Building modern homes, in conversation with Kenton Lepp of Lepp Construction

Lepp Construction specializes in custom residential new-build and renovation projects in the Lower Mainland, collaborating with leading architects and custom home designers they have developed a reputation for their portfolio of beautiful modern homes. We recently had a one-on-one conversation with Kenton Lepp, founder and Principal of Lepp Construction to discuss Lepp Construction, their process and life at large in Vancouver. 

Thomas
Kenton, pleasure to meet you. Please introduce yourself to our readers and give us a bit of a background on you and Lepp Construction.

Kenton
Thanks Thomas. I’ve lived in Vancouver for 13 years now, but I grew up in Saskatchewan and completed my university degree there as well. My wife and I have two children and we enjoy spending time with families that live in our community. In my spare time I enjoy skiing, golfing, volleyball and staying active.

Thomas
Scott Posno Design, Measured Architects, Battersby Howat Architects and D’Arcy Jones Architects are just few of the design firms that you have collaborated with. Together you have created some very impressive work. How did you get involved on working on these kinds of projects with such a great group of people?

Kenton
There’s so many great design firms and architectural offices in Vancouver, yet the design community feels small (in a good way). Some projects we were fortunate that the clients who hired us had already retained a great design firm. Other connections were made through our success and reputation from previous projects.

Thomas
We live in a beautiful city; a destination for many. You really have established yourself as a Vancouver/lower mainland business. If you map out the homes that you have built they are all pretty central. Did this just happen organically or do you generally seek out projects close to home? Tell us a little bit about your Vancouver experience.

Kenton
I love the neighborhood pockets in Vancouver. I think our local presence is a biproduct of networking and being present in the community. If you spend time in an area, and people see your projects from start to finish, there is an opportunity to make an impression. Our site branding, social media and vehicle branding have always been recognizable, but equally as important has been our recognition by neighbors and others in the community. People see the way our builds are cared for, the quality of the workmanship, the friendliness of the staff and the pride with which each house is built. We really care about doing a good job and also respecting the neighborhood. These sorts of impressions are what get discussed at dinners, BBQ’s, school parent meet ups, and other social gatherings where your name can get passed on. It’s been fairly organic but not without some focus on staying local.

Thomas
Getting a custom home designed and built is quite an undertaking and process. Would you be able to give us a rough summary of this process; undertakings, steps one would take and timeline? Are you guys usually brought into the project by the designers or the clients?

Kenton
The answer is probably 50/50. Often a client will call and say they have a property and want to build a custom home and want to know where to start. I always ask whether they have an architect or design firm already or if they would like some recommendations. The other half of calls are from design firms already hired by a client and looking to find a builder that is a good fit for the project. The face time and interaction with the potential client is always very important to me at this stage. I want to make sure our values for a project are understood and appreciated by the clients, and that the entire team (client, design professional, builder) is in alignment with the goals of the project. The design itself can take 3 months to a year, depending on the complexity of the project. Our involvement with this process is at arm’s length, but we find our most successful projects involve our input early regarding high level budget allowances, mechanical system integration, high performance building assemblies, and working alongside the architects to sequence or detail a new design concept they’ve incorporated. Our custom home builds are generally 14-to-20-month projects (after permit is received), and major renovations are typically 6-to-20 months depending on complexity and scope.

Thomas
Truth to materials and the use of materials to define details like colour and texture are things that some of the designers that you are working with are taking into consideration. It’s really beautiful. Is it common as a builder to get introduced to new building materials and or techniques when working on such progressive projects?

Kenton
Building science and the products that go into homes are always evolving. It is common with custom home design to be introduced to a new product. We have a strong commitment to the design team to bring their vision and specification to life, so we love seeing new products. Our commitment to the client and the longevity, dura ility, and sustainability of a product are also top of mind, so we try to do our homework and make sure that all new products are a good fit for both ‘sides’. Some of the new materials and products are already made to satisfy both form and function, while others need more research and a thorough explanation of the pros and cons. 

Thomas
Open-space living and seamless transitions from indoor to outdoor spaces are just some of the details found in your work. These details require a lot extra care and attention. You mentioned eliminating any problems prior to building by working closely with the architects and designers using technology like 3d modeling. Could you please elaborate.

Kenton
We try to find problems in a 3D model before they become problems on a job site. We either draw up an entire project (every stud, joist, beam, concrete wall) in modelling software, or we work through the architects’ model and work through the design with them. Modern design done well doesn’t just ‘happen’, It takes hours of thining through certain details and anticipating a conflict and finding a solution long before it’s constructed. I love this part of building and enjoy the challenge of this process. We can walk our employees and sub trades through a house in 3D to help determine sequencing, fine tune the schedule, and incorporate new products or materials needed to make the design happen as intended, avoiding costly mistakes and keeping the project on track.

 

Thomas
You have a beautiful collection of homes and projects in your portfolio. If you had to choose one project as a success story for our readers. Which project would it be and why?

Kenton
The St. George Project is one that is especially dear to my heart. My wife and I worked on this one together and it challenged us in many areas. The lot itself was only 20’ wide x 200’ long with access only from the front. In total this property had 11 neighbors (that don’t always see eye to eye)! The City had some challenging requirements that didn’t always match the aesthetic intent, which forced us to get creative. The property was situated in the peat bog area of east Vancouver, so the structural and geological challenges, combined with logistical and spatial limitations were one of the large challenges. The design elements of the house both inside and out were also very specific and we enjoyed executing some amazing details, great space planning, and using some new materials and vendors. It was 3 years from beginning to completion but was worth it in the end. It was truly a unique and special project!

Thomas
Across the world we are all experiencing a very different climate. Within the past seven + months with lock downs, isolation and working from home people have reviewed their lives and the importance of the home. Already we have seen this have an effect on real estate. Example, need for green and outdoor spaces etc. Would you say that the same has happened to your industry?

Kenton
Yes, we are seeing more projects come across our desks and more phone calls from people wanting to upgrade or build new tailored spaces. People are spending more time at home and thinking about how their space or property can be changed to suit the needs of this new family dynamic.

Thomas
Contemporary design can be defined as the design ‘of today’ Can you name any current design trends that you are seeing or that clients are requesting?

Kenton
I’m seeing storage as one thing that’s becoming more refined and integrated in new homes and spaces. It’s rare to have enough space in a Vancouver home to be wasteful with it, so I’m seeing what maybe in the past was a storage area, not to be seen, now becoming nice millwork that can store things you don’t want to see but looks as pleasing and elegant as the kitchen and feature millwork in a house. Natural elements like wood, stone, steel and concrete are always popular and are being used in new and creative ways.

Thomas
The architects and designers that you have worked with are known for their modern approach to design. Today there are many different ideas as to what makes a modern home. What is your definition of a modern home?

Kenton
My definition of modern design is anything that is well thought out, is organized and simple in its appearance.

Thomas
Any last words or shout outs that you would like to add …

Kenton
I’d love to give two shout outs: One shout out to all our clients for trusting us with their homes, and the designers for their creativity and dedication to their craft. We all need each other, and we truly love what we do, so we appreciate everyone involved. A second shout out to Better Building Practices. In today’s climate, we all have an opportunity to limit our impact on the environment and we’re trying to do the same when building homes. Building highly efficient, comfortable homes with really good air quality is a staple of our process whether a client is asking for it or not. I love talking about building science and always welcome a discussion.

 

Thomas
Kenton, thank you so much its a pleasure to connect with you and we look forward to seeing your next project. Readers please make sure to visit leppconstruction.com for an in depth look into each of their projects.

 

 

Lepp Construction