ABOUT us
Our team is dedicated to making sure that your experience building with us
is as wonderful as the final product. We’re here for you every step of the way, guiding you with expertise that we’ve gained through decades in the
home building industry.
Christopher’s passion for home building stems from childhood and teenage years working on job sites. Following studies at the University of Virginia and commercial construction experience in Washington, D.C., his love for Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley drew him back to the family business in 2003. He has worn many hats at Bramante Homes since the mid-’80s ranging from laborer and carpenter to designer and operations manager, and later to director of sales and president.
Recently, he has enjoyed giving back to the community through volunteer efforts on behalf of the Blue Ridge Home Builders Association (board member and past president), the Augusta Home Builders Association (board member and twice past president) and the Central Virginia Regional Housing Partnership (board member).
When he's not building houses or volunteering, Christopher can often be found on or near the water with his wife and two daughters, fishing, boating, or working on home improvement projects.
Troy is our in-house budgeting, accounting, and back-office guru. With a background in the accounting field, Troy started working in construction as a job cost accountant for a restoration and remodeling company in Colorado. He later advanced to operations and estimating roles out west, and now enjoys using his expertise to help the Bramante team bring clients' visions to life.
A West Coast native, he grew up in San Jose, California, and went to school at San Francisco State. Wanting a change of pace and scenery, he moved to the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in 2019 where he enjoys the great history and beautiful surroundings here in central Virginia.
Outside of work, Troy enjoys camping with his family, hiking, traveling to (and experiencing) new places, cooking, reading fiction, learning and refining the art of self-sufficiency, and any activity involving a river, lake, or ocean.
By age 12, Joe had already designed and built three treehouse projects- he always knew what he wanted to do when he grew up. He has a BS in Architecture from the University of Virginia, is a NARI Certified Remodeler, and has over 35 years of experience in the design/build industry and residential architecture.
Joe supports clients by facilitating every step of the planning and design process and thrives on transforming design challenges into creative, functional solutions. He has won several regional NARI 'CotY' awards and is a recipient of NVBIA's FFL Monument award.
In his free time, Joe golfs, RV/camps, and cheers for the Hoos. Joe and his wife worked in Northern VA while raising their son and daughter, then transitioned to the Charlottesville area, joining the Bramante team in 2021. Joe now resides in Zion Crossroads with his wife and a VERY mischievous dog.
Joshua started working in the construction industry as a teenager and after the first summer on a stucco crew, he was hooked. A few years after high school, he left for an 8-year commitment with the US Navy Seabees, where he performed construction in Italy, California, and Japan. When Joshua left the Seabees, he joined a local homebuilder in Hampton Roads and began his career constructing homes in senior communities.
Joshua returned to school and earned his bachelor's degree, and in 2021 he graduated from LSU with his Masters in Construction Management. He joined Bramante in the summer of 2022. Joshua has a passion for giving back to the construction industry and does this by actively supporting the Home Builders Association.
Chrissy grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina and called Southern Albemarle County home for a little over a decade. Her childhood home was constantly under construction, so she learned to design, DIY, and renovate from a young age (did anyone else grow up watching Hometime videos on VHS?).
After years of freelancing in the marketing and interior design world while working as a paralegal, she jumped to designing full time for clients and local custom builders. Chrissy joined Bramante in 2019 and after two years of guiding Bramante's clients through the design and material selections that come together to make stunning personalized homes (the fun stuff!), she has transitioned to managing the company's online presence and marketing efforts.
In her free time, she can be found checking national parks off her list, traveling the world for food and design inspiration, hiking, or working on any number of art or DIY projects.
Chuck joined the Navy just out of high school to do a little sightseeing and had no idea he would see so much water and have so much time to perfect the proper way to push a broom. After leaving the military, he spent 12 years at UPS delivering everyone's favorite fruitcake to their doors just before the holidays (his words!). In 2002, he traded in his brown suit for a hard hat and began building homes in Virginia and North Carolina, eventually joining the Bramante team as a project manager in early 2019. He's an expert at keeping crews on their toes, and occasionally still gets to practice his broom-pushing skills.
