--- title: "house — Design-Build Firms | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/house-pfvwus-pf~126823216 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~126823216.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: house category: ["Design-Build Firms"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/ca73f0380494a2ef_7184-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "PO Box 3997, Basalt, Colorado 81621, United States" latitude: 39.3535 longitude: -106.9988 phone: "(970) 379-4974" website: http://www.housedesignbuild.com rating: 5 review_count: 4 best_of_houzz_awards: 2 followers: 35 last_updated: 2026-08-21 --- # house Original Houzz profile: [house](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/house-pfvwus-pf~126823216) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Design-Build Firms - **Location:** Basalt, CO - **Serves:** Aspen, Carbondale, El Jebel, Basalt, Snowmass Village, Catherine, Woody Creek, Snowmass - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (4 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 2 awards (2016–2017), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Influencer - 100 Ideabook Saves House is design / build firm that shines the spotlight on the hand-picked sub contractors that perform their work with pride and satisfaction. We deliver excellent value by getting the sub contractors involved early in the design process, where their experience translates into practical design that saves money for our clients. Coupled with a work site that emphasizes efficiency and proper sequencing, we work hard to make construction an enjoyable process for everyone involved. ### Services Provided - Home Remodeling - Custom Homes - New Home Construction - Kitchen Remodeling - Home Additions - Bathroom Remodeling - Kitchen Design - Home Extensions - Bathroom Design - Building Design - Remodeling ### Areas Served - Aspen - Carbondale - El Jebel - Basalt - Snowmass Village - Catherine - Woody Creek - Snowmass ### Typical Job Cost $50,000 - 2,500,000 House tailors its estimates for each projects' needs. ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | house | | Address | PO Box 3997, Basalt, Colorado 81621, United States | | Phone | (970) 379-4974 | | Website | http://www.housedesignbuild.com | | Followers on Houzz | 35 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/houseaspen?ref=hl - Blog — www.housedesignbuild.com ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [house](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/house-pfvwus-pf~126823216) - **Website:** http://www.housedesignbuild.com - **Phone:** (970) 379-4974 ## Credentials - **Best of Houzz:** 2 awards (2016–2017), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 4 reviews** ### All 4 reviews **★★★★★ — Katie Yturri, Sept. 2016** > I am in the beginning stages of building my project and have been absolutely pleased and thrilled with the level of service I'm receiving. Very impressed with the crews that have been working on my project. Everyone has been incredibly respectful and easy to work with. I will continue to update as we dig deeper into building. **★★★★★ — Emk Design, Sept. 2015** > I am currently working on a project with Chris Dolan of HOUSE. I wish every contractor I have worked with in the past had as much attention to detail as Chris does. He thinks of every possible angle when building as if it would be his own and leaves no stone unturned. As a designer, he makes my job so much easier. His knowledge in design, implementing and organizational skills are nothing short of stellar. I highly recommend Chris Dolan of HOUSE for any project, large or small. It has been a great experience dealing with him and I am looking forward to many more projects to come!! EMK Design/Eve Whiston **Comment from house:** > Dear Eve, > Thank you for the kind words and for being a great designer to work with! Your choices are so perfect for the space, and I literally lost my breath when I walked through the restaurant we did together in Aspen after it was opened. What a vision! **★★★★★ — Lori Pevny, Sept. 2015** > I cannot say how much we LOVED doing business with Chris Dolan of HOUSE!!!! First of all, he was 8 days under time for completion, and $8K under budget, which we all know is unheard of! This man is truly a gem and knows what he's doing on every level. His integrity is beyond words, and will try to save you anywhere he can. He actually DOES what he says!! He is impeccable with the details, which saves the homeowner a lot of time and aggravation. He has never missed an answer to any question asked.. Truly a pleasure to work with. Great attitude and great ideas for any job big or small!!! We are about to embark on a garage apartment too - pictures to follow!!! **★★★★★ — servantsofyah, Dec. 2014** > This man is the most thoughtful contractor I have ever been around! And that is saying a lot for me, because my whole family is in construction. Truly considerate and willing to respectfully get things done! I would hands down recommend this man to anyone needing a contractor for both small and large jobs. ## Selected projects - [Red Mountain Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/red-mountain-home-pj-vj~915338) - Location: Aspen, CO - Photos: 3 - [East Aspen Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/east-aspen-home-pj-vj~834079) - Location: Aspen, CO - Photos: 5 - Description: Custom Home completed in 2012; Served as Project Manager and later as General Contractor for client; Winner of Best of Show Award Mountains to Mesa - [Brush Creek Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/brush-creek-remodel-pj-vj~1337368) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 2 - [Aspen Restaurant](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/aspen-restaurant-pj-vj~1480981) - Location: Aspen, CO - Photos: 2 - [Aspen Apartment](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/aspen-apartment-pj-vj~1580845) - Location: Aspen, CO - Photos: 3 - [Horse Barn](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/horse-barn-pj-vj~2084925) - Location: