All of our projects at Heller Built, from historic restorations to full equestrian estates, rely on strong relationships and close collaboration between clients, architects, designers, landscape architects, and us – the builder.
As builders who take pride in the quality, craftsmanship, and longevity of our homes, we are honored to work with clients and partners that share our values. We believe that every client deserves a home that will last for hundreds of years – and not only survive, but be cherished by multiple generations to come.
When we come together with a team and client that shares this vision, something special happens; together, we build a home that celebrates the history and beauty of our central Kentucky surroundings, while adding long-term value to our community. We believe that this is what truly matters – not just for all of us at Heller Built, but for our clients and community at large.
“We’re trying to be a part of something that matters… To leave our great state in a place that in 100–200 years, [we know] we’ve taken care of what makes us who we are.”
– Austin Heller
Our current estate home project, Seven Stones, encapsulates this vision. Designed by Tim Adams of T.S. Adams Studio, Architects, for our client, Ashley, and her young family, the Seven Stones estate will include a historically-inspired residence as well as areas for fishing, hunting, and other outdoor activities. At our most recent site visit, our own Austin Heller caught up with Tim and Ashley to discuss the inspiration and collaboration that has made Seven Stones a true legacy project.
“My inspiration is, I think, creating a home that honors Kentucky, and honors the farm, and also grows with our family for years to come,” said Ashley. “I think when we first imagined what we wanted to build and where we wanted to live, it wasn’t just the house, it was a whole experience… So being true to historical architecture, but yet also being able to envision a comfortable place where my kids can run, and fish, and enjoy the outdoors.”
“It wasn’t just the house, it was a whole experience… a comfortable place where my kids can run, and fish, and enjoy the outdoors”
– Ashley, client
Longevity has always been the vision for Seven Stones, Ashley added: “Every time I design a space… [I’m] just thinking about how that can evolve for the next family that moves in, and how this one can evolve for my kids,” says Ashley. Tim agreed: “We refer to those as legacy projects, that it’s not for the short term gain, it’s not for ‘we’re gonna live here 20 years and then retire to the beach.’”
At Heller Built, this is the mentality that we seek when partnering with design teams and clients, and what we hope to bring to life throughout the building process. “We like to work with builders who are building it right, where we know it’s long term, that you’re not cutting corners, that you’re not doing it the cheapest way or the fastest way,” said Tim. “You’re creating that legacy. Because so many homes are built now that, in 20 years, are going to be problems.”
“We like to work with builders who are building it right, where we know it’s long term…”
– Tim Adams, Architect
Drawing from local architectural history was also front of mind for Adams: “I love the idea Ashely said about being true to Kentucky and being respectful to that. Our architecture generally is very traditional so that kind of fed into what exactly we’re doing here today. So for us, our inspiration, we draw so much from the client, but then we kind of infuse a historical precedent to help us tell the story of how this house comes together.”
Beyond architecture, history and legacy are a major source of inspiration for everything we do at Heller Built. Austin explained: “For us, we want to save these beautiful properties… because it’s what makes us who we are. When people travel [to Kentucky] from around the country and around the world, they come because of our beautiful horse farms, because of our beautiful landscape, because of our amazing bluegrass… So, I think that really is a definition of who we are at the root. We’re trying to be a part of something that matters… something that’s substantial, that makes a difference, that caters to our community, and can leave our great state, our central Kentucky in a place that in 100-200 years, [we know] we’ve taken care of what makes us who we are.”