Chuck and his incredible wife Jodi have been married for 29 years and have 3 "pretty cool" kids. In his spare time, Chuck enjoys working on home projects. Some of his latest include an elaborate outdoor fire pit area, a babbling fish pond, the all-important wine closet, a basement wetbar, and a fancy storage pantry. His favorite "honey-do" item is touch up paint.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Sonja relocated to Charlottesville in 2015 for her husband’s new job and joined Bramante in 2021. She brings 13 years of experience in the building industry and is passionate about providing exceptional client experiences. She is excited to join our clients on their home-building journeys as Client Care Coordinator.
Sonja is involved in her community, volunteering at the Senior Center, Food Bank, her childrens’ school, and as a Scout leader. When she’s not busy volunteering, she and her family love to spend time at their family farm in Southwest Virginia.
Following over a decade of service in the military, Walter began his construction career as a self-taught carpenter helping family and friends build home additions, decks, and personalized furniture. His path would lead him to the Building Trades Academy of Tidewater where he joined a small team building houses for low-income families. From this experience, a true passion to place families into well-crafted homes was developed. His career progressed through site management for a custom home builder, later owning his own home renovation company, and then transitioning to commercial building for highly visible clients such as Walmart, Sun Trust Bank, and Bank of America. He eventually shifted back to residential building where his original passion lies, and joined Bramante Homes in 2020.
Walter spends time away from work with his wife and two young boys exploring the Shenandoah Mountains and all the beautiful site-seeing venues Virginia offers. He also continues to build custom designed/built furniture in his spare time.
Vern grew up in the Shenandoah Valley and started working in construction in the late 80s. He is Bramante's longest-standing employee, initially working with the company in 1993. Over the years he has perfected the "glorified babysitting" that sometimes goes along with construction management, and makes sure our crews are where they are supposed to be, with the materials they need to do the job. He has an eagle eye for job site cleanliness and keeps everything, and everyone, spick and span.
In fair weather (and even sometimes foul weather!), Vern can be found riding through the countryside on his motorcycle, checking out breweries, or hiking during the cooler months.
Kristin is a proud Charlottesville native. As an administrator for Bramante Homes, she continues her 20-year history in executive support - with 15 of those years being in the construction industry. In her free time, she is the mom of a vivacious daughter who keeps her active and busy with daily adventures.
BRAMANTE through
the decades
Bramante Homes was established by Mark Brement (Christopher's father) in Waynesboro, Virginia in 1978. We're frequently asked, "Why is it 'Bramante' if the last name is 'Brement'?"
It's actually a fairly common story! When Mark and Christopher's family immigrated to the United States from Italy, their last name was misrecorded as "Brement". The business' name honors the family's Italian roots, and their original last name.
The 1970s were the first time we saw primary suites as they currently exist with their own en-suite bath. Stained wood cabinetry and laminate countertops ruled kitchens and baths, while the carpet was laid on top of unfinished oak floors. Bright brass and gold hardware was everywhere, and wood stoves were a typical feature of the family room.
While some of these features are well out of date now, the 70s also established the concept of the kitchen "work triangle", and brought us kitchen islands and raised bars - which are still standard design features!
Bramante’s geographic footprint grew steadily and expanded from exclusively Waynesboro and Augusta Counties into Wintergreen Resort and Albemarle County. Mark honed the carpentry craft he became passionate about while serving in the Airforce, and most homes included projects that were custom-built in collaboration with the client.
In the 1980s, angular architecture was en-vogue both inside and out. It was the era of cedar siding, indoor hot tuba, rough-sawn interior trim, and casement windows. Oak cabinetry and laminate countertops still lead the market for kitchens and baths, but we started seeing both tile and granite countertops in the market. Whirlpool tubs and walk-in showers were commonly requested rather than tub-shower units.
