Nearly a decade in business, South Haven Builders builds dream homes across Atlanta
Boutique custom homebuilder South Haven Builders (South Haven) designs and builds exquisite homes across Atlanta, Georgia, reflecting the character and lifestyle of each client. Established in 2016 by Co-Founders Jessye Archer and Shane Roach, South Haven offers a methodical, design-focused, and client-centric approach to building dream homes.
“We’re a design-build firm with a passion for architecture,” Shane opens. “Across the team, we enjoy taking an idea from the earliest concepts to a full plan, then through the dedicated work of crafting a dream home or place of business. While many of our projects include Southeastern regional architecture, our work always carries a nod to traditional and timeless designs. We pride ourselves on delivering a wide range of project types and architectural styles.”
Strong relationships
Serving communities across Atlanta, South Haven takes on projects from 1,400-square-foot townhomes to more than 12,000 square-foot single-family homes, as well as interior commercial tenant spaces and golf clubhouses. “We recently finished a highly custom home in a nearby in-town country club and golf course,” Shane says. “It was a rewarding and highly collaborative project. The traditional Mediterranean-inspired architecture blended with a ‘primitive modern’ interior style, combining rustic materials and textures with modern touches that reflected our client’s lifestyle.
“Elsewhere in southwest Atlanta, we’re working in an amazing mixed-use community, Serenbe, founded by the Nygren family,” Shane continues. “It’s a beautiful place to live, inspired by European concepts of preserving green space and creating walkable, clustered hamlets of character-filled homes. Each year, Serenbe hosts an annual show home program, and we’re proud to have built six of the last seven show homes. Serenbe is unique in its showcase of rich architectural diversity, where timeless styles such as Victorian-era homes mix alongside modern buildings with glass and weathered steel exteriors.”
Jessye adds: “In nearby Athens, Georgia, we’re building a golf clubhouse for longtime professional land development colleagues and friends. At nearly 35,000 square feet including outdoor spaces, it’s one of our largest projects to date. While it’s a commercial building, it exudes the warmth and experience of a large estate home, inspired by the English countryside. We’re excited to bring this historic style to life.”
Communication is a cornerstone of South Haven’s approach, especially in building strong client relationships. “Dedicated team members guide clients throughout the process, and we prioritize personal communication and thoughtful action,” Jessye explains. “Alongside this personal touch, we’ve built in-house software platforms called Decco and Cassa, which provide single sources of truth for our clients, team, and trade partners to stay informed about design decisions, budgets, and progress. This allows us to offer both a highly personal experience and a structured, predictable approach.”
On a personal note, Shane and Jessye’s paths into homebuilding were very different but united by shared passions for architecture and people. “I grew up in the Midwest, where my grandfather was a carpenter and farmer and my father ran a construction subcontracting business in residential and commercial markets,” Shane says. “I loved seeing how different crafts came together to create something remarkable. After several years in the technology industry, I found my way back to homebuilding. Along the way I met Jessye, and the rest is history.”
“My story was different,” Jessye reflects. “I was a restless kid figuring out my path. In my early years I was fascinated by my uncle and grandfather’s carpentry work. In an early career, I learned to love project management before transitioning into construction. I knew I could learn a lot from Shane as soon as we met, and he’s been a mentor and like a big brother to me ever since.”
Tight-knit team
The two first met 20 years ago at a regional homebuilder in Atlanta. “We navigated the housing recession together and came out with an entrepreneurial spirit,” Jessye explains. “We gained experience with other homebuilding teams before forming South Haven in 2016. We wanted to create something client-focused and architecturally special, built around our shared passion for people and nurturing talent.”
Shane adds: “Our skill sets complement each other well. I handle architecture, strategy, marketing, and business development, while Jessye oversees finance, interior design teams, and daily construction operations. Nearly a decade in, we’ve had the privilege of hand-selecting a like-minded team passionate about client engagement and quality work.”
On the topic of the team, Jessye and Shane share their devastation after the recent loss of longtime friend, colleague, and architect Paula Bishop. “Over the last ten years, we’ve built a tight-knit team we care deeply about, and we very sadly lost Paula in August of this year,” Jessye says. “Paula played a key role in our business and in many projects. Her friendship, artistry, and expertise are deeply missed, but her legacy lives on in the homes and spaces she helped create.”
From speaking with Shane and Jessye, their passions and commitment to the homebuilding industry are clear to see, and with next year marking South Haven’s 10th anniversary, we’re keen to hear what 2026 has in store for the business. Shane reflects: “Ten years is a remarkable milestone, a chance to celebrate what we’ve accomplished and to look ahead.” Jessye adds: “A highlight of this decade will certainly include the completion of the current clubhouse project, set for late 2026. At nearly 35,000 square feet, it’s our most ambitious project yet and a true testament to the dedication of our entire team.”
Shane concludes: “While the future is always full of change, South Haven will continue embracing diverse projects and styles, staying nimble, and taking on work that aligns with our skills and passions.”