When Nick and Kate Kleinschmidt drove away from their home in Louisville, Colorado, on December 30, 2021, they had no idea it would be the last time they would see it standing. The Marshall Fire, which began as a brushfire and spread with alarming momentum through the area, was fueled by 115 mph wind gusts and overly dry conditions. Heavy snowfall that began the night of December 31 ultimately helped bring the fire under control, though not before it destroyed nearly 1,000 homes in Louisville and Superior.
Like many others in their community, the Kleinschmidts faced an emotional crossroads: rebuild their home or sell the lot and move on. The fire burned so intensely that their home’s foundation—what little of it remained—was structurally compromised and would need to be fully excavated before rebuilding could begin. Likewise, the surrounding soils would require testing for toxicity and structural integrity. The decision was anything but simple.
Taking the time they needed to weigh every option, Kate and Nick eventually decided to rebuild, selecting Sheffield, a company that built many of the original homes in the area in the 1990s. Using our design | build process, the Kleinschmidts worked with architects Godden|Sudik to craft a layout ideally suited to their lifestyle. After the architectural plan was finalized, our interior designer collaborated with them to select finishes that balanced personal style with budget considerations.
Once permits were in place and the site was prepared, work began on the foundation of the new home in May of 2025. Some fire survivors opted to rebuild replicas of their former homes; the Kleinschmidts, however, took this opportunity to start from scratch, designing and building a custom home thoughtfully tailored to the way they live.
As the home took shape, Kate and Nick followed daily jobsite progress through an online project management platform, fostering open and transparent communication throughout the process. Regular on-site meetings and check-ins ensured that the home was meeting their expectations.
When it was time for the final walk-through in December, the Kleinschmidts met with Sheffield’s job superintendent and a representative from the warranty management company to draft a job punch list of items to be addressed before closing. And just in time for Christmas, the family moved into their beautiful new home!
The new residence bears little resemblance to the house they lost, yet it feels like home to the Kleinschmidt family. The contemporary two-story plan with a finished basement features 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, a sunroom, and an exercise room, boasting a total of 4,000 finished sq. ft. Honoring their fire recovery journey, Nick and Kate incorporated reclaimed wood from a tree on their lot for the fireplace mantel—an enduring reminder of resilience and permanence. See the full gallery of photos here.
If you have land and are ready to build, we’d love to talk. We’re here to help you move from planning to building with clarity and confidence. Let’s work together to bring your vision to life.
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