D&D Homes

From concept to completion, D&D Homes has been building premier homes in Saline County for more than 15 years. Operated by Deanna and David Chapman, custom building is top priority for this business. “I will start with a design on a napkin and make it into someone’s dream home,” David said.

D&D Homes has built more than 400 homes over the years, many of them inside the lakefront community of Hurricane Lake Estates in Benton. In fact, David is a partner in the development of the gated community. D&D also has expanded beyond Saline County’s borders, building homes in Chenal Valley, a premier golf course and country club community in Little Rock. D&D strives to build one-of-a-kind homes as large as 10,000 square feet and down to 2,000 square feet.

David said he enjoys taking on a challenge and will do anything he can to fulfill a client’s wishes. “We build every home as if we were personally moving into it ourselves,” he said. “Quality is always our No. 1 priority.”

The team has in-house design capabilities to assist clients in creating their ideal home environment and floor plan. This access helps to ensure that every D&D home is spacious and features the latest innovations in home design, David noted. The in-house architect works with engineers to make sure every home meets the company’s quality standards and uses the latest building techniques and materials.

From Italianate to traditional and Spanish to Craftsman, D&D Homes builds a variety of home styles. Outdoor spaces seem to be a popular concern for clients, David added, and safe rooms or tornado rooms, as they’re called, also are a popular modern feature. Consistent design considerations are kitchens and baths. “Those spaces seem to be incredibly important among a variety of clients,” he said.

Just in the past 15 years, clients’ involvement in the building process has become more hands-on. “Ideas from the Internet and apps like Pinterest are at people’s fingertips,” David said. “It’s a good thing that the consumer today is so educated. It can be challenging to meet their ideal plans, but it’s always good to learn new things.”

A 1984 graduate of Bryant High School, David was an electrician in the Army and then earned his business management degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Before building homes, David, worked in the conveyer business for material handling at manufacturing plants. He spent a lot of time traveling to different states and frequently was gone from home. While having his home built by another builder, David became interested in the process. Church friend Don Goble of DJ Residential Builders inspired David’s homebuilding business. “I would come home from the road, we’d talk about things about home construction, and one day, I made a comment requesting him to teach me residential home construction,” David said. “I started investing in spec homes and working with Don. I could wire a home and that was about it, but I continued to learn the business and liked that it allowed me to be home with my family.”

David’s approach eventually evolved into custom building. A spec home is built to sell and is marketed to the masses, he explained. “From color selection and all, spec homes stay neutral as possible. A builder puts the home in his name, but with a custom home, the homeowner already has a loan and hires someone like me to build their plan. I love being a part of the whole process, from start to finish.”

Currently, David has several developments in progress. The Maples Development off Scott Salem Road has about 50 homes and a new phase recently opened. There’s also the West Shore Development of Hurricane Lake Estates and Hurricane Gardens, featuring patio homes. D&D Homes is happy with all of its endeavors, but David noted watching Hurricane Lake Estates develop from nothing has been fulfilling. “I’ve built more than 100 homes in that neighborhood, and I’m proud to see how it’s grown.”

As for the future, David said he simply wants to keep building and focusing his work in Saline County over the next 10 years. To quiet his mind and escape all the hustle and bustle of building, David enjoys fishing. His parents, who worked hard in factories to provide for the family, inspire David daily. “They are some of the hardest workers I know, and in everything I do, I think about them, and if I get their approval, I know I’ve made the right decision.”