Building a Shingle Style Home

Builders-do you ever get asked about building a Shingle Style home for your clients? Is that a style you’re familiar with and know some of its history? As home designers, we are often asked not only to design a home, but to share some of the history and characteristics for that home style. We’d love to share some information with you. If you have a client requesting a shingle style home, we’d love to design it for you.

 What Are Shingle Style Homes?

Shingle style homes are truly an American style of home. These homes flourished from 1880 – 1910, primarily in New England due to the abundance of wood for the shingles and its ability to hold up to the salt air and winter weather. Often built on stone foundations, they appear to grow out of and be part of the landscape. These homes have a rambling, irregular floor plan, abundant porch space to sit and relax, and are often quite large as many were built during the Gilded Age. The cost of these homes made them inaccessible to most people in the 1800’s, so they were mostly summer homes for the wealthy. Today, these houses are being built in all areas for people looking to recreate homes with an informal, rustic, relaxed design, evoking casual elegance of a time past. 

The Characteristics of a Shingle Style Home:

• Homes are usually covered with a layer of wood shingles that tie all of the sloped and vertical surfaces together. The shingles are allowed to weather naturally, are stained, or painted. They can also be brick or clapboard sided. Many homes are built on a rock or stone foundation.

• The houses are built with an informal style. They have big wide porches, allowing homeowners to relax and enjoy the views. Porch supports are usually plain with simple railings but can be as ornate as desired.

• Rooflines are more complex, with steeply pitched, but free-formed rooflines. There are usually two pitches, with the lower one being steeper. Some of the homes have gabled roofs. Rooflines have their surfaces broken up by towers, chimneys, dormers, or turrets, which adds visual interest to the roofline.

• Windows are prominent, allowing views from any room. Windows range is size from very large to very small. Windows are arranged in rows of two, three, or more. Decoratively shaped windows in round, square, or rectangular shapes are also used to add an aesthetically design element.

• Interiors of the home are filled with wood accents. Wood paneling is popular, as is batten or beadboard. Built in window seats allow for places to read and view the outside. Furnishings are casual. Fireplaces are a must. The goal is to create a cottage feeling, informal and relaxed, even though the home is very large.

As your home design specialists, our designers at RDS are well-versed in Shingle style homes. If you have a client requesting this type of home or any type of home, we would be honored to collaborate with you to create your client’s vision. 

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.

Are you a builder in search of a home designer? Contact us at 614.430.0027 or email us at info@rdshomedesign.com to start the process. We’re ready to create a partnership with you.

Top Design and Building Mistakes

I think we all understand how excited, yet naïve, many of our clients can be, even in today’s HGTV world. We are amazed quite often about how easy they think the process of building or remodeling will be. We’ve put together some thoughts and are sharing some of our experiences and what we have learned over the years from our clients. 

Our responsibility as designers, contractors, and builders is to help our clients to “know what they don’t know”. We try to address every possible issue, scenario, and design feature, but we have all heard, at one time or another, a client bemoaning a mistake or an unresolved issue.

We’ve spent years honing our craft and wanted to share some of the mistakes we’ve seen clients make, we’ve made, and contractors and builders have made that ultimately shouldn’t occur. We can’t take the blame for all of these mistakes, as sometimes the client is dead set on this or that, and nothing we say will change that. But the client is whom we are working for, so it behooves us to pay attention to these mistakes clients wish they hadn’t made or had been savvier in their understanding when going through the building process. Us being aware of these possible issues or design changes helps us be better craftsmen – and isn’t that what we’re all after?

Mistake – Communication Patterns

Mistakes are bound to happen, we are human. But open communication between all parties will alleviate miscommunication. The number one complaint we get that can be easily avoided is establishing clear communication expectations from the start of the project. Don’t assume your clients are online and/or want texts—be sure to ask!  Draw pictures, take photos, call when there are any issues, and communicate as often as you can. We recently completed a home for a client who has no interest in using email or texts which is challenging for our younger associates who don’t know how else to communicate.

