There’s an old saying about the cobbler’s children: the shoemaker is so busy crafting beautiful shoes for everyone else that his own kids run around in worn-out pairs. In high-end construction, we see the same pattern all the time. Builders pour their energy, expertise, and attention into creating dream homes for clients while their own houses often remain untouched—dated, tired, and overdue for some TLC.
We decided to break that cycle. Last year, my wife and I finally remodeled the master bathroom in our own home. We specified the same premium finishes, fixtures, and materials we recommend for our Aspen and Snowmass clients. We followed the exact process our homeowners experience: selecting tile, choosing hardware, coordinating with our own subcontractors and suppliers, and living through the disruption of a major project under our own roof.
The experience was genuinely eye-opening. Overnight, we stopped merely recommending particular stones or plumbing fixtures and started living with them every day. We felt how that specific stone wears over time and noticed how the lighting actually performs at 6 a.m. We experienced how a steam shower truly feels after a long day on the slopes. By comparing the solid ½-inch shower glass against the standard ⅜-inch, feeling the quiet luxury of heated floors, and appreciating the soft-close drawers on our new vanity, we gained a much deeper appreciation for the details.
Even more valuable was standing on the client side of our own process. Working with our team and suppliers from the homeowner’s perspective gave us fresh insight into the real experience of being a McSwain Builders client—the communication, the timeline, and the small details that matter most when you’re living through a remodel. Navigating daily life in a disrupted home while working alongside our crew has made us sharper, more thoughtful, and far more empathetic.
This is also why we don’t recommend living on-site during a renovation. Even when you know the crew, it’s still your home—and it can be a lot to manage. (In fact, my wife has already put her foot down: we are definitely not living here when we eventually do the kitchen!)
If you’re considering a major remodel or new build in Aspen or Snowmass, know this: we don’t just build luxury home renovations. We lived it.