When Kris White earned a bachelors degree in civil engineering from Auburn University, she was one of two women in her class. When she went on to study environmental and structural engineering at Georgia Tech, she remained a minority in her field.
Fifteen years ago, White started Broad Builders, a woman-owned company that started with large-scale renovations of 1920s bungalows in Virginia-Highland, Morningside, Buckhead, Brookhaven, and Decatur. White has expanded about half of her business to building new homes.
“It started out with adding a second story, additional square footage, creating outdoor spaces, detached garages; working with older homes in the area and trying to preserve the look,” White said.
White said the challenge with renovating older homes is matching original materials – like old hinges, doors, and doorknobs – and to “make it look like it’s always been this way.” Conversely, there’s no telling what a construction crew will find when they open a wall that’s been closed for 100 years.
Inside old homes she’s found newspapers from the 1930s (once used as insulation), a gold tooth, jewelry, rotary phones, original pink tile from the 1950s, and lots of carpet.
“You have to be prepared, be flexible, and have a knowledge of building to integrate the new with the old,” she said.
White is constantly educating herself about new products and methods, like layered lighting controlled by an app, waterproofing windows and doors, and building an efficient, airtight home.
For a client who is a survivor of environmental cancer, White built a home free of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). White researched toxin-free materials, adapting to her clients’ needs to build the Pasadena Avenue home in Morningside. VOC toxins are found in nearly every construction material: glue, paint, cabinetry, flooring, lumber, and more. The custom home includes a physical therapy studio, a soundproof music studio, and an outdoor pool.
White described her latest project as her “dream home.” Inspired by California architecture, the 7,000 sq. ft. home is seven bedrooms and seven and a half baths at 843 Yorkshire Road in Morningside. It is “a modern, warm, livable space” made with stone, wood, and glass. White designed the home with an architect, and it will go on the market this week for $5.49 million.
The kitchen features white oak cabinetry, limestone countertop, and paneled appliances. A scullery off the kitchen with an icemaker, dishwasher, and beverage refrigerator allows for prep and clean-up. Downstairs, there’s a wired media room for a home theatre. A detached, 800-sq. ft. pool house features a full kitchen and bath, an upstairs loft, a wood burning fireplace, and double doors leading to the swimming pool.
The house sits 35 feet back from the street with a sloped front yard. It is higher than the neighboring houses, giving it a private and exclusive feel, White said. The ginkgo tree in the front yard is “magnificent” in fall, she added.
White has lived in Virginia-Highland for nearly 30 years.
As a woman in homebuilding, White used to spend hours interviewing clients and talking about their projects, for them to take her ideas and knowledge to hire a male-owned firm.
“I don’t really care if you want me to put in pink tile or yellow tile. That’s up to you. I want to build a sound addition and bring your house into the modern world with quality materials for the best prices,” White said.
“By the time my clients are done, they know why we’re doing what we’re doing – from the nitty gritty framing phase to all of the finishes. I have a very open dialogue and I welcome their questions and input. My goal as a female builder is to reduce anxiety,” White said.
“So many people have horror stories about contractors. I’m just trying to change their opinions, one project at a time,” she added.