At Ivan Stanley Fine Home Builders, we were recently able to chat with one of our many satisfied clients. Thank you, Christine, for your time and feedback. Christine’s Summit County Vacation Ski Retreat was completed within the last several years. We strive to work closely with our homeowners to provide the most enjoyable and gratifying building processes and final results. Read below for Christine’s feedback:
Q. How did you choose Ivan Stanley Fine Home Builders to build your home?
A. Close friends were building a home with Jeremy Fischer, and we were able to get to know him on a professional and personal level during this time. We built a level of trust with Jeremy by developing that relationship with him and by watching our friends go through the building process with Jeremy as their general contractor.
Q. Would you recommend Jeremy as a custom mountain home builder to others and why?
A. Absolutely. His quality of work and attention to detail is incredible. Another key piece is the strength and reputation of his subs. Because we saw the craftsmanship and professionalism of his subcontractors as we watched our friend’s home being constructed, we trusted the subs. We didn’t feel like we had to investigate the subcontractors ourselves, which saved us a great deal of time and energy.
Q. Were you comfortable communicating with Jeremy throughout the building process? Was the communication clear and effective?
A. Yes, I was comfortable communicating with Jeremy. While most of the communication was with me, my husband spearheaded certain aspects of the home. He, too, was able to communicate easily with Jeremy. We spent a great deal of time on the phone and/or email, making sure that all the details were being attended to. I am very detail-oriented, and I was able to coordinate these details with Jeremy.
Q. What were some challenges you faced during the building process? How was Jeremy able to help you resolve these issues?
A. Jeremy and the Interior Designer had to work very closely during the various stages of building. They worked together very well for the most part, but because I am so detail-oriented, they had a lot of specifics to work through. They were often having long conversations or communications without me. I had to be proactive in asking, “Who’s making sure this detail is being worked out?” While Jeremy did his best to keep me in the loop, I sometimes had to make sure I knew who was responsible for what. Jeremy was able to help me through this process by being patient and by allowing me to be very involved in the process.
Q. How would you describe the architectural style of your home? Are you satisfied with your builder’s rendition of this style?
A. Our weekend home is Classic Mountain Modern. Our architect provided extremely detailed plans; Ivan Stanley and Associates followed these plans closely and carefully. We had several collaborative meetings between the architect, designer, builder and ourselves. This willingness on all parts to work closely together helped us to get the details correct.
Q. Describe your favorite room in the house. Why is this your favorite room?
A. My favorite room in the home is the main room or great room, which encompasses the living, dining and kitchen spaces. It is my favorite because it is the central gathering place of the home. The great room works well because of the open, flowing layout. The whole back side of the house is a window. My favorite finish in this room is the granite countertop in the kitchen. The kitchen is very convenient and functional. Everything in the kitchen has its place and is logical. If you think the silverware is in that drawer, that’s where you’ll find the silverware. Our kitchen is unique in that behind the stove is basically a back area with a “second” kitchen. There is a large pantry, a second refrigerator, sink and dishwasher. We keep things like the coffee pot in this space -- things that we don’t want cluttering our countertops but must be handy. We can easily move the mess of entertaining into this space and it is hidden from view. It’s basically concealed from view of the great room, but it is very accessible and convenient.
Q. You have some interesting detailing in your mountain home.
- Can you describe the stair railings? What material was used? What makes these railings unique?
The stair railings are made of a very simple, classic forged steel. The stairway has a couple of landings and turns. The railing was forged and crafted on site to precisely follow the pattern of the stairs. It is unique because it was created on location so that it would match the shape of the stairs perfectly. - Describe your kitchen cabinets. Material? Functionality? Aesthetically pleasing?
The cabinets are made of a dark walnut. They are beautiful and functional. I love the cabinetry in the entire home. Our cabinets in each room are unique. Each bathroom has a different style. So there’s nothing repetitive, yet it all ties together. - The niches in your master bathroom were custom designed. What do you like about these niches? Can you describe the look and material?
The niches are square shaped insets into the wall. They are made of the same stone that we used in several interior and exterior locations. The back of the insets is the same tile that we used in the showers. Each niche has a ledge at the bottom that protrudes from the wall. This ledge is made of granite that matches the bathroom countertop. The niches are a built in space for decorative accessories, like candles.
Q. Is there an interesting or unique finish material that you especially like?
A. My favorite feature is the bar in the downstairs family room. We wanted the look of an old, historic bar and weren’t able to find one to purchase that we liked. It was custom built out of oak and finished in a way that made it look aged.
Q. What is the primary purpose of your home? (Residence, vacation home, rental, family meeting location, ski getaway, etc.)
A. We use the house mostly on the weekends and holidays. It’s great for family gatherings and entertaining.
Q. How would you describe and rate your overall experience working with Jeremy? How satisfied are you with your finished custom home?
A. Many people told me that the building process could be a nightmare. But with Jeremy, it was pleasant and actually fun. If I had the need to build another custom home, I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again as long as Jeremy was my general contractor. We love our home. Our finished home has had no significant problems. My husband and I don’t say, “We wish we had done this differently.” We have no regrets about our home.