Carbondale, CO - Photos: 27 - Description: This is a true Design / Build project done entirely in-house with our design team. A two-stall private horse barn with a tack room, a personal work area and a loft area that has a south-facing deck. The barn will have exterior details to match the existing home, and the interior will be painted exposed framing with some wood and metal details. The owners are a serious horse jumping family. Project started July 2016 and finished November 2016. - [Basalt Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/basalt-residence-pj-vj~2084955) - Location: Basalt, CO - Photos: 20 - Description: This project is a true Design / Build project done with our in-house design team. A private 3,000 square foot single family residence in a subdivision with radiant floor heating, Energy-Smart appliances, LED lighting, passive solar design; modern / contemporary design with exposed steel girders, formed concrete walls and Venetian Plaster accents (marble dust!) . Design start: November 2015 Construction start: July 2016 Projected finish date: May 2017 - [Basalt, Colorado Kitchen Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/basalt-colorado-kitchen-remodel-pj-vj~5553377) - Location: Basalt, CO - Photos: 6 [See all 8 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/house-pfvwus-pf~126823216) ## Ideabooks - [Kitchen eating area options](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/102364888/list/kitchen-eating-area-options) — 28 ideas - [Fireplaces](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/89390871/list/fireplaces) — 13 ideas - [Country-Style Kitchens](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/83910384/list/country-style-kitchens) — 4 ideas - [metal backsplach options](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/80754119/list/metal-backsplach-options) — 5 ideas - [lighting](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/74525944/list/lighting) — 2 ideas - [Basalt New Home](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/57928276/list/basalt-new-home) — 9 ideas - [Universal Design](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/57705391/list/universal-design) — 1 idea - [Outdoor Spaces](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/57612384/list/outdoor-spaces) — 2 ideas - [Aspen Client Shared Ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/55245199/list/aspen-client-shared-ideas) — 3 ideas - [Small bathrooms](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/53508440/list/small-bathrooms) — 2 ideas - [Decks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/48714642/list/decks) — 7 ideas - [Stairs](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/48590230/list/stairs) — 3 ideas - [Kitchens](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/44161639/list/kitchens) — 11 ideas - [Accent Walls](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/42720374/list/accent-walls) — 1 idea - [Bedrooms](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/35162827/list/bedrooms) — 1 idea [See all 15 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/housedesignbuild) ## Community Q&A **Q: Staircase** *(in Design Dilemma)* I am looking to remove the carpet on this staircase and refinish to match the hardwood floors with white risers (there isn't wood under the carpet). I worry about the staircase being to slippery and needing to add a runner which seems almost silly because there is already carpet. I saw this and am looking for opinions on just doing the landing three stairs and having the straight stairs up remain carpet. A: Wood treads are more slippery than carpet, obviously, but once you have them installed you adapt. I think it's a cool look to do the formal wood landings and then switch to carpet. But don't do carpet just because you think you'll slip and fall. You won't-many houses have wood treads. **Q: Making home so confused how to start** *(in Design Dilemma)* How many room is good to make in 1297 square ft land?please any advise. A: Start by considering how the home will be used. Block out spaces for a kitchen, a bathroom, and at least one bedroom. The maximum size of the house is dictated by the size of the land. In most places, the house cannot exceed 35% of the lot size. Also, consult a realtor because you want to be able to sell the house later and a funky house won't sell well. Bedrooms must be at least 70 square feet and must have a window big enough for emergency egress. Check out NKBA website and learn minimum sizes of showers, bathtubs, etc. There are many code issues to consider as well. Sounds like you need an architect at least to get started. **Q: which direction should hardwood flooring be laid?** *(in Design Dilemma)* I am installing all new hardwood flooring. Should the direction of the floor joists below be considered when installing? A: Most wood flooring is attached to the plywood, not the joists. Many installations are glued down, sometimes nailed additionally. I think what's most important is how it will look in the room. The direction can really enhance the size and feel of a room. You should not limit yourself to the joist direction. Additionally, I like to consider how the wood floor interacts with the stairs, because it is a good safety measure to have the wood at the floor level be perpendicular to the treads, because it is easier for some people to see where the stair stop and start. **Q: What frameless Cabinet Brand to use? Is IKEA really not that great?** *(in Design Dilemma)* Its finally time to redo our kitchen and I have been looking at IKEA cabinets with Semi-Handmade doors for years now. I have spotted them in many professional designs and yet every professional I speak with, and my father, are trying to dissuade me, with concerns about quality. Are they really not great? It seems like people are mixed. If we don't go IKEA and a custom door, where else do I look and is it a huge price difference? Help! A: My personal experience is that I live far away from an Ikea store. I live and work outside Aspen, CO and the nearest Ikea is about 200 miles away in Denver. So whether I ship them or go get them at the store, I have to add several hundreds to the cost. Also, as a contractor, I have to pay for assembly and that gets added to the client's cost. Then if there are any missing parts, it is a real expensive hassle. For my own personal use, I love the furniture and have several pieces in my home. **Q: Is Coretec really that great?