Steffen Builders

A Commitment to Quality

By Greg Howard

Some people view their homes as a place to sleep in between life's hectic challenges, but that's not the kind of person who's best suited for Leo Steffen and his company, Steffen Builders. His clients care about colors, textures and tiny details. For them, living in a home is a pleasurable experience that continually assumes new dimensions. They've arrived at a stage in their lives when they've achieved a great deal of success and are ready to reap some of life's rewards.

Leo's current major project is a development near Alamo, CA, called The Camino Monte Sol Collection. The project takes its inspiration from the rich traditions of Spanish and Tuscan architecture, fused with Old World Mediterranean influences.

Indeed, the rich, deep colors and fastidious attention to detail have struck a chord in buyers; very few lots in the development remain. Special touches include authentic clay tile roofs, copper gutters, smooth stucco exteriors and hand-hewn beams. Carefully chosen and selected third-party vendors provide many of the more eye-catching additions, such as a specialty company that outfits Leo's homes with their unique blacksmithing ironwork.

The emphasis on colors extends to tile selections, which include Turkish gold travertine and other stylistic accoutrements that adorn the walls. Individual doors and cabinets are distressed, glazed and lacquered by Leo's team. Kitchen counters sport a "mix and match" style with limestone alternating with granite. Hickory floors are hand-hewn, bleached and stained to add to the mellow, luxurious feel that takes its cue from Old World styles.

Leading-edge technology additions abound: Programmable lighting systems. Prewired multiroom audio systems with in-ceiling speakers. Central panels for voice, video and high speed data wiring. The idea is that the buyer purchases the home with nearly everything he or she might wish to buy separately, preventing the time and cost of additional upgrades later.

But the home buyer still has impressive options for customization. Leo's team can expand the home, add swimming pools or even small vineyards. Clients can treat themselves to built-in expresso/coffee machines as well.

One doesn't reach this level of craftsmanship overnight. Leo's commitment to quality and his attention to detail are trademarks of Steffen Builders, which has been in business since 1977. By paying close attention to the client's needs and desires, and by carefully screening and selecting each subcontractor, Leo has been able to construct quality homes that guarantee outstanding workmanship.

He also recognizes that every home must start with more than just a solid foundation - it must begin with a solid relationship between the builder and owner.

"Building a home should be an enjoyable experience," Leo says. "We take pride in the personal care given each of our clients and their homes."

In addition to the Monte Sol Collection, the company also does custom homes for high-end clients. In fact, they're currently tackling an 8,000-square-foot home in Pleasanton, CA. But whether it's a specialized development or a specific client, Steffen Builders delivers on the power of its reputation.

February 2005 Builder Architect Edition Issue

| Permalink

Post a comment

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)

Name:

Email Address:

URL:

Remember personal info?

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)