DESIGN BLOG
Bob Skinner, Sierra Custom Homes
The success of our client’s projects depends on the builder and contractor partners that we work closely with on a daily basis. They are building the visions that we’ve helped our clients create. And we think the relationship we’ve built with Sierra Custom Homes over the past few years is a great one.
2019 BIA Parade of Homes at Evans Farm open floor plan home, Delaware County
The success of our client’s projects depends on the builder and contractor partners that we work closely with on a daily basis. They are building the visions that we’ve helped our clients create. And we think the relationship we’ve built with Sierra Custom Homes over the past few years is a great one. We hope we can continue to partner on projects for years to come. President Bob Skinner reflected on his experience working with RDS.
Custom-built home exterior, Verona, Delaware County, Ohio
What projects have you worked on with RDS?
We have had RDS design several custom homes and a few remodeling projects. They are able to create designs for any project we need.
Traditional entry and stairwell, Delaware County, Ohio
Modern stairwell
Modern farmhouse exterior, Delaware, Ohio
How has your experience been working with Jim and RDS – Residential Designed Solutions?
Our experience with Jim and team has always been excellent. We have worked together several times and will continue to do so.
Family kitchen, Open concept, Delaware County, Ohio
Custom-built home exterior, Worthington, Ohio Historic District
2019 BIA Parade of Homes at Evans Farm, master bathroom, Delaware County
“Use RDS — you will be very pleased and both
you and your clients will get what has been
envisioned for a new home or remodel.”
Modern kitchen in custom-built home, Verona, Delaware County, Ohio
Modern home exterior
Modern lower-level bar
The plans that come out of RDS are easy to read and use. Jim and his team are always readily accessible when we have questions and our clients want to meet. Anything that comes up is always resolved very quickly. They are extremely responsive and always work with us in a professional, timely manner. We appreciate this!
What advice would you offer to a builder/remodeler/tradesperson who is starting to work with a designer?
Use RDS -- you will be very pleased and both you and your clients will get what has been envisioned for a new home or remodel.
Do you plan to work with RDS again?
Absolutely! We value our partnership.
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👆🏼👆🏽👆🏾 And that’s something we are very happy to hear! If you’re interested in working with RDS and Sierra Custom Homes, please give us a call today at 614.430.0027!
Builder Partner Highlight: Joel Walter, NJW Construction
Our success depends upon the expertise of the builder and contractor partners that we work with on a daily basis. They build the vision that we help create. The relationship we have with NJW Construction is a new one, but one we hope will continue for many years to come. Joel Walter offered some thoughts on his experience working with RDS. We really value this new partnership!
Front Entry In Process, Worthington Remodel
How has your experience been working with Jim and RDS – Residential Designed Solutions?
Our experience has been very positive. RDS helps with the design process to work through problems in a positive way, which is really important to me as a remodeler.
What projects have you worked on with RDS?
We are working on a mudroom and bathroom addition for a Worthington home. This is our first remodeling project with RDS. We did collaborate on a couple NARI sponsored events at Boo at The Zoo at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Jim designed the “not so scary zoo fun houses” and we built the temporary structures.
“I really appreciate Jim and his team being available on the phone (which doesn’t happen as frequently in the business world anymore) and taking the time to talk and discuss the project. They take care of questions and answers in a very timely manner, which makes my job that much easier.”
Jim creates the architectural design work for us and really listens to the needs of the client. He incorporates those needs into the drawings which makes the project come together much easier.
Front Elevation Before, Worthington Remodel
We communicate by phone, email, and sharing photos on our phones. [Jim is] very receptive to thoughts, questions, issues and ideas. I like to say that some people work with you to complete a project and some people work against you, including designers, subcontractors, and suppliers. Jim and his team work with us to complete a project. In my world, this is a huge plus. He and his team are good at finding a solution to a problem, not saying, “we can’t fix it.” In the remodeling world, finding solutions are vital.
What is your overall experience like when working with RDS?
My experience continues to be very positive. Jim is very thorough and dedicated to his craft and the needs of his clients [and] he has a great group of people working with him.
