Heaven. Skyward. Cielo in Spanish.
Cielo is a word that captures the essence of what Cielo Design & Construction offers its clients.
“Our goal is to build a dream home that exceeds the highest expectations of our homeowners every time,” Cielo President Kathleen Larriviere said. “Only the sky is the limit.”
Three years ago, Larriviere partnered with long-time business associates Diego Villanueva and John Hockenberry to create a company that combines the talents, experience and expertise of each to give their clients a one-stop design-build option.
“From concept to completion, we do it all in-house,” Larriviere said. “Between concept and completion, however, there are a million decisions that have to be made. Between the three of us, we coordinate all those decisions so that we are always on the same track and there are no surprises.”
Vice President Diego Villanueva, works with structural design and creates plans and 3-D renderings.
Vice President John Hockenberry is the builder partner and super on projects.
Cielo builds and remodels homes and small commercial structures in the greater Jacksonville area. The company was selected to build the entry to the Fall Home & Patio show last year.
Larriviere is able to integrate her passions, art, business and technology, in her role as the company’s president, licensed building contractor, and lead designer.
A systems engineer, who was involved with implementing software for an online marketing company in her previous career, said the design, technology and problem solving are her favorite parts of the job.
Before starting the company, she was foreman on personal real estate projects and decided to take it further and make it a business.
“Houses are details,” she said. “From the nails to how things fit together to where the problems are revealed, all the details matter.”
Naming the company Cielo, Larriviere said, is her way of telling clients to have lofty expectations, and the company will go above and beyond to make their dream home a reality.
“I always look for a ‘wow,’” she said. “I want each home to have at least one unique, unexpected design feature, one that forever will bring a smile to the face of the client. ‘Wow’ doesn’t always have to cost more, it just takes artistry in design and creativity in implementation.”
Larriviere joined NEFBA this year. Her reason was simple. She needed a strong network of competent, reliable and trustworthy subcontractors who shared her drive to provide the best possible outcomes for her clients.
She also knows the importance of a maintaining contact with leaders in the construction industry and to keep abreast of current events, trends and changes.
“NEFBA is my source for subs I know I can trust,” she said. “That’s not to be taken lightly because good subs are often difficult to find. In addition, it is easy to get caught up in projects and lose sight of the big construction picture. To have a reliable source for industry information and trends, can’t be underestimated.”
Larriviere also values NEFBA’s reputation and standing in the community. The NEFBA stamp has value and makes a strong statement to clients about the quality of the company they are hiring, she said.
“New members bring new ideas, new energy and new areas of expertise to NEFBA,” said Executive Director Corey Deal. “Cielo President Katheen Larriviere has been quick to become an active member. We value her enthusiasm and look forward to seeing and hearing more from her in the months and years ahead.”