bio - Steve Sirianni, Walls of Time Builders

A Craftsman and Builder From an Early Age

Steven Sirianni first learned a deep appreciation of craftsmanship as a child in Los Angeles when his parents bought a heritage home and hired a master craftsman to restore it. He watched the restoration and the work of master builders and carpenters with fascination and the knowledge that he was awakening to his life’s work. He worked in his father’s real estate business all through high school, and although a ready and prosperous career path awaited him in real estate, he continued to be drawn to building, rather than selling homes.

Architectural Design Influences 

Sirianni pursued his love of carpentry by working as a framer during summers, while attending the University of Southern California.  After graduation, he traveled to Umbria, Italy where he marveled at the beauty, durability and integrity of the ancient architecture. 

He went on to live in Japan on the southern island of Kyushu, where he taught English to young students and again witnessed building as an honored craft. Traditional Japanese architecture, much like classical Renaissance building, emphasizes harmonious form, human-scale structures and a graceful, geometric sense of order. One of its hallmarks is the use of materials, especially wood, in their natural state.

A determination to become a true craftsman

“In the years I was in Japan, the quiet and the order were absorbed into my being,” Sirianni recalls. “I had to let go of some of my western forwardness and learn to receive the graciousness of a bow.”  These rich experiences affirmed his determination to become a true craftsman.

On his return to the U.S., Sirianni settled in Colorado to pursue his love of building and apprenticed with a general contractor who came from a lineage of carpenters. “Ron schooled me in the process of building start to finish,” he says. “This was a true apprenticeship.  I learned every facet of building, where everything goes and why.”

A Natural Progression to Master Builder

Sirianni founded Wall of Time Builders in Breckenridge, CO in 1996 and three years later moved the business to Ashland, OR, where he began to learn about the principles of holistic natural building. In the process he constructed his personal home, which received an Earth Advantage Platinum Certification. In the 20-plus years since, he has been creating homes, additions and remodels drawing on his diverse experience to craft “not just structures, but living environments.”

Today this deep hands-on education allows Steven to work with homeowners on the myriad important details that make up a “home for the ages.” From choosing exterior and interior paint colors with an understanding of how the light will fall at different times of the year to planning the ideal placement and size of exquisitely crafted windows and doors, he brings an unusual perspective to creating truly custom, client-centered homes. “I feel privileged to help people create dwellings that are not only beautiful, but healthy, environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and built to endure the test of time,” he says. 

Creating Structures in Partnership With Homeowners

“Designing a home is a unique opportunity to turn our beliefs about how we should live into the very real foundation and walls of the place we call home,” Sirianni says. “Walls of Time offers a collaborative design process that combines experience, creativity, clear communication, artistry and integrity to create inspired homes that reflect the visions and values of the people we work with.”

Steve Sirianni’s Walls of Time Builders is a full-service custom home design firm headquartered in Ashland, Oregon with over 25 years experience. Contact wallsoftimebuilders.com for more information and a look at some recent projects.