What advice would you offer to a builder/remodeler/tradesperson who is starting to work with a designer?
Bring as much information to the meetings as possible, including client selections, designs wishes, thoughts, reviews, inspiration, and photos. Having as much information as possible always helps the design process at the beginning.
Do you plan to work with RDS again?
Yes–we had a very positive experience with RDS. Jim’s expertise and design has made our project move quickly and smoothly.
👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻And that’s something we are very happy to hear! If you’re interested in working with RDS and NJW, please give us a call today at 614.430.0027!
Outdoor Living: How to Make the Most of Your Space
Sitting outside enjoying a meal with friends, relaxing with a glass of wine, or gathering with family around the campfire reminds us what is really important — time spent together. Now that you’re likely home more often, is your outdoor space a place you look forward to spending your down time or does it leave a lot to be desired? Your home doesn’t have to stop at your back door; you can easily create an outdoor “room” to enjoy al fresco living on any budget.
Now is a great time to plan and create your outdoor space. The design team at RDS will help you translate your dream space to an outdoor reality. We want to share our thought process to help you start thinking about what you might like and how to make the most of your outdoor living area.
Create a master plan.
Whether it’s a patio or an expansive backyard retreat or any size space in between, you need a master plan tailored to your budget.
Decide where this new living space will be situated. Realistically, it should be a natural extension of the family living space (if possible) and allow you to enjoy any views or natural features found on your property. This might allow for new patio doors or foldable, accordion doors to be installed and really bring the outdoors in.
Make a list of activities the space must accommodate - entertaining, outdoor cooking and dining, games, reading, a pool or spa. Do you want it to be one open space with multiple uses or do you want designated areas for different activities? A bocce ball court or an area for a trampoline will need more room. A fire pit that allows for many people needs its own area. Do you entertain a lot and need a large table? The configurations of space are endless, so know what your family wants in order to create the perfect design.
Correctly and carefully designed landscaping will help define the space, as well as provide needed privacy. Use planted containers with taller “anchor” plants in the corners, and perhaps a covered roof or pergola structure to define the ceiling. A lattice trellis softened with colorful climbing plants can add privacy. If you want to be able to view your whole yard, you might want to add plants along your property lines to create privacy.
Now that you have a plan…
Is a covered outdoor space the goal? It can be anything from a pergola, arbor, gazebo, or sun awning, to a covered porch. While covering the space is not critical, it will allow for more time spent outside, no matter the weather elements. Utilizing a roof structure that can accommodate hidden retractable screens will help with pesky bugs.
A heat source everyone can gather around is a central theme for any outdoor space. This can be a full outdoor fireplace that serves as an anchor for the space, a built-in or portable fire pit, or a chiminea. Consider all of your fuel source options: wood burning, gas, electric, or a combination. There’s nothing like roasting marshmallows with family and friends over an outdoor fire on a cool fall evening!
Cooking outside is a must, but what are your needs? Does Summer even count if you didn’t have food sizzling on the grill? The grill can be anything from an amazing built in unit to a portable hibachi. Choose features important for your needs and RDS will help create a design that takes advantage of the space and its elements. You don’t want to install a grill in the outdoor kitchen in an area where the smoke will blow across the table – so plan strategically. Choose countertops and cabinets that will work for your storage and prep needs and can withstand the outside elements. Do you need a sink or small refrigerator installed or is your kitchen close enough to be able to get what you need from inside?
Water features are soothing and create white noise to offset other distracting sounds. These can be permanent or portable features and can be placed anywhere. If a pool or spa is part of the plan, a fence and gate will be needed and there will be additional zoning and building code requirements.
Choose a flooring material to fit your budget and needs. The flooring decision is one that needs to be made early on, as the other elements you may want to use may depend on the flooring. Will your space be elevated or on the ground? An elevated deck with an outdoor kitchen requires a sturdier surface. Drainage systems will have to be planned, as well as considering the type of maintenance needed for whatever flooring you choose.
