Artisan’s Corner: Christopher Brement of Bramante Homes

Here at Nest Realty, we love the businesses that help turn a house into a home. In our Artisan’s Corner series, we’ll chat with the builders, architects, designers, and other artisans behind these local businesses.

In this installment of Artisan’s Corner, we sit down with Christopher Brement of Bramante Homes, a family owned company that’s been building homes in the Charlottesville region and Shenandoah Valley since 1978.

Nest Realty: Tell us about yourself! What brought you to Charlottesville?
Christopher Brement: I grew up nearby and fell in love as a teenager. I studied at the University of Virginia and though I moved away for a few years after graduation, I was, as they say, hooked, and came back in 2003. My wife and I have raised our girls in Crozet and can think of no place we’d rather be.

NR: How did you get into home building?
CB: I’m a second generation custom home builder. My father started Bramante Homes in the late ’70s and just as soon as I could add value, I was working with him. We self-performed much of our work back then and my favorite trades were framing and tile work. Anyone who knows me will tell you that it’s in my blood.

NR: What sets you apart? What makes you different from other builders?
CB: Bramante Homes’ niche is found at the intersection of a client’s personality and our craft. We take pride in carefully listening to our clients to design and build truly unique homes that are a reflection of their personality. Our wonder is enduring and we add value with technology, excellent communication, ever-improving best practices, and, most importantly, passion for the memories that our clients will make in their homes.

NR: What is your proudest accomplishment as a builder?
CB: The smiles or kind stories that folks have to share about their experiences and homes.

NR: What upcoming projects are you most excited about?
CB: A New England style farmhouse on top of a mountain, a cottage for mom/grandma (actually two, coincidentally), an executive’s home with amazing mountain views, a sprawling estate on the water, and a farmhouse in the woods, to name a few…

NR: What are some ways you give back/strengthen our community?
CB: Giving back is a passion for me. I volunteer for several local organizations, including the Blue Ridge Home Builders Association (immediate Past President), Augusta Home Builders Association (twice Past President), and the Central Virginia Regional Housing Partnership (Board Member). Their efforts are crucial to manage housing affordability. A couple of specific events that I’ve enjoyed in the last year include:

• my 14 year old daughter joining me and other BRHBA volunteers to design, donate materials, and construct an outdoor staircase as part of the Crozet Trails Group trails system. This donation made the navigation of a particularly steep and previously dangerous trail safe.
• sponsoring the Regional Housing Partnership’s annual Housing Summit, an engaging and educational event that raises awareness and makes efforts to tackle affordability challenges within the context of pulling communities together with a more regional strategic eye.
• traveling to our state capital during the recent legislative session, with fellow HBA members, to share with our elected officials what bills our industry do and do not support.

In addition to volunteering, Bramante Homes did recently complete, for no profit, the construction of four affordable townhomes for the Thomas Jefferson Community Land Trust. In part from our no profit arrangement as well as the generosity of many of our trade partners, we were able to assist the TJCLT in helping four families below the 80% median area income level become homeowners.

NR: What is your favorite part of being a builder?
CB: My favorite toys as a kid were puzzles, Legos, Lincoln Logs, and the sort. I’m the luckiest guy on earth to do the same for a living…

NR: What do you love most about the Charlottesville area?
CB: Four seasons, a breathtaking landscape, and the general approachability of everyone and everything.

NR: What one piece of advice would you give to someone setting out on the home building journey?
CB: The cost of construction is constant, regardless of the builder you choose. Size, quality, and level of service are what affect cost. Choose a builder who specializes in what you are looking for, who you relate to, and who you trust.

To learn more about Bramante Homes, visit bramantehomes.com. Check back soon for another Artisan’s Corner profile!