HOME PORTRAIT
Building Homes and Lasting Relationships
The Staying Power of Jason Napior and Radius Construction
by Karla Araujo Photography by Charles Utz
The house sits, without pretension, on a quiet wooded lane in the heart of West Chop. The simple shingle and clapboard front, shake roof and dark hunter green trim belie the space and contemporary style that await just inside the door. With a nod to traditional farmhouse and Shingle Style architecture, the home was designed not to bedazzle but welcome and comfort. It is a family home, envisioned by its owners, designed by Chuck Sullivan of Sullivan O’Connor Architects, and built, with great pride, by Jason Napior of Radius Construction.
Every home tells a story, and, if this one could talk, it would speak of a long and treasured family legacy of West Chop summers, children scampering in and out of open doors, gatherings for casual meals in the spacious kitchen/great room, and suntanned weekend guests.
Built as a second home for a couple and four children from a large East coast metropolitan area, the West Chop house was constructed on three wooded acres abutting their original family compound. It was a Vineyard dream realized, a chance to uphold tradition for a new generation within a stone’s throw from the old. But, while the home that resulted is large and by no means austere, its owners’ instructions to Jay Napior were clear and concise: from groundbreaking to occupancy in 10 months, delivered on time and within a strictly specified budget.
Jay, an Island builder for more than a dozen years, bid on the job and, in the process, developed a friendly rapport with the owners. He had worked with architect Chuck Sullivan in the past and liked his sense of design and way of doing business. The West Chop project would be one for the portfolio, he knew. He liked the potential clients and was excited about the proposed house. He got the job and broke ground in September 2008.
“At the end of the day, it’s not just about making a dollar,” Jay says. Boyish and enthusiastic at 41, he walks through the now finished home that he completed on time and on budget, from groundbreaking to the planting of the final shrub. Because the owners live out of state and use the house only during summer, holidays and occasional getaways, when they’re not here Jay is still the man in charge. In three-quarters of his jobs, Radius Construction’s work isn’t done when the house is occupied; the company stays on to serve as property manager, keeping homes scrupulously maintained and communicating with their owners on a regular basis.
“We build, manage and maintain most of the homes we get involved with,” Jay explains. “So my work is about developing long-term relationships with clients, not just constructing houses. My favorite type of project ties into who the client is. I enjoy great relationships with homeowners and good working relationships with architects. I like a clear plan with a clear time line. Then I like to stay involved once the house is done. That’s the ideal situation.”
Because nine out of ten houses he builds are second homes for people who live off-Island, Jay has developed sophisticated but user-friendly website tools to keep clients apprised of both construction status and ongoing maintenance issues once the houses are completed. Each client creates a password for secure access and can instantly review work progress, photographs, calendars, written reports, work orders, estimates and invoices.
“It keeps us all on the same page,” Jay says. “It’s a central place for everyone’s reference – a great project management tool for me and an easy way for homeowners to see exactly what’s going on at any given moment.”
Both Chuck and Jay concur that the owners of the West Chop property became deeply involved in the design and building process. “They would drive up once a month with their kids, often making the trip overnight and treating it like it was a family camping trip,” Chuck explains. And both architect and builder believe that the clients’ ongoing input was a critical factor in the success of the project. “Even the children spoke up about the plans,” Chuck adds. “They helped design their bedrooms.”
The West Chop house was a perfect candidate for Jay’s project management skills. With both time line and budget tight, communication among architect, client, builder and subcontractors had to be clear and concise. “In a situation like this, we spend a lot of time up front answering questions. We can’t redo work under tight deadlines so planning in the early stages is critical.”
Jay’s professional background encompasses resort management, landscaping, building and construction management. When he first went into business for himself in 1998, he focused on property management. It took off and spawned construction projects along the way. Business boomed for the next decade. Even today, with the recession affecting Vineyard construction, Radius Construction stays busy, he says, having earned a reputation for good quality work at competitive prices.
The West Chop house is no exception. It features three finished living levels, including an enormous walkout basement that is outfitted with a guest room and bath, plus an exercise space for adults and a bowling alley-size playroom for young children. Summers on West Chop are all about kids, so the owners decided to create an indoor space for rainy days or to escape the heat and sun. Upstairs on two levels, 6,000 square feet provide ample room for relaxation and sleep, with six bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen/great room, separate family room, office, billiard room and two laundry rooms.
While there is no shortage of space, it is all thoughtfully planned to suit this particular family. “They built this house for themselves, not with resale in mind,” Jay says. The gathering rooms are generous and open and the bedrooms, including the master, are built on a rather modest scale. “They wanted to put the emphasis on the ‘public’ spaces,” Jay explains. “They’re not out to impress. There aren’t three layers of crown molding on the ceilings and they chose solid, clean, high quality furnishings.” The one exception he points out laughingly: a six-foot soaking tub and steam shower in the master bedroom. “That’s the one place the owner didn’t scrimp. He held tight to his soaking tub.”
