While SCD&C has been in the home design and construction business for many years, our focus has recently shifted from custom home construction to building consulting services and custom furniture making.
To make the transition SCDAC owner Steve Crook moved its operation from Colorado to north central Florida in 2023. There, Steve built a new 1,050 square-foot workshop and began work designing and building custom furniture from raw native log to one-of-a-kind, finished products.
We currently provide the following consulting and design services:
- Consult with homeowners on how to efficiently build their own projects
- Design of projects for homeowners and construction professionals
- Helping in the creation of budgets for projects
- Helping in selection of suppliers and subcontractors for projects.
Professional Biography | Custom Home Builder, Artist, Musician, Songwriter, Furniture maker and Designer, Steve Crook
Steve Crook, Owner, Steve Crook Design and Construction
Steve Crook, owner and founder of SCD&C, started his custom home building career in the 1000 Islands area of northern New York. As the son of a summer resort owner, he learned to fix things with available materials (usually recycled) and a minimum of tools. His “formal training” started by watching an old-time carpenter build the resort’s motel and cottages. As well, the various tradesmen working on the project generously put up with a young boy’s persistent questions and desire to help them complete the resort.
At the age of 19 Steve’s first summer construction job was as saw man for a modular home building company. He soon moved up to working with a siding crew, where he learned assembly line production frame and exterior trim work. He became lead man within a few months.
After moving to Colorado in 1973 and trying various jobs, he began as a surveyor with Hutchinson Homes in 1975, a large land developer and home builder. As part of Hutchinson’s Allied Dirt division, he learned the rudiments of survey work and quickly progressed to become party chief of his own survey crew. Among duties performed for Allied Dirt were the following: staking of all utilities, such as water, sewer and gas lines, staking property lines, grade stakes for cuts and fills, staking curb and gutter, staking house foundations and checking foundations for level and square. This experience provided him with a thorough understanding of grading and foundation placement and the ability to interact well with excavation and survey tradesmen.
In 1977, Steve took a year leave from his job and crossed the Atlantic in a small sailboat with three friends. After touring the Mediterranean and crossing back to tour the Caribbean, he returned to his job with a new goal in mind. With world travel behind him he started his first business, Designer Builders in 1979,and for the following ten years built many quality homes as well as completing numerous residential remodeling projects. During this period he was often called upon to conduct home inspections and design interiors and home additions. In 1980, one of Steve’s new homes was featured in Colorado Homes and Lifestyles magazine.
Quality Construction Certificate
In 1988 Steve formed American West Homes Ltd with a partner. During the following nine years they built approximately 30 new homes and completed several extensive remodeling projects. American West Homes also built a church and performed framing and interior trim work on a number of multifamily and municipal projects. American West Homes also did their first land development project called Howarth Farms, situated on the corner of Bowles and Belleflower in Littleton, Colorado. During this period, Steve was awarded a coveted Quality Construction Certificate from the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver (HBA).
In January, 1998, Steve sold his interest in the company with the specific goal of relocating to the mountains and advancing his career by forming Far Star Inc, a company he operated for 14 years until forming Steve Crook Design and Construction in 2013.
After building two spec homes in the Denver metro area, Steve purchased his present home and office on Hillstone Lane in Evergreen, Colorado. He immediately left for New York State where he designed and build a summer home in the Adirondack Mountains for a long time business associate.
Upon returning to Evergreen in spring, 2001 Steve started the land development process for Hillstone and subsequently completed the first of three homes he designed for the property. Steve continues to design new homes as well as expand the scope of SCD&C which now includes custom woodworking projects, consulting services for homeowners and businesses that need help in organizing, staffing, scheduling and expediting their own construction projects.
In 2021 Steve moved from Evergreen, CO to Weirsdale Florida and built his home there. He purchased a portable bandsaw mill and built a 1050 SF workshop. He is currently designing and building custom oak furniture. He also does consulting for homeowners and contractors to help them in various ways on their projects.