Low voltage lighting is perfect for landscape accents and walkway lighting. Overhead lighting should be used sparingly, so you can enjoy the evening sky. Carefully placed outdoor lighting can help with evening entertaining but try to keep the lighting limited to general outdoor ambience.
What accessories will complete your space? An exterior flat screen television, heaters, sculptures, fountains, sport courts?
Whatever your plan, your outdoor living space should reflect your tastes and needs. We love nothing more than spending time outside when we are able to, and RDS, your leader in outdoor home design, would love to help you design your backyard retreat. We might even just stay to roast some marshmallows for a s’more!
Our goal is always to create a design that brings your dreams for your spaces to life. Contact us today so the RDS team can start designing your outdoor living oasis.
Project Profile – Adding Space to a Ranch Home
One of our best resources for business are our builder relationships. So, when Blanchard Builders reached out to us with a project, we were excited to jump in and create a new space for their clients.
Rick and Patty had recently moved from a two-story home in Worthington to an older ranch home. The couple was looking for a home without stairs and wanted to stay in the Worthington area. But while their new home was all one level, it was missing a few things.
We find this to be a common issue with older ranch homes – the need for more closet space, bigger bathrooms, an open floor plan, and a larger kitchen. Many of our clients want to be in a certain area of town, but the homes don’t meet all their needs.
In Rick and Patty’s new home, the laundry was in the basement, which meant they would be going up and down the stairs – the exact thing they were trying to avoid. In addition to moving the laundry to the first floor, a walk-in closet, and larger master suite with more vanity space in the bathroom and a sitting room were on their must-haves list.
Budget is a concern with every project, and it’s often challenging to find enough space to accomplish the homeowner’s goals without compromising their budget. But we work hard to find the best solution for each of our clients. Mike from Blanchard Builders is a pro at this too. He’s always on the ball and up front with clients. He wants to make them happy and keep the project on budget.
We got to work and drew up plans, adding a couple hundred square feet to the back of the 1,428 sf home. Every project is a process, and where we start isn’t always where we end up. With a final square footage of 1,868 sf, we were able to redesign the space to accommodate everything Rick and Patty wanted.
Not every project we undertake is a custom home or a complete remodel. Sometimes it’s adding space to the back of the home and shifting the floor plan around to accommodate the homeowner’s lifestyle. Reach out to us with the needs and wants you have for your home and we will work together to bring your vision to life.
Our Client's Experience - Adding to the Home
We design more than custom homes and whole-house remodels. Every bit as important to us are the smaller remodeling projects. These are the projects that make the biggest difference in the lives of our clients. We recently finished a project like that for Patty and Rick Bradley after they downsized to an older ranch home in Worthington, Ohio. While their new home was all one level, it was missing a few things. Patty and Rick wanted to add space in the bedroom and bring the laundry room to the first floor. It was our pleasure to work with the Bradleys to bring their vision to life.
What was your experience like with RDS – Residential Designed Solutions?
Hylas Stemen, Designer and Project Manager, worked with us to design an addition to the back of our master bedroom in the older home we purchased, incorporating a laundry room and large walk-in closet in this space. Hylas was interested in what our needs were, worked with us in the design, made changes when needed and worked to keep our project within our budget. He also helped us collaborate with our builder, Blanchard Builders, who had recommended Residential Designed Solutions to us.
What space(s) did you have redesigned?
We extended the back of our house 200 sq.ft. to enlarge the existing master bedroom and allow for a sitting area. Hylas designed an enlarged master bathroom and walk-in closet, and a sizeable laundry room to bring our laundry to the first floor from the basement. Hylas walked us through options and presented concept sketches to ensure he had captured what we were looking for. He redrew the plans when we found the original to have been beyond our budget - this was because of miscommunication between us and the builder. At all times he was professional and considerate of our needs.
We got everything we asked for! The size of the room is
perfect, the closet space is amazing, the bathroom elegant,
and the laundry room perfectly located. I could not pick
one thing over another - we love it all.
If you could change one thing, what would you change?
I would have liked to have had a meeting with the builder and RDS together at the onset, so that everyone was clear about the proposed budget.
