Artisan Builders

Sarah Lavender Smith

2020-05

We hired Justin Stratman of Artisan Builders to build our dream home, and we feel our dreams came true. We bought 35 acres of undeveloped ranchland six miles outside of Telluride, Colorado, and sought to build a farmhouse-style home that respected and reflected the history and aesthetics of the region. We wanted a timeless home, not trendy, and we wanted it to be big enough to accommodate kids and future grandkids, but warm and intimate-feeling.From the day we hired him, Justin cared about our project as if it were “his baby” meaning he focused primarily on it, always making it his priority and always being available and on site throughout the lifespan of the project.Working with Justin and Justin’s architect, we refined plans and settled on a two-story, 3-bedroom, 2.5 bath home approximately 3600 square feet with a great room, loft and other “plus” spaces; the square footage does not include an enclosed sunroom and a wrap-around covered deck. Justin meticulously picked out our materials, traveling to Canada to hand select several truckloads of century-old hand-hewn beams and other reclaimed wood for the home’s timber framing, trusses and siding. He guided us through choices for every detail, from the pattern and type of stone for the masonry, to the distressed-wood and stone-tile flooring, to the cabinetry and lighting, bathroom fixtures and finishes, the windows and roof—everything. He assembled a team of subcontractors and laborers, all of whom we trusted and felt comfortable being around.A true craftsman himself, specializing in ironwork, Justin did much of the hands-on work for custom details, such as crafting and welding a chimney top, creating patinas for the metal wainscoting on the exterior’s siding, building our powder room’s vanity, designing and building an entranceway gate, and working with his crew to design and hand-make a beautiful wood dining table using leftover reclaimed wood from the construction.For much of the year during construction, we lived out of state and thus trusted Justin to handle everything while we communicated remotely, which he did. Then we moved onsite and live in a trailer next to the construction, and Justin and his crew did their utmost to make our living arrangement and the transition with the move relatively easy and calm. He was well organized and always so thoughtful, never cutting corners. The end result is a stunning custom home with one-of-a-kind wood and metal details, such as a “floating” I-beam under the loft (suspended by a cable), a guest bed above the second-story bathroom accessed by a pop-out ladder, an indoor-outdoor sunporch that brings in the views while blocking the strong weather; and old, special repurposed hardware throughout, for style as well as function, that makes the home feel historic. Justin’s organizational skills and dedication to the project meant the home finished on time, approximately 14 months after he and his crew started digging the foundation. We highly recommend Justin Stratman and Artisan Builders.

Chase Robison

2020-05

Justin has been great to work with. With a long distance project like ours, in a relatively remote area near Telluride, it was comforting to know that Justin was in charge of the selection of materials and the coordination of various skill sets that came together to construct our project. We found Justin to be extremely honest, creative, talented and a very practical manager. He has a keen eye for the details, respect for the environment, and an ability to balance local building requirements with building aesthetics resulting in high-quality construction. It was a pleasure to work with Justin and we look forward to future projects with Artisan Builders.

Mike Shimkonis

2023-09

Justin and his team at Artisan Builders are incredible craftsmen who do absolutely stunning work. He has a keen eye for detail, incredible artistry and the end result is impeccable and very appealing. He is honest as the day is long and thoughtful with the entire process. I've had the pleasure of representing some of the homes he's custom built and remodeled and they consistently command a greater price due to his craftsmanship. He is a general contractor who wears his tool belt, carries a hammer, has a sharp pencil and dives right in. You'll find him in the field more than behind his desk!

Chris Myers

2020-05

My company recently worked with Justin for the first time, on a custom post-and-beam home he designed in the Telluride area. We worked as the lighting designers on this project, and my associate and I were extremely impressed with Justin's attention to detail and level of professionalism. He is a true craftsman, whose skill level and dedication to a project is not easily found in the construction industry. Justin is a pleasure to work with, and we look forward to collaborating on a project again in the future.

Bruno Prager

2023-05

I sought out Justin due to his work with Glen Harcourt and Steeprock Builders, a renowned artisan building company in the Telluride region that had done custom finishing work in my home many years past.Built in 1899 my home was showing structural signs of aging. Justin consulted on the state of the home, taking the time to explain the construction and design principles as well as the quality of materials and how they were faring, drilling down into the specific aspects of the specie of wood and why it still worked for its application. If the opportunity arose, I would be stoked to have Justin and his Artisan Builders build me a new home/addition.BrunoService: Consultation

Laura Averette

2023-10

Justin is an amazing designer! He is very responsive and kind. I very much recommend his creative designs which are both rustic and beautiful without sacrificing luxury.

MHK Architecture and Planning

2020-05

We have worked with Justin at Artisan Builders for many years and he and his team are truly craftsmen that love what they do and it shows in the finished product. Justin has a great eye for detail and makes excellent decisions: we've always been very impressed with the way the projects we've worked on together have turned out. If you're looking for a home that has character and a wonderful team to work with along the way, Justin at Artisan Builders is your man.

Matt Hepp

2020-05

Justin is a top notch professional contractor. I have worked with him on several projects and Justin has always been passionate about all details of residential construction, especially timber accents. Best part: no drama! I look forward to working with Justin on the next project

John Baskfield

2020-05

Justin and I worked together on several projects in Ouray County. Justin is talented in both design and construction. His skill in building teams and collaboration brings out the best from all involved. I feel any owner, designer or tradesman lucky enough to work with Justin will be highly satisfied with both the process and the result.

Corinne Platt

2020-05

We interviewed several contractors before deciding to hire Justin and artisan builders to build an addition onto our home. Ours was a relatively small but very challenging project that we knew would require broad vision as well as day-to-day ingenuity and problem-solving. Justin is exceptionally creative and efficient which is a rare combination. He listens carefully to his clients dreams and needs, and always offers thoughtful options to fit within the general plan. He is open, friendly and approachable, and leads a very honest competent and hard working crew. Justin has been working in the Telluride region for over 20 years now and we feel this is an important piece of the puzzle. He has a remarkable network of relationships in the area and he is clearly liked and trusted; this is one of the key reasons he is able to get work done so efficiently and effectively. We will hire Justin again for any future projects, and we recommend that anyone considering building in the Telluride area at least meet him to discuss their dream plans.- Corinne and Mark, Telluride

John Morris

2020-05

Justin is a very professional builder. His attention to detail is what stands out to me. What more could you want in a builder. He is very attentive to his projects.