Mesa Properties: Building Monumental Colorado Estates

A builder synonymous with large-scale estate work

For nearly four decades, Mesa Properties has set the bar for Colorado estate construction. Led by Rick Watkins, the firm has earned a reputation for delivering expansive, highly detailed estates that demand extraordinary coordination and craftsmanship. Their portfolio shows projects measured not only in square feet but in the complexity of ideas—architecture, interiors, landscape, specialty amenities—brought together so the finished home feels refined and livable.

Since 2008, our team has collaborated with Mesa on almost every project they’ve completed during that time. Watching their process up close, the throughline is unmistakable: meticulous planning, deep accountability with trades, and a relentless focus on the client experience long after move-in.

Awards and recognition that span decades

Mesa’s recognition runs deep and wide. Their awards list includes national and regional honors across design and construction, with multiple National Dream Home Awards for Best Custom Home over many years, as well as Gold and Silver distinctions for custom homes—including very large categories like “over 9,000 square feet.” You’ll also find a long record of editorial coverage, with repeated features in respected publications such as LUXE Interiors + Design and stories in Colorado outlets that follow the region’s best residential work. This isn’t a firm with a single splashy win; it’s a builder with consistent excellence across eras, styles, and project types.

What clients say (and what it reveals)

Read through Mesa’s testimonials and a pattern emerges quickly: clients call out integrity, engineering know-how, schedule discipline, and jobsite professionalism. Several families have hired Mesa for multiple residences and even commercial projects—an uncommon vote of confidence. You’ll also see praise for proactive problem-solving and detailed supervision that minimizes disruption during renovations. In short, Mesa is trusted to handle the kind of complexity that can overwhelm lesser teams.

The 2025 Colorado Homes & Lifestyles Home of the Year

A recent example of Mesa’s capabilities is Colorado Homes & Lifestyles’ 2025 Home of the Year, an 18,000-square-foot family estate in Lone Tree on five flat acres. The article frames the project as a study in contrasts—large yet intimate, traditional lines with modern materials—balanced by natural light and long views. The amenities reflect a sports-loving family and a home built for big gatherings: a 47-foot pool with diving platform and cabana, a basketball half court that converts for volleyball and pickleball, a golf simulator, a two-story rock climbing wall, a private cinema, and a full-sized soccer field. The interior designers worked from concept through furnishings, and Mesa—as builder—guided the “wish list” into reality while honoring the architecture and the way this family lives.

For readers deciding which builder can shepherd a vision of this scale from the first sketch to everyday life, this project is a clear marker: Mesa thrives when the program is large, the site is demanding, and the details must align across dozens of disciplines. Take a tour of this home (and our showroom) in the video below!

How Mesa executes at estate scale

Big houses are not automatically great estates. What sets Mesa apart is how they manage the layers that make or break daily life:

• Coordination with architecture and interiors so structure, millwork, lighting, and mechanicals support the design rather than fighting it.
• Sightline discipline—planning pockets, soffits, and service chases so the finished rooms feel clean and intentional.
• Schedule stewardship—sequencing trades so precision work (stone, tile, cabinetry, specialty amenities) isn’t compromised by rushed overlaps.
• Vendor and trade alignment—assembling experienced partners and holding a high bar for documentation, communication, and fit-and-finish.

This isn’t performative process for a website; it’s the quiet scaffolding behind estates that still feel effortless years later.

For families who gather—and live large

A thread runs through many Mesa projects: spaces that host life at scale without losing warmth. Think open plans tuned to natural light, outdoor rooms that are truly usable, and specialty zones that support real passions—sport, film, cooking, wellness, or all of the above. When a builder understands that an estate must flex from a quiet Monday to a game-day Saturday, the result is a place that earns its size.

Considering Mesa for your estate

If you’re exploring Mesa for a new custom estate or a major renovation, start early. Concept and schematic design are the ideal moments to align architecture, interiors, site planning, and the infrastructure that keeps everything running smoothly. Mesa’s team brings hard-won experience to these early decisions; it’s how complex ideas become beautiful, durable places.

Collaboration that creates moments….

Collaboration between wonderful estate partners makes all the difference in daily life that you will experience in your home. The below video delves more into how these partnerships with technology providers really work. Reach out. We look forward to working with an incredible team of professionals to help you bring your dream world to life.

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