Oct. 17, 2018 | Andrea Cox

SPONSORED: Capstone Custom Homes sets high bar for luxury builders

Every home tells a story, one that unfolds over time. Our home is where we raise our family, cook Thanksgiving feasts and have coffee with the neighbours. It's where we envision our dreams, play with the family pooch and escape from the hectic happenings of the world.

Creating the stage for those stories to unfold is the driving force behind luxury custom builder Capstone Custom Homes.

"It's really important to us that the work we do has meaning," said Barry Laidlaw, who co-founded Capstone Custom Homes with partner Brigitte Lepage. "That's why personal relationships are so important, and that is why designing and building single-family custom homes is very important – a family home has such meaning to the owners."

Laidlaw and Lepage formed Capstone in 2010, bringing to the table diverse and complementary skill sets – Laidlaw has a degree in architecture, while Lepage loves interior design - she is currently working on a degree in interior design - and has a knack for keeping clients on budget.

"Brigitte and I both wear multiple hats," said Laidlaw, who works on the designs, sometimes in tandem with a client-commissioned architect. He also project manages each build, bringing the vision to fruition. Lepage works in conjunction with the owners on the interior design, either working solo or with the client's designer. She also works with the clients at every step to keep their budget in line.

"We want to know everything about our clients. Because at the end of the day, our focus is to create a home that our clients love." - Brigitte Lepage, Capstone Custom Homes

Building fewer than 10 homes per year, Capstone sets the bar high.

Most striking are its current conversation-sparking projects, a Nyhoff Architecture design in Erlton, and a home co-designed by Capstone Custom Homes and Emily Wilson on Riverdale Avenue.

The Erlton home exudes contemporary strength. The main floor is made entirely from concrete, and includes a warm brick exterior. The home is designed to be flood resistant. Foundation and main-floor walls are 16 inches thick with areas of brick spanning the entire three-storey building.

"There is quite a bit of complexity to this home," said Laidlaw. "The clients came to us to build the home after going through the design process with a professional architecture firm. With my background in architecture, it helps from a design standpoint, because we understand the vision."

The Riverdale home is a one-of-a-kind design crafted using Bone Structure technology – a steel-framing system that is highly efficient, sustainable and eco-friendly. Capstone is currently the only Bone Structure authorized builder in Calgary.

"We wanted to be ahead of the curve, to present something to clients that will meet their energy needs in the future," said Lepage. "When the codes change to net zero, we will be there with the technology and the capability."

"We want to know everything about our clients," adds Lepage. "Because at the end of the day, our focus is to create a home that our clients love."

Capstone primarily builds in Calgary's inner-city neighbourhoods, creating site-specific designs.

Tagged: Calgary | Calgary Real Estate | Calgary Real Estate News | Capstone Custom Homes | Sponsored