From basements to breathtaking residences, explore Shea Chappell Custom Homes’ growth in the homebuilding industry
Two of Colorado Springs’ most renowned luxury custom home builders, Solid Rock Custom Homes and C.R. Shea Homes, have united their mutual passion and expertise to launch Shea Chappell Custom Homes (Shea Chappell). This collaboration brings together decades of craftsmanship to offer a new custom home product line that redefines luxury living in Colorado Springs. Lain Chappell, President, sheds light on Shea Chappell’s background and operations.
“At Shea Chappell, we are a full-service custom home builder dedicated to building homes with exceptional craftsmanship that reflect our clients’ unique tastes and lifestyles. My wife, Barbara, and I began our journey in the construction industry in 1995 with the establishment of our company Solid Rock Construction that mainly specialized in finishing basements. However, we would also take on nearly any custom home or remodeling project we could to support our family. Then, one day, a past client for whom we had finished a basement asked us to build his family’s dream home; I gladly accepted the challenge. This was not our first custom home build, but it was our first of this magnitude, constructing a lodge style home spanning 17,000 square feet, equipped with hidden passageways, a safe room and a saltwater swimming pool.
“A little over a year later, we completed this extraordinary home, and Barbara and I were hooked. We realized we both shared a passion for turning clients’ visions into their dream homes. But our passion extended beyond building the physical structure, we loved being part of creating the essence of the home our clients were dreaming of. Most importantly, we cherished the relationships we developed with our clients throughout the building journey. Over time, Solid Rock Construction evolved from a basement finishing and remodeling company into a high-end custom home builder. Now, 30 years later, Shea Chappell remains passionately committed to building high quality, unique homes for our clients, blessed by the lasting relationships we have formed along the way,” he recounts.
Refined processes
Its unique history of industry and client partnerships play a key role in empowering Shea Chappell to stand out from the competition. “We evolved from Solid Rock Custom Homes to form Shea Chappell by co-branding our marketing and building efforts with Charlie and Nancy Shea, another seasoned husband-and-wife build team. Originally, esteemed competitors of ours, Charlie and Nancy have over 40 years of experience in the industry. Although they recently retired, they both remain very passionate about custom home building as well as their mentorship roles. The unique relationship we have fostered with them allows our new clients to benefit from the seasoned professionalism of two homebuilding teams – a valuable asset in today’s complex luxury home market – which is far more intricate than it was ten years ago. In fact, many of our clients have shared that their experience with us stands apart from their experiences with previous builders. They have found the process more enjoyable, thanks to our servant-hearted approach and attitude, plus our streamlined build process.
“I believe our building process truly sets us apart. As my background in business and accounting, I have a knack for creating efficient processes. Hence, we have worked to make our methods repeatable, especially given that our son would eventually like to take over the company in the future. By identifying and refining these processes, we have become even more efficient and effective in building homes, ensuring a highly logical progression for our clients. Moreover, through our focus on transparency, they get to be involved every step of the way. This successful approach has led to a strong word-of-mouth referral system, where happy clients share their positive experiences with others, thereby driving more business our way,” Lain elaborates.
On the topic of completed projects, Lain shares details about Shea Chappell’s Modern Sanctuary home, which he is particularly proud of. “Located in Colorado Springs’ Kissing Camels gated community, which overlooks the golf course, the majestic views of Garden of the Gods rock formations, and Pikes Peak, the Modern Sanctuary project was a truly spectacular build. This home embraced a modern style with a touch of rustic charm and warmth, allowing our clients to incorporate every feature they desired. Essentially, this was the kind of home we would build for ourselves. We had the creative freedom to present ideas and designs to the homeowners, which they either loved or tweaked. Together, we created one of my all-time favorite Shea Chappell projects. Our phenomenal team brought this vision to life during the Design Charette process and executed it flawlessly throughout the construction phase. I could not be prouder of everyone who poured their passion and expertise into building this extraordinary home,” he expresses.
With such a memorable journey full of exciting projects, Lain is looking forward to a quieter pace of life. “Our goal is to build only two-to-three homes this year, dedicating our full energy and passion to working with our clients to create the most incredible homes we have ever built. When the time comes to retire, we aim to leave behind a legacy that reflects our passion and excellence in crafting estate-quality homes designed to be passed down for generations,” he ends.
By blending decades of expertise, heartfelt relationships, and client-focused processes, Shea Chappell crafts homes that redefine luxury living in Colorado Springs.