-pit lounge.
Vail Custom Builders
100 East Meadow Drive, Suite #10, Vail, CO 81657
Vail Custom Builders is proficient in constructing homes tailor-made for various lifestyles. The versatile firm has an intimate set-up with a small crew of professionals dedicated to high-quality houses. Founder Ted Leach leads the operations with a single-minded focus, so his team only works on a select number of projects at a time.
Each property is carefully hand-crafted to provide solid craftsmanship and to guarantee optimal design. This meticulous commitment to high standards is evident in the builder’s portfolio. Its dynamic style ranges from towering retreat manors to rustic forest homes to contemporary dwellings.
The Beaver Dam Vail Home showcases the firm’s construction prowess and creative savvy. This house is built on Vail Mountain and overlooks Gore Creek. The stunning structure exudes rustic charm and includes reclaimed wood siding details and copper accent walls. It also features vacation-worthy amenities like heated outdoor living spaces and a custom wine rack.
Triumph Custom Homes
12 Vail Road, Suite 700, Vail, CO 81657
Triumph Custom Homes is known for unique residences, solid workmanship, and upstanding service. It is a subsidiary of Triumph Partners, a development company with multifaceted services. The builder specializes in projects that reflect the owner’s vision from the functional elements to the overall design. A streamlined process from start to finish guarantees minimal fuss for the convenience of the client.
Principals Steve Virostek, James Fangmeyer, and Michael O’Connor lead the company’s day-to-day operations. Their firm particularly excels in new builds and remodeling projects. Triumph’s portfolio features a residential selection that ranges from luxury homes in Washington to lake cabins in Michigan.
The Golf Course Retreat in Vail is a massive three-story house that stands at the edge of the mountain, surrounded by tall trees and a scenic expanse. The exterior features salmon-red and stone-brick walls with floor-to-ceiling windows on all levels. Rustic and modern themes are prominent in everything from the interior amenities to the appliances to the lighting fixtures.
Guida Construction
P.O. Box 760 Vail, CO 81658
Guida Construction maintains a solid dedication to timeless construction and upstanding service. The Vail-based practice specializes in new homes, remodels, and sustainable spaces. The firm guarantees prompt and professional work, delivered on time and budget for the satisfaction of the client.
Jim Guida, a second-generation builder, is the owner of the company. His expertise in construction and remodeling led to industry prominence and plenty of positive feedback. In 2020 alone, the firm landed a spot on Mountain Living Magazine‘s “The ML List” of the Top Mountain Builders in the area.
The contractor’s residential dossier includes several standout projects, including a house for Olympic gold medalist and World Cup ski champion Mikaela Shiffrin. Another notable project is one dubbed the Sustainable Beauty, which features slanted roofs and crisp sidings. Wood is a predominant material both indoors and out, evident in the façade, floors, interior walls, and pool borders. Contemporary furniture and aesthetic selections balance the lumber-filled design, a playful synthesis of old-school and new-school flavor.
Shaeffer Hyde Construction
41011 Highway 6, Avon, CO 81620
Shaeffer Hyde Construction has delivered high-caliber homes and quality service to residents of Vail Valley since 1979. The firm specializes in new construction and renovation and property management as well as green and sustainable building programs.
Founder George Shaeffer and president David Hyde run a streamlined process that prioritizes strong craftsmanship and detail precision. Their team only works on a limited number of projects at a time to ensure optimal focus. Coupled with a positive working environment, it’s no surprise that the firm is among Mountain Living Magazine‘s Top Mountain Builders for 2020.
One of its standout projects is this Cordillera Valley Club Residence, a collaboration with Current Architects and interior designer Erika Dowe-Fitzgerald. Wood, stone, and metal play key roles in the structure’s make-up. Crisp lumber sidings connected to stone bricks form the house’s outer shell. Tall crystal windows offer an interior view from the outdoors, a modern space with minimal designs and striking art pieces. Neutral tones are prominent in the walls and the furniture, which add to the house’s simple grandeur.