Mistake – Door Dilemmas

Nothing is worse than a door that opens the wrong direction. We have to do our due diligence when designing and building. Talking with the clients and “walking into each room on paper” and again as framing occurs can help solve this. Mistakes also are made with doors opening into other doors, windows, or cabinets. We’ve even seen electrical outlets and switches behind doors! Good design dictates that doors open and function without interfering with furniture placement and traffic patterns in the home.

Mistake – Weird Open Concept Layouts

Most clients now want an open concept, but with this comes issues if there aren’t defined beginnings and endings to the rooms, even though they are open. If ceilings or soffits create weird angles or trim work can’t meet, then it just looks like the workmanship in unrefined or unskilled. This is where good design is paramount and all possibilities are discussed. From furniture layout to helping educate your client about the pitfalls of a completely “open” layout is paramount to long-term happiness in their home. 

Mistake – Walk-In Closets that Aren’t Large Enough

Making a mistake and creating a large bedroom but not a large enough closet has many clients wishing for more. A master closet should be about 7 feet wide and have rods on each side and not at the end. Rods that meet up do not allow for easy access for clothing. The depth should run 4-5 feet. Many of your clients are coming from smaller homes and on paper, a master closet might look larger than it will in reality. Asking your clients their storage and closet needs we find can make a project go from good to great. 

Mistake – Storage Mistakes

We’ve had clients wish that outlets had been installed and storage closets were larger. A vacuum that charges should have a place to be stored and not be in the corner of a room where there happens to be an outlet. Is the client a home cook that needs a larger than normal pantry? How much shelving is needed in each storage area? Don’t forget about one in the home office. More storage will never be a mistake, but not having enough storage is a common complaint.

Mistake – Traffic Flow

The placement of the kitchen in the back of the house looks good until you try to get there from the garage with an armful of groceries. The staircase should be easily accessed from all points of the home. Is there a central path that won’t be interfered with by furniture? Are hallways wide enough and bright enough? Having clear conversations and understanding your clients’ lifestyles will help in the design process. Before framing, mark off the rooms and walk through the home with clients. Talk about what they see and feel in the flow.

Mistake – Window Design and Lighting

HGTV has taught our clients to desire natural light and put an increased emphasis on lighting. Nothing brings down a room (unless it’s a media room) more than not having enough light. This applies to bathrooms, hallways, and interior rooms. Create light wherever you can, naturally with windows that fit the space and scope of the room. If windows aren’t a possibility in certain rooms, make sure there is adequate overhead light and outlets available near furniture. We’ve heard time and time again that some of the best decisions made were ones by adding windows and lights into plans. It is something that often gets overlooked. 

Mistake – Not Investing in Hard to Change Features

It’s easy to replace lighting, furniture, paint and wallpaper, but it isn’t as easy to replace heating and cooling systems, flooring (especially the color and style), cabinets, ceiling heights and insulation. Your clients might think they can invest less in these, but try to help them understand that some features shouldn’t be skimped on. Complaints come time and time again when we don’t plan for the long-term because the costs to renovate continue to climb. Taking the time to talk through design choices with clients is critical.

Mistake – Cabling, Faucets, Outlets and Switches

Your clients might not think of all of the places to put cabling, faucets, switches and outlets, so talk about it with them. Have them visualize both the interior and exterior needs of their design. If the plan is to add a patio versus a deck, thinking through the location of all outlets and faucets are critical. Ideas to suggest include; outlets under windows, above a mantel, by the stair railings, near the front door, double outlets in bathrooms, where automatic vacuums will be, beside beds, in pantries for small appliances, the side of the kitchen island, and charging stations.

Mistake – Hello Garage

A garage and the space it provides is vitally important to our clients, but one that dwarfs the front elevation of a house is a common mistake a client might regret. It is advantageous to use detailed garage doors, change the elevation to make it less prominent, use screening or walls for L-shaped plans, or move it to the side to avoid a client’s distress. One design choice that always creates curb appeal is the front facing garage door.