According to the architect, a key element of the design is the grass courtyard that serves as a focal point from each wing of the house. “The couple wanted a generous, yet controlled space where their four children could play,” Chuck says. “The big garage door that opens into the courtyard stays up all day long for easy retrieval of golf clubs, bikes and beach gear.” While he’d never designed a garage to function as what he calls “almost a portico,” Chuck now deems it a great idea for a busy Vineyard family.
Built in a U-shape, the section of the house that fronts onto the driveway and road represents only one-third of the total space, giving the misleading impression that the home is somewhat demure. But a walk around either side quickly changes that impression into one of greater expanse. Inside, in the heart of the great room, the ceiling soars 30 feet to a decorative and light-yielding cupola. And, while the bedrooms are not large, high ceilings and lofts in the children’s rooms also add to a feeling of airiness.
“They wanted a warm, barn-like feel,” Jay says, pointing to the beams and exposed trusses above. In addition, because they were building on what had been undeveloped land, they sought a design that was sensitive to the environment and to the neighbors.
Selected by Chuck at the outset of the project, Contemporary Landscapes of Vineyard Haven provided an extensive overall plan for the property that included siting the house, screening it from the road, creating leisure areas for the family, and developing a drainage system. According to co-owner Caleb Nicholson, screening the property was the company’s biggest challenge. His solution: to create a landscape berm with heavy, dense plantings for both a visual and sound barrier. And, to help keep the focus and the contained feeling of the courtyard, he extended the architectural lines of the house using vegetation to define the edge.
Native plantings quickly filled in the open spaces, providing bursts of color from early spring through late fall. “There’s even some winter interest with hollies and evergreen,” Caleb points out. The property is 100 percent organic, he adds, employing no synthetic fertilizer. While not mandated by the client, Contemporary Landscapes promotes an organic approach in its work.
For seasonal entertaining, the house features an outdoor kitchen under a covered, furnished porch, along with a fire pit nearby. And, as a quintessential West Chop summer home, there is a requisite outdoor shower located between the front door and the garage.
Inside, the emphasis on rustic, natural materials is echoed with wood and stone in nearly every view – old growth Southern yellow heart pine, soapstone and butcher block kitchen countertops, hand-finished wood kitchen cabinets, two fieldstone and granite fireplaces built by Atlantis Hardscape of West Tisbury, bluestone and reclaimed oak floors. There is abundant storage, including an entire wall of closets in one of the garages – enough to hold a growing and active family’s ample supply of “playthings.”
Two and a half summers have passed since Jay meticulously put the finishing touches on this one-of-a-kind West Chop home. And, while his pleasure is obvious as he recounts each significant detail, he sounds happiest when asked about the family that occupies it. “They love it,” he answers simply.
And by all accounts, the love is lasting.
For more on Radius Construction, visit their website at www.radiusmv.com.
Every home tells a story, and, if this one could talk, it would speak of a long and treasured family legacy of West Chop summers, children scampering in and out of open doors, gatherings for casual meals in the spacious kitchen/great room, and suntanned weekend guests.
Built as a second home for a couple and four children from a large East coast metropolitan area, the West Chop house was constructed on three wooded acres abutting their original family compound. It was a Vineyard dream realized, a chance to uphold tradition for a new generation within a stone’s throw from the old. But, while the home that resulted is large and by no means austere, its owners’ instructions to Jay Napior were clear and concise: from groundbreaking to occupancy in 10 months, delivered on time and within a strictly specified budget.
Jay, an Island builder for more than a dozen years, bid on the job and, in the process, developed a friendly rapport with the owners. He had worked with architect Chuck Sullivan in the past and liked his sense of design and way of doing business. The West Chop project would be one for the portfolio, he knew. He liked the potential clients and was excited about the proposed house. He got the job and broke ground in September 2008.
“At the end of the day, it’s not just about making a dollar,” Jay says. Boyish and enthusiastic at 41, he walks through the now finished home that he completed on time and on budget, from groundbreaking to the planting of the final shrub. Because the owners live out of state and use the house only during summer, holidays and occasional getaways, when they’re not here Jay is still the man in charge. In three-quarters of his jobs, Radius Construction’s work isn’t done when the house is occupied; the company stays on to serve as property manager, keeping homes scrupulously maintained and communicating with their owners on a regular basis.
“We build, manage and maintain most of the homes we get involved with,” Jay explains. “So my work is about developing long-term relationships with clients, not just constructing houses. My favorite type of project ties into who the client is. I enjoy great relationships with homeowners and good working relationships with architects. I like a clear plan with a clear time line. Then I like to stay involved once the house is done. That’s the ideal situation.”
Because nine out of ten houses he builds are second homes for people who live off-Island, Jay has developed sophisticated but user-friendly website tools to keep clients apprised of both construction status and ongoing maintenance issues once the houses are completed. Each client creates a password for secure access and can instantly review work progress, photographs, calendars, written reports, work orders, estimates and invoices.
