About us
Freshwater
We’re here to help make your home vision a reality. Crafted with care & built to last.
Introductions
Meet
the Crew
We are building a future for our clients & ourselves. We know no compromise, our passion and our pride in our work stand paramount, among all else.
Amber
Lonchar
Owner, Designer & Builder
The Conductor
Amber's journey to building custom homes is as unique as her designs. After graduating from the University of Missouri, she started out teaching children in Hawaii before diving into the world of fashion. For six years, she honed her design skills as a merchant and clothing designer for retail giants Chico's and White House Black Market. Now back in the Ozark Mountains, she's applying her keen eye for design and detail to a new canvas: custom homes. With hands-on expertise in every aspect of the build, from selecting flooring to overseeing construction, Amber is dedicated to helping her clients bring their dream homes to life.
Zack
Smith
Partner, Designer & Carpenter
The Right-hand man
With over 15 years of experience, Zack is a true craftsman who finds fulfillment in working with his hands. He has a diverse skill set spanning design, carpentry, home repairs, cleaning, and general construction. Zack is passionate about using quality materials and is committed to doing the job right, even when it's the hard way, to achieve a flawless, photo-worthy finish. This dedication to visual excellence is no coincidence; he has also been a professional photographer for over 15 years, specializing in home design, interiors, and architecture.
Our Home
historic downtown branson
Rising From the Ashes
At the beginning of 2023, Freshwater acquired the historic Reish Family Shoes building, in downtown Branson Missouri. This building was originally built by the Vandrop Family in 1912. The store originally housed a hardware & furniture store. In 1913, A devastating fire burned the majority of downtown Branson to the ground. Most of the the Vandrop building remained after the fire, along with the bank and stables.
The Vandrop building was purchased by the Reish Family in 1931. The Reish Family owned the building and operated their well-known shoe business for over 70 years. After acquiring the building, Freshwater began ongoing renovations, to respectfully restore the building to a semblance of it’s former glory.
The Freshwater Construction offices are located in the top floor of the building. On the main level, our sister company, Freshwater Designz, has their interior design and custom home furnishing studio. We are excited to continue remodeling this architectural treasure of downtown Branson.
We think history is important. It follows us and reminds us of our place in time. We are priveleged to have this opportunity and we can’t wait to share our projects & build our future.
Interesting fact…
In early American culture, it was common for hardware & furniture stores to craft caskets for the dead. These caskets were often displayed and sold alongside their finest furniture.
We’d love to work with you. Contact us today, we’ll help you build a future, tomorrow.
Amber & Joe Reish
The Historic Reish Building