About WESTERN VISIONS
Founded in 2016 in Montana by U of M Alumni & longtime Western Montana resident Russell Smith, WESTERN VISIONS INC focuses upon delivering comprehensive Design-Build solutions for both new homes & select custom remodels and retrofits throughout Western Montana. We additionally provide Design services throughout the Northern Mountain West. We focus upon a limited number of select projects each year, providing the client an integrated Design-Build experience with a designer & builder with daily presence on their project.
Following several years of delivering cutting edge & award winning Design-Build projects in the Southern Idaho Market, WESTERN VISIONS now exclusively offers new home and retrofit services to Western Montana.
Our approach is based upon ethics, creativity & total project transparency using a consultative process with our clients to deliver state of the art solutions and complete client satisfaction. We work with our clients through every phase of the Design or Design-Build process to ensure not only excitement and enthusiasm for the project, but also through engaging in what we believe to be among the most transparent and fully informative professional standards in the industry.
PRINCIPAL:
Russell brings almost 35 years' experience as a Developer/Builder, Designer, Real Estate Investor and International Consulting Executive to his role as Principal of WESTERN VISIONS INC. Active in the Real Estate Development and Homebuilding industries since 1988, Russell was the founder and Principal of two successful Colorado resort area real estate development and construction firms from 1988 through 1996.
His early career focus, along with his architectural design team and Real Estate Market Partner was upon the design and construction of unique state of the art custom homes in his home town, located in one of America's Premier Ski and Summer Mountain Resort Valleys. Among his many signature style applications was the adaptation of traditional alpine elements, in conjunction with his key Architectural Design Partner, including combinations of native lodgepole, stone and stucco exteriors that have come to symbolize Mountain West Style. He now additionally incorporates rural farm & ranch and other Western design concepts observed during his years growing up and living in the rural Mountain West as well as innovations to which he has been exposed throughout his professional life & travels.
He has designed & built over 30 custom single family homes, 2 duplex & 4 multi-unit projects, has retrofit over 100 residences and 11 commercial properties (including acclaimed historic restoration projects and ultra-modern makeovers) and has developed over 200 acres of residential lots in 5 projects - most recently bringing to market the spectacular Canyon Springs subdivision of multi-acre Snake River Canyon Rim properties in Filer, ID sold 2019-2021. His 2019 Design-Build of his Frank Lloyd Wright inspired Eagle Crest Subdivision Canyonside Resort Home on the Snake River Canyon in Filer, ID won Best Kitchen and Best Master Suite for Homes over $1 Million in the 2019 MVBA Parade of Homes in the hot Southern Idaho real estate market.
In addition to high-value category Parade of Homes awards, Western Visions projects have received media recognition for outstanding Design-Build Excellence. Russell has additionally served on Boards of Directors of Local Homebuilders' Associations in both Colorado and Idaho as well as a State joint Industry / Building Officials Advisory Committee for 2018 Energy Code Adoption.
From 1996 through 2016 he continued his interest in cutting edge residential design through investments in a broad range of development properties and the avocational direction of new construction, restoration and retrofit projects during which time his primary focus was upon his 20 year career in the consulting industry.
Russell had the opportunity to sell his consulting firm in the Spring of 2016 and while the thought of an early retirement and a life of fly fishing was indeed quite tempting, he decided to return to his passion of helping folks realize their vision of life in a Mountain West Dream Home. This passion led him to found Western Visions in June 2016. His longstanding commitment to technological excellence, cutting edge materials and technique applications and ethical building practices present our clients with a design-build environment that is second to none.
As the New West enters its fifth decade, Russell has returned home to Montana to raise a family and is proud to offer his Dream Home Visions to select clientele throughout Western Montana.
Western Visions is an EPA Certified Lead-Safe Renovation Firm (NAT-F188854-1) – a federally mandated Requirement for Executing or Supervising remodel and renovation work on homes built prior to 1978.
