Design-Build
This straw bale addition features very high performing straw bale insulation with lath and slip straw above the windows. Warm interior clay wall plasters and smooth tadelakt windowsills give it a modern but cozy feel. Lime-washed tongue-and-groove beetle killed pine ceilings on the vaulted ceiling open up the space. Read the case study about our process to learn more about how it all went together.
I am really pleased with my clay walls. The clay surface creates such a soft beauty full of subtle variations in tone and texture. Their natural, earthen feel gives the room a unique ambience. It’s now my favorite room in the house.
Ben and Ethan were a great team and really worked with me to make sure I was completely happy with the color and texture. I highly recommend their work.
We highly recommend Ben Waldman. His outstanding workmanship and professionalism were beyond our expectations. Reliability, honesty, consideration and attention to detail were several of the qualities Ben demonstrated. We will certainly call him if we need to have more work done in our home.
Ben Waldman and his crew were delighful to have in our home for 7 days; polite, friendly, conscientious, efficient, and hard working. They cleaned up every day, and all the work they did was superior. Ben is a thoughtful and fair businessman, who does what he says he will do, when he says he will do it. I would highly recommend them.
– Polly
Working with Ben and his team was the most pain free and enjoyable contracting experiences I have ever had. I have been an Architect for 37 years as well as gutting and remodeling one home and building another for myself. We were kept fully informed through the entire process. We lived in our house through the entire process with no disruptions to our lives. Everyone involved was cheerful and polite, and most importantly, the work was perfect.
– James
Ben and his partner who remodeled my small bathroom in my 80 year old house are wonderful craftsmen who designed a beautiful room that incorporated the elements I was looking for while suggesting adjustments that made the best use of the small space. The room had given me moisture and leakage problems for 25 years and they solved them. I wanted tadelakt on the walls and they also suggested the counter of the new vanity counter be made of tadelakt which a unique beautiful hand made surface. Ben and Frank and crew were communicative, responsive, fun, and respectful. They did all the work themselves except electrical and plumbing for which they got competitive bids. They cleaned up every day. They clearly enjoy their work which made my experience enjoyable as well. They use easy technology for visualizing proposed design and for payment.
Frank, Ben and team plastered a large portion of the inside of our house in Lyons over a four month period in 2016. This was over 3500 sq. ft of floor space with vaulted ceilings, rounded arches, and extensive trim work. The craftsmanship is incredible and the end result was a gorgeous upgrade to our home. Beyond the amazing quality and our happiness with the end result, Frank and Ben are consummate professionals. The level of communication, the ease of working with them, and their ability to minimize the impact on our family during the project were awesome. I would absolutely use Living Craft again!
We have been living in our straw bale house for two years. Every day we enjoy the beautiful artistic work Frank, Ben, and Cheryl did plastering the walls and applying the tadelakt technique in our bathroom and along our kitchen counters. Their art is a pleasure for the eyes and to the touch.
Tadelakt walls are very easy to care for and, despite heavy use, don’t turn old. They just transform beautifully with a bit of maintenance, which involves applying wax twice a year. Even the deposit of calcium from hard water along the walls of the bathroom is not longer a problem.
The team of Frank, Ben, and Cheryl left a wonderful energy in our house. The three of them are smart, honest, creative, talented, fun to be with, very centered, and … they care. They brought all these good qualities into our future home throughout 6 months of hard work. They are a team of young people with strong minds, strong hearts, and strong bodies. Our family has a lot of respect and gratitude for them.
Frank also did some finish carpentry work at the end of our house construction project. He did a beautiful job, continuing to cultivating a special presence during his work. He was with us up to the end and his presence warmed our heart and fed our spirit.
We fully renovated the bathroom of a 1930s Denver home, after taking it down to the original wooden lath. We started fresh on the walls with a vapor permeable and historically appropriate lime plaster system. Added custom cabinets, new tile, and modern fixtures. The custom sink basin and shower wall are crafted using Moroccan tadelakt plaster.
We completed a two coat lime plaster over existing plaster in this rural mountain home outside of Lyons, CO.
West Boulder County strawbale home. Designed by Fuentes Designs. Built by Earthrise Homes. Plasters by Artesano Plaster and Living Craft. Custom carpentry by Frank of Living Craft.