R.A. Nelson
51 Eagle Road, #2 P.O. Drawer 5400, Avon, CO 81620
RA Nelson specializes in building stunning homes with efficiency and providing cost-effective properties. Eponymous principal RA Nelson leads the Vail Valley-based practice as it serves West Colorado out of two regional offices. A collaborative process from start to finish ensures that projects flow smoothly on time and budget. This goes for pre-construction, construction, and post-construction work.
As a homegrown builder, RA Nelson is well-versed in what local structures require. The firm factors in the weather and landscape to create living spaces with comfortable conditions. Aside from custom homes, the company is also proficient in sustainable building and commercial developments.
The featured project is the Mountain Rustic Residence surrounded by the Vail Golf Course and the Gore Range. The 8,300-square-foot home features a contemporary flavor with its European Walnut floors, votive walls with flickering lights, and multiple fireplaces, including a see-through, double-sided one. The retreat manor also has an outdoor living space with an Infratech-heated dining and seating area, a custom built-in barbecue, and a hot tub with a motorized cover.
Meadow Mountain Homes
34215 Highway 6 Suite M1, Edwards, CO 81632
Meadow Mountain Homes is a custom home builder that excels in crafting beautiful spaces through sustainable design. The firm’s portfolio dates back to 2006 and consists of new construction projects, renovation work, and custom homes. Each project is unique to the owner’s lifestyle and preferences, tailor-made for their comfort.
Founders Sean and Ingrid McGinley oversee the day-to-day operations with a focus on quality workmanship and efficient management. As members of the US Green Building Council, environmental-friendly construction is a central aspect of their work. This process includes the use of reclaimed materials, energy-efficient systems, and minimizing the environmental impact.
The company has built 40 residential projects across Vail Valley, including single-family homes, retreat houses, and hotel units. One of its recent projects is this house on Potato Patch Drive, a residence completed in 2020. The modern home has a geometric theme that extends from the exterior silhouette of the house to the interior design. Playful, asymmetrical lines are noticeable in stairway railings, terraces, and even the light fixtures. The combination of dark and light-colored wood in drawers and floors brings a rustic charm to the abode.
Beck Building Company
780 Nottingham Road, Avon, CO 81620
Beck Building Company has provided luxury residences to Colorado homeowners for over 45 years. The firm’s mountain home projects include ground-up builds and renovations. There’s a wide range of dynamic styles in this catalog—creek cabins, modern homes, and brick manors.
Kevin O’Donnell presides over the firm and puts a strong focus on quality work. Projects in his dossier feature stunning finishes, long-lasting appeal, and modern technology. This high-caliber approach to architecture and interior design has earned praise from local clients and industry bodies alike. Accolades in the firm’s trophy case include a spot on Mountain Living Magazine‘s 2020 Top Mountain Builders, 2020 Home of the Year and “Fabulous List” by the Colorado Homes and Lifestyles Magazine, and the 2015 National Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award. Their project in Aspen was also featured in Modern in Denver Magazine.
This luxury home, the Cabin Circle, stands on a site that overlooks the Vail Golf Course and the Gore Range. It is a collaboration between Berglund Architects and interior designer X+III. The 11,000-square-foot house features six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, and a cutting-edge kitchen. Other notable aspects include an entertainment space, a wine room, and a deck with an inground pool.
Kasia Karska Design
Vail Valley – 1203 Capitol St, PO Box 4620, Eagle, CO 81631
Kasia Karska Design (KKD) is a design-build firm located in the heart of the Vail Valley and Colorado Rocky Mountains. The firm offers clients a design-build process that is comprehensive, effortless, and enjoyable. In doing so, KKD can leverage its 25 years of experience in the industry to create clients’ dream homes. Clients can enjoy a seamless service experience with constant communication to ensure results reflect who they are and the lifestyle they have. Additionally, the firm’s multi-faceted approach results in Vaastu Shastra and Feng Shui Eastern principles guiding its designs.
The team at KKD knows that each home must be tailored to the individual client. To that end, they encourage clients to be an active part of the design process. This allows clients to take charge of the creative aspects of the plan while the firm handles everything else. KKD focuses on the details, which gives it the advantage of being thorough throughout the project. As a result, clients have been able to trust the firm with all their construction needs and concerns.
