When it comes to building a custom home in Colorado, especially in the mountains, there are many important factors to take into consideration: working through harsh winter conditions, zoning, setbacks, topography, and soil conditions. These are the firms that can deliver you a dream home in Colorado’s magnificent landscape, and they have the experience to deliver it with ease.
Our team has curated a list of the best custom home builders in Aspen, Colorado, selected based on their accreditations, certifications, professional affiliations, and the recognition each firm has received in the form of industry awards, client reviews, and features in the press. We have also laid out the range of services the firms offer, their specializations, and the length of time they have been in the industry.
Aspen Constructors
309 Aspen Airport Business Center, Aspen, CO 81611
Aspen Constructors is a full-service general contractor founded by Michael Tanguay in 1988. This Aspen-based builder is accredited by the Basalt Chamber of Commerce and specializes in creating luxury residences in the Roaring Fork Valley of the Colorado Rockies. The company takes a personal approach to construction by working closely with the owner, the design team, and the trades to ensure that each project realizes the owner’s vision.
Aspen Constructors quickly establishes strong lines of communication with the owner, architect, and trades. Doing so ensures that information is passed quickly between teams so that problems can be resolved and construction can stay on schedule. The company provides a concise weekly project report that contains schedules, budgets, decisions, clarifications, progress reports, and photographic documentation. The firm works directly with realtors and their clients to help them understand the process of demolition, construction, and remodeling. Aspen Constructors recommends different ways to build in a more sustainable and eco-friendly way, to minimize environmental impact. And the firm provides that green consciousness before and after the construction of its modern contemporary, mountain rustic, and chateau style homes. The Modern Design Residence is a great example. This project entailed the reconstruction of a contemporary mountain estate and included the installation of a fully automated Savant whole-house control system.
Barnes Construction
190 Riverdown Drive, Aspen, CO 81611
Barnes Construction (CBC) is one of Aspen’s leading luxury construction firms. It specializes in new single-family homes and extensive remodels. After twelve years of managing some of Aspen’s finest residential and light commercial remodels and new construction projects, Craig Barnes started C. Barnes Construction to provide construction services of the highest quality delivered with organization, a critical eye, and the ability to perform under tight schedules.
Throughout a project, CBC consistently executes and follows up with clients to make sure that every detail is completed to their total satisfaction. One of its projects involved the renovation of a decade-old architecturally significant modern style home. Craig was engaged and available on every level and on every detail of the renovation project. In areas where challenges arose, Craig took responsibility and control to work out practical solutions. Craig understood that he was working with a very well originally constructed house. His level of renovation detail was consistent with the standards of the core house.
Craig and his team also built a home in Aspen’s West End that involved a tear-down and then new construction of a 5,000-square-foot home. CBC translated the client’s requests into construction plans then ensured tradesmen produced precisely what was required.
G.F. Woods Construction
430 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen CO 81611
From high-end residential and commercial projects to multifamily and restaurant redevelopments, G.F. Woods Construction has been building in the mountains of Colorado for more than a decade. It holds membership with AGC Colorado and has an impressive track record of delivering large-scale projects ahead of schedule and meeting predetermined budgets.
The company achieves these impressive goals by implementing a team management style that distributes the responsibilities of construction management to a team of qualified individuals who work in tandem to oversee the construction project. Each team consists of a project manager, a superintendent, and a project coordinator dedicated to the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the entire project. The team works only with the finest and most reputable subcontractors and suppliers—partners with whom the firm has established a proven working relationship. Under the leadership of Greg Woods, the company is well-versed in dealing with the abnormalities of year-round mountain building, working through harsh winter conditions, and procuring materials from cities out of the area.
Its modern ranch-style custom homes are products of its excellent work ethic. For the Sierra Vista Residence, the team focused on building high vaulted ceilings throughout the residence to transfer the gable roof from outside to within the structure and thus draw in natural light. Situated on the edge of the Aspen Golf Course, the orientation of the house capitalizes on amazing views of the surrounding ski slopes and mountaintops.
