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It should come as no surprise that Joey’s homes are well-received among El Paso homeowners – his talents vary from décor detail to providing energy efficiency.
“I take a great deal of pride in my homes – I focus on the details and the quality,” Joey says. “There are different elements in each style of home that makes it special, and I try to bring those elements out.” Elements are unique to his homes, as well as striking. They are also common, even if it means bringing Tuscany to El Paso.
After returning from a European vacation, Joey and his wife, Cindy, wanted to mirror the Tuscan country-side and the beautiful homes that dotted the terrain. “We loved the area so much, we wanted to create one of those Tuscan-style homes right in the middle of El Paso,” Cindy says.
And, they did. With Cantera stone columns and a massive Cantera stone fireplace, travertine floors and rounded corners, the home is reminiscent of a country full of elegance and rustic charm, but, perhaps the most impressive detail in the Tuscan masterpiece is the mosaic tiled dome ceiling rising high above an iron staircase and surrounded by stained glass windows. “That is the pride of this home,” Cindy says. “It is exactly what we wanted.”
Joey’s dedicated sense of what works when building a home can be attributed to his father, Robert Najera of Robert’s Construction. “From the time I could walk I’ve been going to the job sites and working on the jobs with him,” Joey says of his father, who has been building homes for 30 years. “I learned from my dad how to build and how to run a company. I also learned it is a very humbling business.”
Joey went to the University of Texas at Austin, then went on to work in Dallas as a finance manager for an auto group. “I always knew in college I wanted to be a builder,” he says. With that as a focus, Joey returned to El Paso seven years ago and began building and working on home remodels – now with homes in such notable subdivisions as Park Hills, Franklin Hills and The Park at Wildwood.
Joey’s 2006 Parade of Homes entry is one example of the varying styles Joey can adapt to when building – a Pueblo style residence with wooden vigas, rustic earth tones and beautiful wrought iron work. Joey also captured the power of artistic expressions by commissioning a muralist to create other worlds in the murals on the walls. In one, located in the entryway hallway, a rustic village highlights trees, pottery and a green mountain range. In another, found in the master closet, ladies sit and sip wine. “It’s amazing what a facelift like the murals can do for the house.”
One thing sure to be found in any of Joey’s homes is the adequate space for family to gather, like large family rooms, impressive kitchens with spacious islands and game rooms. “Family is very important to us,” Cindy says of herself, Joey and their three children Dorian, 15, Derik, 9, and Lance, 19 months.
While Joey is always focused on detail, he is also focused on providing more for the money, one reason why he remains small. “I offer a lot for the money, and I can do that because I am a small builder,” he says. Much of what he offers includes energy efficient homes by earning the Energy Star Seal, which meets the Environmental Protection Agency strict guidelines. He is also a commercial builder.
“I want to make it very easy for a customer to come in and say ‘I want this house,’” Joey says. “I want to provide the best home, at the best price.” |
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