From lakeside retreats to mountain modern, LR3 Development brings innovative design to New Hampshire’s traditional landscape
When it comes to home building, New England has long been synonymous with clapboard facades and colonial symmetry—the architectural language of tradition. For many builders in the region, that remains the default. However, for Paul LaRoche, owner of LR3 Development (LR3), it represents an opportunity for change. Founded nearly six years ago, the New Hampshire-based firm operates as a fully turnkey custom homebuilder working across two models. LR3 develops its own lots and sells custom homes within those communities, and it also builds on clients’ private land. With projects typically ranging from 4000-6000 square feet and selling for between $2 million to $5 million, LR3 is renowned for delivering high-end custom builds that feel distinctly modern without abandoning the craftsmanship the region demands.
“Many of the homes around here are very traditional builds,” Paul explains. “At LR3, we try to push the envelope into transitional and more modern, and we’re giving our customers an option that wasn’t easy to get in this area for a long time.”
No compromises
Last year, that reputation was formalized with a Best New Construction award; recognition that Paul describes as a great achievement: “Everything just came together with that project. The home, the style, the furnishings, and the landscape. It was an incredibly polished package. What stood out for me was the more transitional-modern design, which was unique compared to other submissions. But what made it truly special was the cohesiveness of the whole package, on an incredible site with panoramic views. Our clients had relocated from Boston and were looking for a quieter home and way of living. That’s exactly what we delivered here in Peterborough.”
Within this competitive landscape, two main differentiators give LR3 an advantage: style and quality. The group’s modern designs offer clients something more unique, while its commitment to the highest quality reassures homeowners. “There are no compromises,” Paul emphasizes. “Everything is done to the highest standard. Those two things together have pushed us up a level, so we’re presenting an aesthetic product with very little local competition, backed by a quality that’s hard to match.”
In the higher-end custom market, client demand for modern designs and styles from other areas is increasing, as they bring their ideas to New Hampshire. Paul elaborates: “I’m definitely seeing a bigger push toward more modern homes. In New England, we don’t go fully ultra-modern like full glass, but we’re building bigger windows, interesting rooflines, and using natural materials. Clients aren’t necessarily trend-chasers; they’re incorporating elements of what they like without chasing radical concepts that will feel dated in ten years.
“I’ve seen an increase in people wanting larger homes,” he continues. “We’re seeing more clients relocating from metropolitan areas who want to build their forever home; bigger living rooms, bigger bedrooms, and larger room sizes overall. In regards to style, there’s a definite push for something fresher and more modern, moving away from designs that have felt a little stale for a long time.”
Distinctive builds
One project Paul is particularly excited about is a 7000-square-foot modern ranch. It’s a legacy property that the family intends to pass down through generations. “It sits on a lot with a panoramic mountain view in the Peterborough area and has a detached gym, a pool, and extensive outdoor living areas,” he reveals. “The style is mountain-home modern with natural wood, dark finishes and colors, and contemporary rooflines. It’s going to be very impressive.”
Additionally, LR3 is in the process of building a modern lakeside home in New Hampshire on a distinctive site. “This build has a triangular footprint with strict constraints, so the house steps to fit the lot and rises vertically rather than spreading outward,” continues Paul. “It features multi-level flat roofs, an infinity pool overlooking the lake, and a Scandinavian-influenced interior: white, clean, and bright, with light woods.”
With some truly impressive projects underway, LR3’s priorities this year lie with the completion of the five to six homes it is currently building. Paul expects three of them to wrap up in the next three months and reveals three more have been signed and scheduled to begin at around the same time. “This means we’ll maintain a continuous pipeline of four to six builds,” he adds. “Two of the upcoming projects are on our own land developments—the others are situated on clients’ private property.” Focusing further into the future, the company is hoping to achieve a 40-50 percent growth in volume over the next five years. “I want to increase output from five or six homes a year to between eight and ten,” says Paul. “It’s not about shooting for the moon; it’s about steady, sustainable growth. We’re building up staff and subcontractor capacity to support that.
“I want people to see that we’re genuinely offering something different here—a modern, high-quality custom home in an area that has never previously been known for that creation,” Paul concludes. “I feel like we’re the go-to builder in this market for clients who want a more contemporary and bespoke luxury home. There’s very little competition in doing what we do, and that’s a fantastic position for LR3 to be in.”