Outdoor spaces started being more considered, with large decks becoming a standard feature. This concept has grown over the years, and thoughtful outside spaces are now considered a critical part of a functional plan.
Mark solidified Bramante’s brand identity as the go-to high-end custom builder in the Waynesboro and Augusta County markets. As teenagers, Mark’s sons Scott and Christopher became school-break employees, crafting their passions for framing, concrete, trim, and tile work. Small neighborhood lots limited to Augusta County and Waynesboro kept the team busy.
In the 1990s, brick became the predominant exterior cladding and houses went big - really big. Double-height vaulted entries were common, and the "grand staircase" was a common feature request. Wrought iron railings and copper accent roofs were the go-to.
In kitchens and baths, golden oak cabinetry was king and solid surface granite and Corian took over for laminate and tile. Hardware finishes branched out from brass and gold and included brushed nickel and chrome options.
The start of the new millenium marked exponential growth thanks to a strong housing market and full-time contributions from Mark, Christopher, and Scott, along with a crew of dedicated team members. Custom homes saw competition from well-designed speculative (“spec.”) homes, and Mark opined; “If you can buy a luxury car right off the dealer lot, why can’t you buy a luxury home right off the shelf?”
While Bramante’s work radius remained relatively small, the team re-entered Albemarle County. Computer automated design (CAD) software became an incredible tool for both Mark and Christopher to work more efficiently and refine their designs. The recession evoked grit and determination as the team pivoted to temporarily focus on remodels, additions, and smaller residential projects.
In the 2000s, brick was still the most common exterior, but James Hardie products started to seep into the market. Houses continued to grow in square footage and bigger was better. Homes used a lot of energy in this era due to their size and the availability of inexpensive utilities. Corian and laminate were almost completely replaced by granite, and oil rubbed bronze hardware became a go-to.
Undermount stainless steel sinks became standard for the first time in kitchens, and cabinetry branched out to cherry, other woods, and even some painted styles. Tile was still typically treated as a commodity rather than a decorative object and was most often installed in 12"x12" squares in a mottled pattern. We started seeing more hardwoods in common areas and significantly less carpet. "Open plan living" gains in popularity with less compartmentalization in kitchen and living room spaces.
Post-recession, Bramante moved back into Albemarle County and balanced offerings between spec and custom homes. Mark and Christopher shared leadership responsibilities and after several record sales years, Mark retired on a high note in 2018. Christopher took the helm and shifted focus back toward custom homes; growing the Bramante team strategically in order to provide an extraordinary experience for clients.
New urbanism and the recession caused a re-think of the size and efficiency of homes. They became smaller and more energy-efficient, and condensed neighborhoods with small lots became common-place. Building science was honed, and insulation practices improved by leaps and bounds while heat pumps quickly gained efficiency.
Cementitious James Hardie took over as the most common exterior cladding and home exteriors became more colorful as a result. Kitchens and baths were dominated by painted cabinetry rather than stained woods and granite took a hit as quartz rose in popularity. Master baths became oases from bustling family life and tile established itself as a decorative element installed in myriad sizes, colors, and patterns.
Styles and materials quickly became less regional and more trend-based thanks to the rise of Pinterest and national home style blogs and publications. Home design blew up in popularity on television, and the world was introduced to an entire world of possibilities in design and finish options!
The 2020s are set to be an exciting era for home building! Estate parcels and small neighborhood builds seem to share equal footing, and efficient building practices allow homes to grow or shrink based on their homeowner's unique needs. Powerful software allows us to draft plans and elevations and make adjustments incredibly quickly. Clients can see their homes come to life and explore details like never before.
The variety of materials and finishes available has never been more robust or well-understood and with endless inspiration available at our fingertips, crafting a personalized home is easier than ever. Myriad styles are en-vogue and there are few "wrong answers" as far as hardware finishes, flooring, and cabinetry options.
We can't wait to see what we get to build next! Bramante is building in Charlottesville, Crozet, Waynesboro, and throughout most of Albemarle and Augusta counties. Where do you want to live?