Is Craftsman the style for you?

A Craftsman-style home is distinctly American. Taking cues from the British Arts and Crafts movement, the Craftsman style’s artisanal approach came as a direct response to the over-the-top Victorian homes of the late 19th-century. Showcasing hand-worked, local materials with decorative elements such as brackets, lintels, and rafters, the homes exterior usually boasts more details than the interior. That doesn’t make the interior any less important. With its simple, wide-open layout, the interior of a Craftsman-style home makes the most of a typically limited square footage. Proud of its details and taking inspiration from nature, Craftsman-style architecture stands out and remains popular for its purity of style.

So, what really makes a Craftsman home “Craftsman”? We have the distinctive details to share with you to provide a better understanding of what we look at when we review your concept photos and digital idea books.

Low-pitched, gabled roof: The low-slung rooflines reflect the influence of Japanese architecture in the style. A distinguishing characteristic of Craftsman style, these roofs typically have wide, deep eave overhangs with exposed rafter tails and beams.

Front porch: The wide roofs lend themselves to having porches on the front of the home so it’s rare to find a Craftsman home without one.

Knee braces: These triangular supports are a structural alternative to exposed rafter tails and roof beams. Like beams and rafter tails, they are often decorative and can be added underneath any deep roof eave. 

Tapered columns: One of the most distinctive characteristics of a Craftsman home are its tapered columns. Lending support for the porch roof, the columns are typically short and rest upon massive stone or brick piers that extend to ground level. But not all columns are tapered; another popular variation is the double column usually together on the same stone pier.

Partially paned door: A great test of authenticity for a Craftsman home is how their doors are styled. Almost all original versions have glass panes in the upper third of the door, separated from the bottom paneled portion by a thick piece of trim. 

Multi-pane windows: Instead of standard single-pane windows, Craftsman-style homes typically use a multi-pane version. The most common configurations are either four-over-one or six-over-one double-hung windows. The windows are often grouped together and cased in wide trim. 

Single dormers: When Craftsman homes have dormers, they tend to be wider and stand on their own, unlike the pairs of dormers that typically appear in Cape Cod–style cottages. Single dormers are often wide enough to accommodate more than one window.

Earthy colors: Craftsman homes are often painted in a nature-inspired palette of browns and greens to help the low-profile bungalows blend effortlessly with their surroundings. Despite the mostly muted palettes, contrasting colors are typically used to highlight architectural features like trim or decorative supports. 

Mixed materials: Craftsman-style homes traditionally feature a mix of materials. Wood clapboard, shingles, or board and batten, the siding is typically painted in palettes inspired by nature. Porch piers and foundations are often made of stone, but brick, decorative concrete block, and stucco are materials frequently found on Craftsman-style homes.

Interior details: Carrying over from the exterior, you will find mixed, natural materials inside a Craftsman-style home. Built-in wood cabinetry and shelves, custom-made features like window seats and nooks, and a prominent stone fireplace (or two!) are all features found in this warm, architectural style. And ever-practical, Craftsman homes commonly offer an open floor plan that facilitates easy access from the kitchen to the rest of the house.

Is this the architectural style for you? If you’re building a new home or you want to incorporate a little Craftsman-style into your existing home, we can help! At Residential Designed Solutions, we pride ourselves on being able to design the home style you’ve envisioned. Craftsman, French-Country, or Modern ­home ‑- we would love to work with you to create the home of your dreams.

Visit our website rdshomedesign.com for more inspiration and give us a call today!

Meet Lauren Givens - Marketing and Business Development Manager

At RDS, Residential Designed Solutions, we are proud of our team members! We are introducing a “sketched” profile of one of our newest key associates so that you can get to know us better at RDS. We’re excited to have Lauren join us!

Name: Lauren Givens

What is your position at RDS? 
I am the Marketing and Business Development Manager.

What are your current job responsibilities? 
I’m working to create a system to show our clients and builders how much they mean to us at every point in the process and our relationship. We want to provide the best service possible and I’m working on the creative side to accomplish that. 

When did you begin working at Residential Designed Solutions? 
I started working here in January of this year.

Where else have you worked?  
I’ve worked at a wide variety of places, but most recently worked in residential real estate.

How long have you worked in the industry? 
I grew up attending industry events with my Dad and helping around the office during school breaks as I got older. This is a new and exciting chapter for our family business. 

What colleges did you attend and what training have you received?
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication Design with a minor in Marketing and Art History from Kent State University.

Where do you live? 
I live in a little fixer-upper in Westerville with my husband and rambunctious little boy.

What volunteer work do you do? 
I hope to get involved with the NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) Community Service Committee this year. They have been working to fix up a women’s home in Delaware County for the last couple years. RDS is a proud member of NARI and the impact they have on the community.

What else do you want us to know about you?
I’m a momma to an energetic, spirited, and sweet little boy, and wife to one of the strongest and funniest guys I know. I’m a coffee-fiend, amateur foodie and lover of all things Ohio, beautiful books, and handwritten notes. 