Hansen Construction
310 Aspen Business Center, Aspen, CO 81611
Hansen Construction is a premier home builder specializing in residential and commercial architecture in and around Aspen, Colorado. Founded by Steve Hansen in 1979, the company has earned the reputation of providing quality and craftsmanship as a member of AGC Colorado. Its attention to detail, hands-on project management, and innovative cost control methods ensure a better experience and a better product within any given budget. Its passion lies in achieving excellence while cultivating lasting relationships by collaborating closely with the owner, architect, and interior designer on all of its projects.
Hansen Construction has worked on more than 200 projects, from historic cottages in the West End to expansive modern estates on Red Mountain to exclusive downtown retail stores. It has built one of the priciest homes in the world for Prince Bandar Al Saud. It also built the Hala Ranch—a 56,000-square-foot home in Aspen, once listed for $135 million. Another well-known project from the company is the Art Barn. It was awarded a Colorado Custom and Remodeling Excellence (CARE) Award for the Custom Home 5,000 to 7,500 square feet category. Sitting on the edge of a steeply sloped mountainside, the home is positioned so that the entry façade gives off a sophisticated ranch meadow look while the rear façade frames and opens to panoramic views of Aspen. The goal of the team was for the home to rest naturally on the site.
Hendrickson Construction
602 East Cooper Suite #201, Aspen, CO 81611
Hendrickson Construction is a builder of both residential and commercial properties in the Roaring Fork Valley. It provides a client-focused experience during every project. It considers client involvement paramount to the process, aiming to make that process as rewarding for the clients as the home it delivers. The firm’s highly-skilled builders carry a level of craftsmanship and attention to detail that is at par with the quality properties the company is commissioned to build.
Hendrickson Construction’s process begins by gathering information from the client and their designer or architect to craft a detailed proposal and estimate for their renovation. It provides a comprehensive scope of work based on an exhaustive review of the existing property conditions and provides a preferred sub-contractor. The company also helps find the contractor that can meet the budget and the time constraints that are specific to the project. During construction, the company believes that communication is essential, so it provides a dedicated Project Manager to review all aspects of the project and host “SnapShot” site meetings with the client weekly. Hendrickson Construction is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to build modern-style homes that meet the owners’ needs and expectations. One of its most prominent projects is the Primrose Path Home, which features elegant wood siding that elegantly contrasts the stone detailing.
Koru, Ltd.
2551 Dolores Way, Carbondale, CO 81623
Koru was founded on a simple but distinctive idea: to redefine the building experience. It recognizes that the complexity of modern architecture requires infrastructure to be exact for the finishes to be flawless. The company delivers unparalleled craftsmanship, uncompromising attention to detail, and integrity of design to its home building projects. Doing so enables it to give its customers a building experience as astounding as the project itself.
Whether in preconstruction, construction, or property services, Koru focuses on providing the highest level of quality and service accredited by the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce. It tailors a dedicated team that is perfectly suited to each unique project. Antony Cullwick, the owner, leads the team using innovative systems that guarantee project goals are met. They embrace the challenges that arise along the way and are proactive in determining solutions while maintaining clear communication with clients. Doing so is how Koru fosters productive collaboration.
The company’s approach has earned it acknowledgment as a Gold List Honoree in the Home Builder category by Luxe, acclaimed for its modern, contemporary, and ranch style homes that include the Blackbird House. Shou-sugi-ban charred cypress and Anthra-zinc siding, copper butterfly roof, huge glass units, diamond plaster wax-finished—these are just a few of the details that set this project apart.
R.A. Nelson
1000 Dolores Way, Suite A Carbondale, CO 81623
Founded in 1976 by Chupa Nelson, R.A. Nelson LLC is a full-service General Contractor headquartered in Avon in Colorado’s Vail Valley with a regional office near Aspen in the Roaring Fork Valley. R.A. Nelson is also a member of the Colorado Association of Home Builders (CAH), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and the AGC. With thirteen LEED Accredited Professionals (AP) and Green Associates (GA) on staff and eleven LEED Certified projects, its team provides site-specific alternative building practices as a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It creates sustainable, cost-effective recommendations for increased resource and energy efficiencies and more streamlined mechanical systems.