“It keeps us all on the same page,” Jay says. “It’s a central place for everyone’s reference – a great project management tool for me and an easy way for homeowners to see exactly what’s going on at any given moment.”
Both Chuck and Jay concur that the owners of the West Chop property became deeply involved in the design and building process. “They would drive up once a month with their kids, often making the trip overnight and treating it like it was a family camping trip,” Chuck explains. And both architect and builder believe that the clients’ ongoing input was a critical factor in the success of the project. “Even the children spoke up about the plans,” Chuck adds. “They helped design their bedrooms.”
The West Chop house was a perfect candidate for Jay’s project management skills. With both time line and budget tight, communication among architect, client, builder and subcontractors had to be clear and concise. “In a situation like this, we spend a lot of time up front answering questions. We can’t redo work under tight deadlines so planning in the early stages is critical.”
Jay’s professional background encompasses resort management, landscaping, building and construction management. When he first went into business for himself in 1998, he focused on property management. It took off and spawned construction projects along the way. Business boomed for the next decade. Even today, with the recession affecting Vineyard construction, Radius Construction stays busy, he says, having earned a reputation for good quality work at competitive prices.
The West Chop house is no exception. It features three finished living levels, including an enormous walkout basement that is outfitted with a guest room and bath, plus an exercise space for adults and a bowling alley-size playroom for young children. Summers on West Chop are all about kids, so the owners decided to create an indoor space for rainy days or to escape the heat and sun. Upstairs on two levels, 6,000 square feet provide ample room for relaxation and sleep, with six bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen/great room, separate family room, office, billiard room and two laundry rooms.
While there is no shortage of space, it is all thoughtfully planned to suit this particular family. “They built this house for themselves, not with resale in mind,” Jay says. The gathering rooms are generous and open and the bedrooms, including the master, are built on a rather modest scale. “They wanted to put the emphasis on the ‘public’ spaces,” Jay explains. “They’re not out to impress. There aren’t three layers of crown molding on the ceilings and they chose solid, clean, high quality furnishings.” The one exception he points out laughingly: a six-foot soaking tub and steam shower in the master bedroom. “That’s the one place the owner didn’t scrimp. He held tight to his soaking tub.”
According to the architect, a key element of the design is the grass courtyard that serves as a focal point from each wing of the house. “The couple wanted a generous, yet controlled space where their four children could play,” Chuck says. “The big garage door that opens into the courtyard stays up all day long for easy retrieval of golf clubs, bikes and beach gear.” While he’d never designed a garage to function as what he calls “almost a portico,” Chuck now deems it a great idea for a busy Vineyard family.
Built in a U-shape, the section of the house that fronts onto the driveway and road represents only one-third of the total space, giving the misleading impression that the home is somewhat demure. But a walk around either side quickly changes that impression into one of greater expanse. Inside, in the heart of the great room, the ceiling soars 30 feet to a decorative and light-yielding cupola. And, while the bedrooms are not large, high ceilings and lofts in the children’s rooms also add to a feeling of airiness.
“They wanted a warm, barn-like feel,” Jay says, pointing to the beams and exposed trusses above. In addition, because they were building on what had been undeveloped land, they sought a design that was sensitive to the environment and to the neighbors.
Selected by Chuck at the outset of the project, Contemporary Landscapes of Vineyard Haven provided an extensive overall plan for the property that included siting the house, screening it from the road, creating leisure areas for the family, and developing a drainage system. According to co-owner Caleb Nicholson, screening the property was the company’s biggest challenge. His solution: to create a landscape berm with heavy, dense plantings for both a visual and sound barrier. And, to help keep the focus and the contained feeling of the courtyard, he extended the architectural lines of the house using vegetation to define the edge.
Native plantings quickly filled in the open spaces, providing bursts of color from early spring through late fall. “There’s even some winter interest with hollies and evergreen,” Caleb points out. The property is 100 percent organic, he adds, employing no synthetic fertilizer. While not mandated by the client, Contemporary Landscapes promotes an organic approach in its work.
For seasonal entertaining, the house features an outdoor kitchen under a covered, furnished porch, along with a fire pit nearby. And, as a quintessential West Chop summer home, there is a requisite outdoor shower located between the front door and the garage.
Inside, the emphasis on rustic, natural materials is echoed with wood and stone in nearly every view – old growth Southern yellow heart pine, soapstone and butcher block kitchen countertops, hand-finished wood kitchen cabinets, two fieldstone and granite fireplaces built by Atlantis Hardscape of West Tisbury, bluestone and reclaimed oak floors. There is abundant storage, including an entire wall of closets in one of the garages – enough to hold a growing and active family’s ample supply of “playthings.”
Two and a half summers have passed since Jay meticulously put the finishing touches on this one-of-a-kind West Chop home. And, while his pleasure is obvious as he recounts each significant detail, he sounds happiest when asked about the family that occupies it. “They love it,” he answers simply.
And by all accounts, the love is lasting.
For more on Radius Construction, visit their website at www.radiusmv.com.