What was your overall experience like?
This major addition to our little home was the best experience we could have had, and it puts our home in perfect condition to serve us through our retirement years.
What advice would you offer to someone who is designing a home or redesigning a space in the home?
Make sure everyone is clear about the proposed budget, so no one, particularly the designer, needs to duplicate any work.
Who else did you reach out to for designing your home?
We did not talk with anyone else. Residential Designed Solutions was recommended to us by our builder, Blanchard Builders, and after meeting Hylas and seeing his ideas, there was no need to go anywhere else.
Would you do it again?
Yes, absolutely. We appreciated their professionalism, dedication to their craft, and their communication with us.
Patty and Rick trusted us to take their vision and make their home work for them. Can we help you? Give us a call 614-430-0037.
Residential Designed Solutions and Jimenez-Haid Do It Again!
Residential Designed Solutions and Jimenez-Haid Custom Builders do it again! The latest issue of Housetrends features a gorgeous home in Dublin that we designed from all of the clients’ requests, photos and detailed design ideas. Jimenez-Haid Custom Builders brought it all to life.
We lovingly call this home Magnificent Modern! It features contemporary details and curved walls and soffits. An oval landing and center opening in the foyer, with a great deal of steel needed to make it work, creates quite the statement. In keeping with the curves inside the home, we designed curved stairs to the outdoor living areas.
Have we piqued your interest in the home? Read all about this Magnificent Modern home in the latest issue of Housetrends Magazine.
All of the details and photos will have you saying, “Wow!”
We’d love to design a “Magnificent” home for you. Contact us at 614.430.0027 or email us at info@rdshomedesign.com to start the process.
We Are Grateful For You!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! We can’t say thanks enough to those of you who have utilized our design services at Residential Designed Solutions for your home building and remodeling projects. We appreciate the confidence you have in us to create your dreams.
In addition, we send our deepest thanks to those of you who have referred us to your friends and family for their design needs. We are so appreciative of your willingness to spread our name! Please be sure to continue to refer us to your friends and family.
And to those of your repeaters-you get our thanks, too! Knowing that you loved what we designed for you the first time enough to have us create another design for you as well means the world to us.
We are humbled by the outpouring of respect, sharing, and allowing us to be part of your vision for your new home, renovation or addition, or personalized plans. We love designing homes at RDS and thank you for your trust in us.
RDS & Jimenez-Haid Custom Builders - The Team You Need to Build Your Home
Our success for your new home depends upon the expertise of the builders and contractors that we work with on a daily basis. They build the vision that we help create. Close relationships with our builders and contractors are important to us, as together we create the vision for your new home. Jimenez-Haid Custom Builders is one of those custom homebuilders that we have worked with for many years. Here are some thoughts that Brian Jimenez has about working with us at RDS. We greatly value this relationship! If you are thinking about building a new home, why not let us help you create your dream?
Name: Brian Jimenez, Jimenez-Haid Custom Builders
How is your experience working with RDS – Residential Designed Solutions?
I’ve worked with Jim for over 25 years, so that fact speaks for itself. My experience has always been exceptional. Jim creates very livable homes for the way families live today. He listens to clients, whether it’s my buyers or myself and doesn’t let his ego get in the way. He is very humble and is always able to follow the lead of the client. With that said, Jim is very true to the architectural integrity of his design, but not to the detriment of the client’s vision and budget. My company has worked with some architects and designers that are ego driven and just want their design out there to be recognized in the market. These designs can often end up being over budget and less flexible to cost reduce, but Jim is not like that at all. He is very talented and with his eye for architectural details, he can usually accomplish what we want without going beyond the budget. That’s really important, because our clients often have grandiose visions of what they want and are sometimes surprised by the actual cost of achieving that design. Jim works hard to meld the budget in with the design. This means we are less likely to design a house that clients fall in love with but then can’t afford to build.
What have you had designed or redesigned by RDS?