We’re in the business of making houses into homes. What do you love about your home?
I love the potential my home has to be a cute little ranch on a quiet street in Westerville. But I mostly love the memories that are created daily with my husband and son. The walls are filled with laughter and joy.

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.

Concrete Floor Finishes - A New Look!

Stunning concrete floors

As you walk around your home, do you look at the concrete floors you might have in your garage, unfinished basement, or patio and wonder what you could do with them? Do you like what you see or could it use a little something? When we design homes, we talk with clients about flooring and what to do with concrete floors. We’ve done the research and have some perfect solutions with regards to the types of finishes available to use on your concrete floors. From DIY to professional work, the sky’s the limit with concrete flooring and what you can do to make it your own!

If you’ve never considered concrete floors for more than your garage and basement, maybe you should! It would certainly be different and an interesting and bold choice. Concrete floor finishes can be colored or stained almost any color or can have finishes added that appear to look like marble, slate, or tile. Borders can be added or areas embellished with different designs. The benefits might just have you doing some thinking. Concrete floors are durable, tough, and resilient. It is fairly low-maintenance, depending on the chosen finish. Some may require occasional sealing. Concrete floors wipe clean easily and are resistant to most chemical and water spills. Typically used in garages, basements, and patios, people are also installing and finishing them in kitchens, bathrooms, and living areas.

Top Finishes to Ponder

Perfection with Paint:

Are you just looking for a color change? Painting the concrete might be a smart choice. While not too difficult to do yourself, you do need to know how to prepare the surface before you paint and use the right kind of paint-one designed for masonry. Paint can be used on the whole floor or just to provide some decorative touches (or paint games or designs on the floor for your kids-hopscotch or checkers anyone?).

Stupendous Stains:

Concrete stain is a popular choice. It works well on both interior and exterior surfaces and is a fairly easy application. The stain penetrates the surface so the concrete needs to be new or thoroughly cleaned. It won’t hide cracks or imperfections and as beautiful as it looks, it doesn’t provide a great deal of protection to the floor so it should have a sealant applied to prevent the floor from fading.

Types of Stains:

• Acid-based stains give a bold, stunning look. It has a variegated and mottled look. Acid stains only come in colors like blue-greens, browns, and tans,  which may limit their appeal for you. Acid stains tend not to fade and won’t chip or peel.

• Water-based stains are a great DIY project as they are easy to apply. Colors are muted but there are many more color options available. 

• Fast stains are eco-friendly and fast drying. It is flecked and variegated in appearance. This is a perfect choice for polished concrete floors and can be used with both acid or water stains.

Exciting Epoxy:

Searching for shine and extreme durability? Look no further than epoxy.  This shiny surface can have color or aggregates added for color and unique texture. This is a great solution for high-traffic areas, like your garage! It will protect the floor from oil stains, grease, ad tire marks. It is harder to apply, so do your research or hire a professional to do the application. 

Types of Epoxy:

• Standard epoxy is used in high-traffic indoor areas. The finish is shiny, durable, and one color.

• Granite epoxy is a unique look, adding texture and durability to your floors. Color chips are added, giving you a wide variety of color and texture. 

• Quartz Sand epoxy is perfect for garages. It’s smooth, slip-resistant, easy to clean and withstands water and chemical spills.

Colors:

Getting ready to have the concrete poured? Stop and think about color now! Adding a color to the concrete will create the look you want. This is a perfect option if you are planning to stamp the concrete to look like tile, brick, or stone, or if you just want something other than “concrete” color.

Stamp That Concrete:

If you have planned ahead, stamping the concrete, especially for walkways and patios, creates a beautiful finish. The stamp (think leaves, flowers, or geometric designs) is stamped into the concrete as it cures. You’re only limited by your imagination for this type of finish.

Score!

No not your favorite football team, but the concrete! Existing concrete slabs can be turned into “tile” by using a saw to etch the concrete into whatever pattern you desire. You can even stain it after the etching is completed. This is a good option for walkways, driveways, or patios. Would you DIY it?

Seal it Up:

Sealing is always an option if you’re just trying to keep water out and give the floor a glossy surface. With any of the above options, you might want or need to seal your newly designed concrete floors. 

Do we have you thinking differently about concrete now? Watch our Front Porch Friday video, Concrete Floor Finishes, to see this blog in action. Here at RDS, we can design your new home or help you create the remodel of your dreams. Let our designers help you create something new! or

RDS Awarded a 2018 NARI ACE AWARD

Winning an award is always exciting! Being awarded a NARI ACE Award is one of those exciting moments-because it happened again this year! We couldn’t be more proud of this award here at Residential Designed Solutions; we do what we do because of our clients.

What is the NARI Ace Award?

NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) of central Ohio gives ACE (Achievement in Consumer Excellence) awards yearly. Clients complete a survey online describing the work performed by the company and rating the company’s quality of work, responsiveness/reliability, timeliness/punctuality, and professionalism.

This award is important to us because it is a recognition program based on our clients’ feedback. Being recognized with the NARI Achievement in Consumer Excellence Award helps more consumers be aware of us, provides us with valuable client feedback, and recognizes us for the quality work we do.

