Jake The Man - Innovation, Ingenuity, Integrity

04/24/2026

Contra Conefers "Part 2"
New Bathroom/Master Closet:

This concept was a fantastic revelation on what to do with the floor plan, and turn the space that had a "office" next to the taxidermy tree with a tiny cedar half bath, into a functional space featuring a full spacious luxury bathroom, and enormous master closet!

The plan utilized the footprint of the tree platform to create a half hexagon shaped closet accessed from the previous office via new doorway, and after closing in a doorway from the Common Space/Game Room created a uniquely functional luxury bath space.

We added a privacy door to the toilet/shelving area that changed my original mock up pictured below but pulling this off over the finished car port from the garage and under the finished floor above was no simple task plumbing wise.

With nearly 30 recessed lights in the space sharing switches between new walls to be built floor up, we decided to drop the existing ceiling to make room for simplified wiring, which exposed a mouse nest above the tree limbs as they entered the pre-existing drywall!

04/24/2026

Last summer I proposed an ingenious plan to revolutionize the approximately 3000 square foot wing of a gorgeous luxury estate that was relatively unusable by its new owner: a corporate retreat / recreational management company. We started the 3 month process in August.

As legend has it, the estate was previously owned by the world's foremost female Olympic champion bow hunter who had the wing rebuilt after a fire to specifically display trophy hunts she had accumulated during her vast career.

This meant platforms to chest height all over the west wing, and even a tree positioned to look as though it was growing out of one of them with specimens arranged throughout the branches for its visitors viewing pleasure.

28 lamps were tied to a single switch to illuminate the tree and the astroturff covered platforms left no usable space except to walk between them to marvel at what was they're previous display.

This is a relatively complex project that was accomplished in several simultaneous phases. In order to better convey the process i will break down this post into two sections: The Common Space/Game Room, and Bathroom/Master Closet Design.

Contra Conefers "Common Space":

Here you can see we removed the display platforms, timber round partitions, part of a peninsula display containing 12 switches and several outlets, pictographic backsplash tile etc... Then tied it all back together simplifying the newly unified electric and lighting, recycling antique barn posts to complete an esthetic frame, and creatively filling the previous platform space with a river of naturally polished stone installed precisely into a "wave" of simulated river bed finishing up the space. We milled custom baseboard, and recycled timbers to complete the floor to wall transition after repairing and repainting all the walls to match.

Videos in comments

04/24/2026

A couple of winters ago we were fortunate enough to help restore this historic meeting place in an absolutely gorgeous location on the mesa.

We repaired, and restored, then painted 1000's of square feet of wall space, caulked in the stone accent walls, built platforms, access stairs, and a wheel chair ramp in the common space, added true cork flooring and additional lighting to what will be the test kitchen, then recycled some oak cabinetry shelving we removed on site into a wheel chair railing to prevent folks from taking a dive off the edge of the new ramp install.

Videos in comments.

03/26/2026

👏🥳🙏

03/18/2026

Hoping that soon I'll have the time to finish posting last years amazing projects... In the meantime this came in the mail last week❣️

01/12/2026

A couple from Texas hired to run the online /digital sales for Purgatory scouted a piece of land between Lemon and Vallacito approximately 8500' elevation, just above the aspen line.

They hired an architect, got a permit, hired a contractor, and began they're journey to home ownership in LaPlata.

The story doesn't stop there or you wouldn't see me posting this...

Basically the couple were left almost a year out past their contract completion date continually being billed for almost no activity at all finishing the house. They were even charged $3k a month for "site conditions" which were atrocious when we got there to say the least.

They're rental lease (already renewed) was running out and they needed a Certificate of Occupancy ASAP.

The criteria left to legally achieve move in was:

Interior floors finished.
Deck and stairs to deck finished.
A functioning shower.
And a ships ladder/railing for the loft to be complete.

The inspector made us add a hand rail to the exterior stairs, and close in an open panel to the left of the ships ladder with plywood that was intended for a decorative "dragon" panel.

I actually lost a lot of photos for this job which is a shame because the ships ladder was constructed in a different than usual fashion, highlighting elements of craftsmanship id like to display.

Long story short, we started with 1.5 months left to the end of theyre lease, and they made it in with a day to spare!

01/06/2026

This is kind of a neat one that proves Ingenuity can concour the "almost" impossible. This project is right down town by the "stairway to heaven" on 10th.

Our clent decided she wanted to convert her upstairs into an ADU. The double sink was taking up all the space needed for a stackable washer and dryer.

With very precise tooling we were able to sever half of the unit and add a wall to encapsulate the newly plumbed W/D position.

This project also included framing a wall for a double door to close the downstairs off from the hallway (not pictured). The owner completed the painting herself before her tenants arrived.

With imagination and perseverance anything is possible!

01/06/2026

Its the most wonderful time of the year!: When I have a moment to post some of our more recent projects :-)

Here's one from early spring... This condo in Edgemont had too short of a roof extension over the side stairs. The splash back, and poorly flashed roofline were damaging the stucco, and leaving the tenants with soggy or icy steeps in the winter. A small 4' extension was introduced, the rotted wood was replaced over the steps, and we repaired/color matched the wall damage ourselves!

11/14/2025

11/14/2025