Jim has designed the vast majority of the homes that my company has built. He has created designs for everything on the spectrum from large, luxury custom homes, to empty nester patio homes, and our ranch condominiums in Walker Villas and Liberty Grand. He also designed a few remodeling projects, some that included room additions and others that involved partial and full teardowns.
What services do you appreciate that RDS provides?
Jim is able to get the conceptual designs on paper right in front of the client as we are putting the client’s ideas and concepts together at the meeting. He is very adept at sketching those concepts as the discussion evolves.
Another thing I like is that Jim always has a surprise concept element to add to the house that we usually find out when he presents the design to us. He’s always creative and loves when he can find something unique to add to the house. Sometimes he creates a space for something that we might not have even discussed. It might be a different way to fully utilize the floor plan space. He creates fun details and exciting ideas for the clients. As an example, a recent client received a special entry to a butler’s pantry. Sometimes it’s a simple thing like a featured window in a special place or a built in our clients weren’t expecting.
What have your needs been and what are your future needs of an architect/designer?
Jim and his team design nearly all the homes we have built and going forward it will be more of the same. As my business evolves and changes, we will continue to utilize RDS to design a variety of homes for us. We continue to work on creating a portfolio of house plans that we can offer to our clients; both an exciting concept and a great value to our clients.
How are challenges/issues/decisions/questions handled and communicated?
At the beginning, communications are best handled together at the design table and Jim is very articulate and will sketch options right in front of the clients. During construction he is always available for onsite meetings to assist with design changes and construction changes. Jim is quick to get any necessary engineering or building department support if a code issue or any other questions need to be resolved. He places a high priority on supporting his builders when they run into code issues involving design changes or handling changes clients may request. When building, timing is always of the essence, so he will drop everything to assist.
What is your overall experience like when working with RDS?
Overall, it is very professional because he has a professional and experienced team. It is easy to communicate with them. They believe in the importance of serving and supporting his clients.
His designs are very buildable. He recognizes and appreciates what goes into not only the design, but also the construction process. Because of Jim’s past experience working for a builder, he thinks through the design process with a builder’s perspective in order to make the end result happen. He understands that each line he draws has meaning and assists his builder with each objective in a cost effective way.
What advice would you offer to a builder who is having RDS design a home or redesign a space in the home?
Come in and tell Jim your vision and what your objectives are up front. Trust in Jim and his process from the design and budget standpoint. Jim will work within the parameters of what you’ve set for him and still be creative, because that’s just who he is! He will at times challenge some design elements that may stretch the budget, but will do what the budget demands and what the client desires.
Will you use RDS again?
YES!
To see a recent project we completed on a luxury home in Dublin, click here to read this article in the October/November Greater Columbus Housetrends Magazine.
Project Profile - A Custom Farmhouse
Custom Urban Farmhouse
This family of 5 wanted to build a new home in a rural setting that would allow them to appreciate their hobbies and interests.
In addition to their custom designed farmhouse with a large wrap around porch, outdoor living spaces were designed to incorporate a pool and adjacent greenhouse.
A barn will be constructed on the property, leaving plenty of space for their 3 children to run and explore their 5 acres. They were inspired by the urban farmhouse style including industrial, yet classic, finishes inside.
The open first floor layout will be perfect for family time as well as entertaining, with large bedrooms upstairs, a master suite balcony, and a unique studio loft over the garage.
First Floor
Second Floor
Our designers are ready to help you create your dream home! Designing homes with your vision in mind and watching the excitement it brings you is our inspiration.
Surprise and Inspiration at RDS 2018
As 2018 comes to an end, we look forward to what 2019 is going to bring. We’ve been reflecting on 2018 here at Residential Designed Solutions, asking the question to our designers and staff, "What has surprised/inspired you this year and how, both professionally and personally?” Our answers are as varied and unique as all of us and we want to share them with you. Ask yourself the same question! You might be surprised by the answer.
Jim Wright
A new design challenge always brings a little extra adrenaline to the process. With the Evans Farm development coming online this year and providing the opportunity to design a Parade of Homes house, I’m finding that absorbing and working within the very specific architectural guidelines is adding some design excitement! It is always inspiring to be part of the initial design process in a master planned community.