We are honored to receive this recognition again this year. We take our craft seriously - designing homes is what we do! Thank you to our clients for their trust in us and for taking the time to recognize our work and their belief in us at RDS.

Thanks to Our Builders and Industry Friends

To all our building, remodeling and industry friends that we have had the opportunity to work with over this past year we say thank you! It is always a pleasure and honor for us to be allowed to play a part in your construction projects. We enjoy working with you, as one of your team members, to help your homeowners realize their dreams.

We wish all of you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving and the happiest of holiday seasons!

Get Your Home Ready for Winter

Start getting ready for winter by raking leaves and showing your home some love!

It’s been a stunning fall so far but we know what winter will bring! Not only do we need to get out our winter coats, gloves, warm clothes, and shovels, but we need to get our homes ready for winter, too. At RDS, your home design specialists, we’ve been discussing what we need to do to our homes this fall so that we aren’t caught off guard when cold weather really arrives. 

Download our Winter Ready Checklist here. Use this handy checklist to make sure you’ve done everything you can to have your home ready for winter.

What should you be doing to get your home ready for winter?

Furnace:

One of our first Front Porch Friday videos was all about furnace filters. View it here for everything you need to know about them. It’s important to get your furnace serviced, the filter changed, and tested for any leaks.  A yearly furnace checkup could save you from a really cold night. 

Clean Up:

The leaves are falling and we’re busy raking. (Make sure to mow or mulch some of them into your lawn to give it some much-needed nutrients.) But don’t forget to clean out the gutters once the leaves are down in order to prevent overflowing gutters when it rains or ice build-up when it’s cold. 

To avoid a slippery scenario, keep leaves cleared off walkways, the driveway, and decks.

Is your chimney clean? If it hasn’t been cleaned in a while, especially if it is wood burning, now is the time. Experts suggest having them inspected yearly.

Cover outdoor furniture or move it indoors after cleaning it.

Take soil out of the pots that you keep outside or bring them inside. The soil can freeze, expand, and crack your pots.

Do you need to trim branches from trees and bushes that could be affected by wind, snow, and ice? This is especially important if they are near your home. Wait until they are dormant to trim them so that you don’t hurt the plants. 

A Little Prevention:

Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and check your fire extinguishers (the pressure gauge needle should be in the green area). 

Do your flashlights need new batteries? Be prepared! It’s going to be dark longer so you’ll want plenty of working batteries in case of a power outage. 

Take a hard look at your fireplaces, furnace, and any other types of heaters you use. Is the area around them clear and free of anything flammable?

Reverse the blade flow of your ceiling fans so they run clockwise, creating an updraft and pushing the heated air down into your rooms.

Disconnect outdoor hoses and store them in the basement, shed, or garage. Drain the outdoor faucets and cover them with hose bib covers. Don’t forget to have your lawn irrigation system winterized.

If your roof and shingles are older, have them inspected for cracks, leaks, and damage to flashing seals around chimneys and vent stacks.

Winter will be here before we know it, but now you know what to do. So get out those warm, snuggly blankets, find your slippers, and heat up the hot chocolate. And if you’re ready to design a new home or remodel part of your existing home, we’d love to create it for you. 

Another Dose of Inspiration - NARI Home Improvement Tour

Dave Osmond Builders RDS Design

NARI Home Improvement Tour

The NARI Home Improvement Tour is the 15th and 16th of September, and this year’s show has all the hallmarks of being another amazing show. This one is perfect for those of us that love where we live, love many things about our home, but are looking for some inspiration and changes to our beloved home. Ooh and aah as you view a new great room and covered porch, a whole house remodel, a stunning master suite, a gorgeous kitchen and family room renovation, and more. You’ll definitely find some inspiration here!

Do you want to change the footprint, add a room, renovate a space, or just update your existing rooms with new paint and décor? Then this show is for you! 

When: Saturday, September 15th 10:00am-5:00pm
Sunday, September 16th 12:00pm-5:00pm

Where: Drive to 11 newly remodeled homes on this tour. Homes are located in Delaware, Powell, Dublin, Upper Arlington, Clintonville, and Worthington. See them all or just the ones you are interested in. 

Check out the website for details about each home, tickets, and more! 

https://www.trustnari.org/event/2018-fall-home-improvement-tour/

Our Downloadable Form for the Home Improvement Tour

Since so many of you commented on and used our RDS downloadable Parade form, we’ve created one for you to use for this tour. Jot down what has inspired you, whether it’s the room itself, the colors used, the decor, the flooring, wall treatments, or finishings. 

Our RDS NARI Home Improvement Form Click on the link and use this sheet to keep track of everything that you want to think more about and not forget!

Still Need Inspiration?

Are you still on the search for more ideas? We’ve got them! We pride ourselves on doing the very best for our clients. Check out what we are inspired by and what we’ve designed for our clients. 

Visit our:

·      Website

·      Houzz page

·      Pinterest page

Our designers are here and ready to bring your dreams and inspirations to life. Contact us and we will get the process started, whether it is to redesign one room or create a new home, all while keeping your budget and needs in mind.