For Shawn and Shelley Callies, owners of Callies Homes, Inc., crafting the perfect home is more than planning the structure; it’s about meeting the client’s needs for usability, durability and atmosphere. And they’ve been building on those important tenets for nearly two decades.
Initially starting out with renovation projects for their family members, Callies Homes has grown and established an amazing reputation for well-designed and expertly crafted builds that are both beautiful and functional. That legacy of cumulative skill and attention to detail led them to revitalize a well-known home in the heart of their hometown.
The idea for this project started 13 years ago when a gorgeous 1920s-era foursquare went up for sale on Section Line Street. At the time, the Callies family was looking to return to their hometown of Howard, SD from Sioux Falls and had been searching for a property they could rent while simultaneously renovating it. They were familiar with the Section Line house and were up for the challenge of an older home but unfortunately, the timing wasn’t right. Instead, they purchased a home just up the street and resumed building the life they envisioned. Since then, their homebuilding and renovation business grew and years passed as other projects were completed.
Then a couple of years ago, an opportunity arrived that allowed them to purchase the Section Line Street property and finally transform it into a four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom modernized masterpiece with vintage visage. Plans to rehab the home included supplementing the footprint with an addition and breathing new life into its old features.
With the home being in various states of undoing when they purchased it, there were many things to restore or rebuild. Custom oak cabinetry was added to the bare kitchen layout while quartz and granite countertops, new windows, solid oak doors and meticulous tile work were installed throughout the home. The front porch was rebuilt to include beautiful and durable composite decking.
The home was also in need of more space, so the Callieses built an addition that gave them twice as much square footage. This added footprint consisted of a hidden walk-in pantry, a two-stall garage, a mudroom, surplus laundry facilities and a spacious primary en-suite that included a walk-in closet, tile shower, double sinks and a separate closet/toilet room. They found and installed cedar siding on the addition that was very similar to the look of the original and a composite deck was added at the rear.
While they knew there was plenty that needed to be completely redone, they wanted to salvage and use the original features as much as possible without compromising safety or functionality. In addition to sanding and staining the existing oak wood floors and trim, they also revitalized the original beauty of the colonnades, restored two sinks, scrubbed and painted the register grates and repurposed a fuse box for modern-day use. A hutch that had remained under a tarp on the front porch for years was in surprisingly good shape but was no longer usable in the same location. The team found the drawers and hardware in the basement in equally good shape so they relocated it to the new pantry as a statement piece. With gorgeous oversized millwork throughout the existing parts of the home, they wanted to replace the damaged pieces and repeat in the addition which could have meant a lot of money, research and time. But the Callies team was ready.
“Since we have our mill machine, we were able to match the trim to use in the addition and for any broken or missing pieces,” says Shelley Callies. “It’s uniform throughout, which I think is pretty cool and a big deal.”
Beyond their amazing craftsmanship, the Callies Homes team takes pride in understanding the needs of their clients for both the feel and function of their spaces. Whether it’s the perfect place for a broom closet or motion-sensor lighting in the bathroom, every design is well thought out and beautifully executed. And the Callies team is there for every detail, decision and task along the way.
“We subcontract a few things but do so much of the entire build project and we’re fast,” says Callies, when asked what sets them apart. “We mill our own trim and frame up the house. We do a lot of the dirt work, install cabinetry and flooring, tilework, siding and design the floorplan. And we help along the process so that it’s not so overwhelming because there are so many layers and decisions.”
And the renovation of the Section Street house was more than just making an old house usable and attractive again. It was personally important to the Callieses to invest in the community they were raised in and the place where their children would grow their roots. This project also took on a lot of meaning for community members who requested and received an Open House invitation to see the transformation. To say it was well-received is an understatement. People were able to see the rebirth of a cherished home, share stories of its previous occupants and events and marvel at the renewed beauty and function of a beloved fixture of their community.
Not only are they experts in all the decisions and details of residential builds and renovations, but Callies Homes is also adept in commercial and one-of-a-kind projects, too.
They just finished the demolition and rebuild of a floral shop in Madison and are adding onto and renovating an old church in Volga to include an elevator, a stone fireplace and a dreamy kitchen with breathtaking woodwork.
Whether it’s a new build, renovation or addition, the Callies Homes team takes pride in performing each step in the process with integrity and care. Each project they take on is equally well-designed and skillfully crafted by their experienced crew.
To view their Section Line Street renovation project or some of their new builds, feel free to send them an email or visit their Facebook page for more information.