For each project, Chupa Nelson actively manages the construction budget and controls cost with real-time budgetary tools, monthly cost-to-complete analyses, and a comprehensive understanding of the design. He creates a detailed schedule of the entire construction process—a process continuously reviewed and updated on a weekly basis. During construction, the company employs a sophisticated mobile reporting system to record field observations and provide photo documentation of the entire project.
R.A. Nelson’s portfolio consists of ranch, contemporary and modern mountain style homes including the award-winning Gateway Aspen Home. The clifftop development consists of a contemporary 2,272-square-foot single-family residence and a 7,593-square-foot duplex. Floor-to-ceiling windows span the duplex living rooms, offering stunning views of the Aspen Highlands below.
Rutgers Construction
256 Twining Flats Rd., Aspen, CO 81611
Rutgers Construction, Inc. is a Class A General Contracting Company, fully licensed and insured. The firm has constructed over 70 projects, specializing in custom homes, remodels, and commercial tenant finishing in Aspen. Rutgers Construction has invested heavily in a Virtual Panning and Construction (VPC) software that allows clients to see their homes years before they are built and walk through them using virtual reality.
For new custom homes, Rutgers Construction dedicates a project manager, a site superintendent, and additional support personnel as required. The company relies heavily on its past experience with certain trusted sub-contractors who reach Rutgers Construction standards. The contractor understands that getting a permit is often lengthy and time-consuming, so it always assists the client with the construction requirements for permitting. The company collaborates with its project teams, including the clients, to identify opportunities in making workflow and communications more efficient.
With the combined efforts of the team headed by its principals, Tony Rutgers, Chris Morrow, and Heimata Rutgers, Rutgers Construction made it to Mountain Living Magazine’s list of Top Mountain Home Builders for its modern, ranch, contemporary, farmhouse, and log style homes. The Mountain Escape is a great example. The large home features a glass curtain wall system as one of its defining structural elements.
Schlumberger Scherer Construction
309K Aspen Business Center, Aspen, CO 81611
Schlumberger Scherer Construction (SSC) has established itself as one of the premier general contractors in Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley, accredited by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Colorado and the Basalt Chamber of Commerce. Its range of work includes the construction of the highest quality homes, commercial tenant finish-outs, contemporary remodels, the restoration of historic structures, and the design and construction of equestrian estates. It carries out a wide variety of architectural styles and finishes, from classic traditional to mountain rustic, to modern contemporary.
SSC applies sustainable building practices in building large ranches and luxury mountain retreats such as the Contemporary West End Victorian home. The project was awarded a gold rating through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The company was also awarded the Home of the Year Award by Colorado Homes and Gardens and an Editor’s Choice Award by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for the Ridge House. The new home boasts 180-degree views of the Elk Mountain Range from its rooftop decks and expansive window walls. The exterior stone veneer is picture framed in steel banding. Close monitoring of the project was provided through bi-weekly construction updates and budget reviews, while SCC’s accounting team tracked subcontracts and managed all insurance programs and policies.
Silich Construction
303 Aspen Business Center, Suite J., Aspen, CO 81611
Silich Construction was established in 1995 by John Silich at the request of the company’s first client. As a testimony to the value placed on the client-builder relationship, combined with consistently delivering industry-leading levels of quality services, its first client is still a client today.
Silich Construction offers a variety of GuildQuality residential remodeling services that encompasses project management, field supervision, schedule management, contract document review, the coordination of bid packages and trades, and recommendations for alternative designs, materials, and systems. The company, accredited by the Basalt Chamber of Commerce, customizes these delivery methods to fit individual clients’ needs. Silich contracts with the client to manage and oversee the planning, design, and construction process. The firm serves as an agent of the client or developer by proactively representing the stakeholder’s interests throughout the duration of the project.
The company’s roster of mountain and cabin style homes includes this modern residence. Its linear shape and sharp edges are highlighted by the impressive structural systems Silich Construction built for its cantilevered deck which is supported by a branched column, a long-span connecting bridge, and its dramatic overhanging roof eaves.
