Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendall and Martin Armenta.
Hi Kendall and Martin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When we started Crafted Hills Construction, Martin had already spent years managing projects for other builders. He had worked his way up and taken on more responsibility, but we kept coming back to the same question: what could we build if we put that effort into something of our own? We wanted the opportunity to make the decisions, stand behind the work, and build a future together. In 2022, we took that step.
Martin’s experience began in commercial construction, where he progressed from apprentice to superintendent before moving into custom homes in Austin. Residential work brought him closer to the homeowners and to the details that make each house different. By the time we started Crafted Hills, he had managed teams of superintendents and overseen dozens of homes. That experience gave us a strong foundation, along with relationships with tradespeople who still work with us today.
Even with that background, starting a business came with a learning curve. Running a construction project and being responsible for the entire company are very different experiences. We had to learn how to price our work, manage cash flow, find clients, and put processes in place while keeping projects moving. Some lessons were expensive, and others were uncomfortable. We’ve had to be honest with each other about what needed to change and follow through on those changes.
Our partnership has developed through that process. Martin leads the construction side, working with our crews and managing what happens on site. Kendall handles client communication, billing, and organization, and has taken a growing role in helping homeowners with selections. Working together means business conversations sometimes follow us home, but it also means we understand the effort behind each milestone because we’ve experienced it together.
This year, we became parents, which added another layer to everything. We’re learning how to grow a company while being present for our family. It has made us think more carefully about what growth should look like and what we want all this work to make possible.
Today, we’re a small, hands-on construction company serving the Austin area, working toward larger renovations and custom homes. We’re still earning our reputation, one project and one relationship at a time. A client recommending us to someone they care about means a great deal to us. Those moments give us confidence that the work we’re putting in is leading somewhere, even when the next step feels uncertain.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Kendall’s first response was, “I mean, do we have 47 pages?” So that probably answers the smooth-road question!
One of the biggest adjustments was realizing that being good at construction doesn’t automatically mean you know how to run a construction business. Martin came into this with years of experience managing builds, but we still had to learn how to price our work properly, manage cash flow, write better contracts, and account for all the time that goes into a project beyond the actual construction.
Early on, we sometimes jumped into additional work before getting the scope and price documented. We wanted to be helpful and keep things moving, but that made it difficult to track costs and created conversations we could have avoided. We learned that clear expectations and written approvals protect the relationship just as much as they protect the business.
Another struggle has been the uncertainty. You can be doing good work and taking care of your clients while still wondering where the next project will come from. We’ve had to learn how to market ourselves and build relationships while managing the jobs already in front of us. Slow periods are especially hard when the business supports your family and you have people who depend on you for work.
Being married and running a company together also means learning when to stop talking about work. We care deeply about what we’re building, so it’s easy for a conversation about a project to turn into the entire evening. Becoming parents this year has made us more intentional about our time, although we’re still figuring that balance out.
We’re still working through challenges, but we handle them with more experience now. We ask better questions, put things in writing, and speak up sooner when something needs attention. It hasn’t been a smooth road, but we can look at how we operate today and see what those lessons have taught us.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Crafted Hills Construction is a residential construction and remodeling company serving Austin and the surrounding communities. We take on projects ranging from kitchen and bathroom renovations to whole-home remodels and additions. We especially enjoy projects where we can help homeowners rethink how their space works—whether that means opening up a floor plan, updating an older home, or making room for a growing family.
Our approach starts with understanding what someone wants to accomplish and having an honest conversation about what it will take to get there. Construction is a significant investment, and homeowners deserve clear information about the scope, budget, and decisions ahead. Sometimes that means helping someone prioritize. Sometimes it means explaining why an idea needs to change before work begins.
One thing that makes our company personal is how directly involved we are. Martin manages the construction, works alongside our trade partners, and meets with inspectors. Kendall keeps clients informed, handles billing and documentation, and helps them navigate selections. Our clients know who to call, and the people answering them are the same people responsible for the project.
We also bring established relationships to the job. Many of the tradespeople we work with are people Martin has built with for years. We know their work, and they know our expectations. That familiarity helps us communicate clearly and work through the unexpected conditions that often come with remodeling.
What we’re most proud of is putting our name behind work we’re personally involved in. We’ve built Crafted Hills through our own effort, learned from mistakes, and continued improving how we serve our clients. Having someone invite us back for another project or recommend us to a friend is especially meaningful because it tells us they felt comfortable trusting us again.
We want readers to know they can come to us while they’re still figuring out their project. They don’t need to have every finish selected or every answer ready. We can help them understand what’s involved, work through the options, and develop a clear direction. Our goal is for homeowners to feel heard throughout the process and proud of the home when it’s finished.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to us is the relationship we build with our clients and the quality of the work we leave behind. Those two things shape how we run Crafted Hills.
Having someone work in your home is personal. You’re trusting them with your money, your space, and part of your everyday life. We want our clients to feel comfortable asking questions, bringing up concerns, and telling us when something isn’t what they pictured. That takes consistent communication and following through on what we say we’ll do, especially when a project gets challenging.
We care just as much about the work itself, including the details people may never see once the walls are closed up. These are homes people will live in every day, and the decisions we make during construction have consequences long after we leave.
Ultimately, we want our clients to enjoy their finished home and feel good about the people they chose to build it. We’re putting our family’s name and livelihood behind this company, so both the experience and the finished work matter to us.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://craftedhillsconstruction.com/
- Instagram: Craftedhillsconstruction
- Facebook: Crafted Hills Construction
