Kavan Homes offers custom plans and timeless styles
A home is one of the largest investments you can make, so it should stand the test of time. Not just from a structural perspective, but from a style perspective as well. It also needs to meet the long-term needs of its owners, which is different for everyone. Omaha builder Kevin Kavan strives to ensure the custom homes he builds for his clients exceeds all those expectations.
Kevin’s talent for designing homes began while growing up in Millard. He enjoyed working with his hands and learned a lot from his dad about working hard and taking time to do the job right. In the early years when he knew he wanted to build, he first learned the trades, from electrical and tile work to framing the entire home. All of which he did when he built his first spec home in West Omaha in 2003.
His first custom home came shortly thereafter when the housing market was slower. But because he was on his own, Kevin was able to keep his overhead very low. Even today he doesn’t have additional employees, which he said he prefers so he can be hands-on with every project. “People appreciate working with me because I’m personally involved in every step, which eliminates a lot of miscommunication that can happen with larger builders,” he said. He also uses smaller subcontractors, many of whom have been with him from day one.
Kavan Homes, Inc., grew organically over time, with Kevin now building 10 to 12 custom homes per year for the last several years, which is right where he wants to be. Most of the homes he builds are ranch style in the $400,000 and up range. “It’s hard to beat a ranch because it will fit any lifestyle,” he said. One ranch style home he built had 3,000 sq. ft. above grade and 15 ft. ceilings.
His two-story model, which recently sold, has 20 ft. ceilings in its open concept floor plan and four bedrooms on the second level. An oversized island in the kitchen creates a stunning focal point. Kevin said it’s the largest an island can be without having seams in the granite countertop. The kitchen opens to a living room, dining room, and a hearth room with an additional fireplace. “Families like to be around each other but still have space to spread out,” he said.
The bedrooms offer plenty of space as well, including walk-in closets, and a fully custom-built master closet with a marble island in the middle that includes an outlet. This can be used for a small refrigerator to keep bottles for an infant—a feature inspired by Kevin’s 10-month-old son, Henry. All materials throughout the house are what Kevin described as “real,” meaning natural stone and tile on the floors, backsplashes, and fireplace surrounds. He also stains all the wood for durability and functionality. “I try to do a mixture of timeless yet up-to-date features,” he said. His wife Ashley helps stage his model homes and select décor that fits this philosophy.
One of Kevin’s favorite aspects to homebuilding is drawing each plan. He meets with the client and studies their specific lot to determine the best design that will meet their needs. “If a lot has a great view in a certain direction then I make sure to incorporate extra windows to take advantage of that,” he explained. “I always design the plan to cater to the lot.” Kevin prides himself on that type of attention to detail with his craft. “Similar to a microbrewer who loves the craft of brewing the perfect beer, I love the process of creating a home, from drafting the plans to handing over the keys.”
For more information on Kavan Homes, contact Diane Hughes with Berkshire Hathaway Homes Services,
diane.huges@bhhsamb.com, 402-218-7489.