On the personal side, we welcomed our first grandchild in February, a very handsome and inquisitive little boy. He is telling us all about a lot of things, is crawling, and has just discovered that floor registers are removable! We enjoy spending as much time with him as possible, as you can imagine.
Hylas Stemen
This year at RDS has brought new responsibilities. Some have allowed me to grow in areas that are new; others have allowed me to revisit areas that I thoroughly enjoy. The Front Porch Friday videos have been fun and challenging at the same time. I often prefer the behind the scenes approach and there is nothing behind the scenes about being on camera! Providing clients with color selection assistance for their new projects has given me another avenue to use my creativity. From tiles to granite, to cabinets and paint colors, it’s been a pleasure helping clients see their projects really come together. I am hopeful that both avenues will continue to help RDS grow our business and brand to the public, as well as within the building industry.
Personally, in May of 2017, my 16-year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia. After extensive treatments last year, trips to Philadelphia for immunotherapy over the winter, and missing the entire school year, he received a bone marrow transplant in March of this year. He is back to school cancer-free this fall and doing very well. We are enjoying the good days! His experience has taught me the valuable lesson that ‘Every Day is a Gift.’ We continue to pray that his good health remains, and continues to get better.
Michelle Bush
Professionally, I was inspired by our Front Porch Friday series. I have learned a lot from them and even though I was a fan of DIY projects to begin with, after a little research on different topics, I feel even more confident to take on more projects on my own. I also feel as though from learning all of these new things that I am also a little wiser on not taking on some projects that I would have otherwise because now I know what is actually involved.
Personally, I’d say I’m a little surprised at how much life can change in one year. Justin and I had been planning to start a family, but planning and having it actually begin to happen are two different things. It has been a year full of mixed emotions and excitement. I am excited for what the remainder of the year holds for us.
Caleb Frost
On April 2nd, seven months ago, I stepped out of my car and walked into Residential Designed Solutions. I was on the edge of a new beginning personally and professionally and didn’t fully appreciate the challenges and rewards that awaited me.
One of my favorite childhood pastimes was to sit at the window in my room and daydream about house designs. One day it would be a rugged mountain cabin defying its natural surroundings and the next day a quaint getaway by a peaceful trickling stream. I would then sketch these simple conceptions in my graph paper notebook. As is true of most sketches these were simple representations of space and form, completely devoid of the detail necessary to make such structures stand in the real world. Now this romantic love of childhood was going to be what I would do every day. The stage for my surprise and future inspiration was set.
Working at RDS hasn’t been all a daydream through the windows of imagination. There has been a lot to learn about the practice of architectural drafting. Along the way I have come to appreciate the detail and accuracy that goes into even the simplest construction drawing sets. I’ve been brought face to face with some of my personal weaknesses; acknowledged them and endeavored to use them to become stronger. The journey has encouraged me to continue growing personally and professionally.
I am blessed to work with the team here at RDS. They work continually to create strategies and procedures that enable us to meet the demands of an ever- changing market. Their commitment to providing a higher quality of service for the amazing people we work with inspires me. There have been many lessons from this that I have taken for myself. To each of my coworkers here at RDS and those of you I get to work with a big thank you. This November I’m thankful to be a member of the RDS team.
Dominic Luppino
Watching my two daughters grow into adulthood, each adjusting to new challenges this year (one starting college, the other beginning a career as a pharmacy technician) has both surprised and inspired me. They have reached far with bravery and enthusiasm and that inspires me in my work and personal life.
Barb Marquis
In the past year, I have been inspired professionally by witnessing fair and honest business practices. Whether the account is large or small, the consistency of doing business with honesty and integrity is considered a core value of the company.
On a personal note, these values are also practiced when interacting with associates of RDS. It is an honor to be a part of the RDS team.
All of us here at RDS wish you the best for these last days of 2018. As 2019 approaches, should you be in the need of home renovation plans or a new house plan, our designers would love to surprise and inspire you with our thoughtful and well-designed house plans!