--all our local dealers recommend it** *(in Design Dilemma)* I know there is another thread about Coretec with 1,500 replies. That thread is getting to be nearly two years old, so I thought I'd start a new one where info is up to date. We have done extensive comparison shopping, and nearly everyplace we have visited recommends Coretec. But.....we still have some hesitations about this product and are considering two other products too. Why is it that all of these dealers recommend it? Is it the fact that it conceals and covers less than perfect floors? Is it because it is easy to install? Is it because it is a bit more comfortable to stand on than straight vinyl planks? Is it truly top of the line quality as far as the wear layer and the composition of the vinyl? What are your thoughts? I am particularly interested in hearing from people who have installed this and people in the flooring industry. We are looking at a basement install. Thanks. A: Here is an update after using this flooring in 4 houses now. The design side of me says all good things about ease of install, performance, longevity, dog hair / scratches etc. The builder side of me offers these suggestions: Allow ample room for expansion! Core Tec recommends 1/4" I say 3/8" - 1/2" on all sides is better. I have seen this flooring expand well over these amounts and it can buckle up in areas of intense sunlight. There is a wide variety of color within each color group. In fact there are four distinct colors within most of the colors I have installed. One client hated one of the four so we culled that one out and used it in a different application. There are a couple of tools specific to this type of flooring and DIYers should pony up and get these it will make install easier. Use floor leveler whenever possible. It is a floating floor. Their stair nosing leaves much to be desired. In one house we simply did different stairs because the nosing was so cheap looking. Anytime it comes to edges, or meeting up with other finishes is when the limitations start to show. With real wood flooring, we are able to mill or craft custom pieces to match the floor and give it a complete look, but this stuff is designed to lay flat only. Never assume the sample deck you are looking at is fully representative. There are like 25 different sample decks and no two are the same. The six foot long pieces look better than the shorter ones. For the wide-plan look, this is a great product. That's my two cents thanks for reading! **Q: Kraftmaid Cabinet Pricing Has to be a Crock of S--T** *(in Kitchens)* So, I get a flyer from my local kitchen design store, a place I've used before touting a 70% of sale on Kraftmaid cabinets. I was going to already use them anyway so I went over today to firm up my design and place my order. I asked for 3 different quotes; 3 different cabinets styles. The highest came out to $16500, the lowest at $14500. This means the full price was something like $47,000 for the lower end ones? WTF? I've seen people here say their custom cabinets done by local carpenters were less money than that. How on earth could that possibly be? My kitchen is only 16' x 12', not even loaded up with bells and whistles. Only 2 glass doors, no fancy molding or end panels. Very basic shaker type doors, no high end staining. I didn't even add in pulls or rails for the under cabinet lighting yet. Frankly, I just don't believe it. There is no way semi-custom cabinets could be nearly $50,000 for such a small kitchen. I can not afford this. I nearly fainted when I saw the prices. He mentioned he sells a less expensive brand called Fabuwood, which is manufactured similarly to Kraftmaid, however, is from China, therefore 40% less expensive. The catch is less door styles and less colors. Thankfully they have a Shaker style and while the Shaker only comes in 3 colors I can live with one of them. About $9000 sure would be a lot closer to what I can afford right now being as all of my costs have come in so far like 50% more than expected (more than kitchen rehab going on). Has anyone else ran into this kind of crazy pricing? I feel like it's sort of a bait and switch going on here. Or is this common with other cabinet makers as well? Or, have prices escalated that dramatically since the last time I ordered cabinets 10 year ago? Ugh! A: I've come to use a "cost per lineal foot" for pricing comparisons. Of course, every project is different I get it but this a good measuring stick. The formula goes like this: Measure the actual cabinet face width of total lower cabinets up to 36" above finished floor. Include cabinets only not appliances. Write that number down. Then measure actual cabinet face width of all the upper cabinets. Write that number down. Then measure actual cabinet face width of any cabinetry in the middle, between the uppers and the lowers. Write that number down and add all three for a TOTAL LINEAL FEET OF CABINETRY. Divide all your bids by this lineal foot number and you end up with "cost per lineal foot" unit to compare all cabinets. For an eight foot tall pantry closet three feet wide, it's 3+3+3 (lower, middle, upper) or 9 lineal feet. Where I live it's hard to find good cabinetry below $400 per lineal foot, so that pantry should be budgeted at $3600. It's always assumed there will be a few bells and whistles. With the right cabinet maker, it's better to go custom for that kind of money. Local cabinet makers can be a real value when you know what you want. Don't forget installation, anywhere from $70-100 per cabinet where I live. Counter tops are another story entirely. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-21.*