Mistake – Budget Cuts

Everyone has to prioritize and make cuts to a budget, whether it’s due to unforeseen circumstances, changes to the design in other rooms, and more. But in our experience, the number one client complaint is wishing they hadn’t made some of the cuts that they made. Prioritize, prioritize, and reprioritize using the whole process to keep this issue to a minimum.

Mistake – Remodeling Proportions

We can’t just add on to the existing home when doing a renovation without making sure the flow of the home still works and that it looks like it was meant to be that way the whole time. Nothing is worse than looking at a remodel and knowing it was a remodel. It should appear seamless and appropriate!

Mistake – Renovation Master Plan

A client may come to us and ask us to create a plan for a larger family room or to open up a wall between the kitchen and dining room. Our first question to them is to understand what the end goal is. Are they planning on doing something to another room down the road? What plumbing, electrical and design issues do we need to think about now in order to make future renovation plans work? Many of our clients want to stay in their existing home and remodel it over time. This same thought can be utilized in a new build with someone who plans to age in place in the home. What can be done now that will positively affect future living?

We’d love to hear your thoughts about this list. What else should be added or discussed in order to help us all create the best designs and experiences for our clients? We know that each client is different and will have different design challenges. Here at RDS, we strive to create the best, most innovative, and functional plans and designs for our clients. How can we help you with your clients’ visions? Contact us to see what we have to offer.

Westport Homes & RDS - A Perfect Partnership

We would not be successful without the expertise of the builders and contractors that we work with on a daily basis. They build the vision that we help create. Our relationship with our builders and contractors is important to us. Westport Homes is one of the builders that we work with and here are a few of their thoughts about working with us at RDS. 

Name: Susan Hall, Director of Architecture, Westport Homes

How was your experience with RDS – Residential Designed Solutions?
Our Westport Homes Columbus Division’s experience has been a positive one with RDS for the last 5 years. They are conscious of our schedules and help with many aspects of our architectural needs in the partnership we have established. 

What did you have designed or redesigned by RDS?
We have had numerous master architectural construction document sets developed, options to master plans added and individual specific contracts created.

What services do you like best that RDS provides?
They have assigned one lead designer to our account that takes personal ownership. They oversee our account by knowing all of our specifications, subdivision requirements, and develop out lot specific homeowner standard options and custom options selections with great care to the details. They have even visited our model homes and like to keep up with new model openings so they can stay “on top” of our products offered to home buyers.

Who else did you use or speak with in planning the design of the home before choosing RDS?
Westport Homes Columbus Division has not used any other company for our architectural needs.

What have your needs been and what are your future needs of an architect/designer?
Our needs have been to have help in developing out our preliminary designs into architectural construction document sets, adding numerous options to our existing master home plans, and developing individual lot specific plans. Our future needs are to continue to use RDS in the same manner but at a higher volume of lot specific plan development. I also foresee using their design services for future development of plan offerings to our clients.

How were challenges /issues/decisions/questions handled and communicated?
We handle most of our communications via email. We also communicate by phone as well as meetings in person. RDS has always met our needs and been available to us during our partnership with them. In fact, with our growing volume this past year, they have added additional staff to work on our account during peak times to meet deadlines.

What was your overall experience like?
Our overall experience with RDS has been a positive partnership in meeting the architectural needs for the development of master homes plans, adding standard options to the master plans, and creating individual lot specific plans with standard options, custom options, and local municipalities’ requirements.

What advice would you offer to a builder who is having someone design a home or redesign a space in the home?
We have and will continue to advise anyone needing architectural services to reach out to RDS. RDS has been in Columbus for almost thirty years and they know the building codes and local municipality requirements. RDS is actively involved in the building industry and have the personnel and expertise to help in any aspect of providing design services.

Would you use RDS again?
Westport Homes will most certainly continue to use RDS for our architectural needs.

We take pride in the services we provide our builders, contractors, and clients. Our designers will work with you to help your visions become reality. We’d be happy to talk with you and see what services we can offer. We thank Westport Homes for their continued support and confidence in us. The feeling is mutual; they are a fantastic group to work with.

Jim's Tip - Who Comes First, Builder or Designer?

I recently read an article in one of our trade publications written by a builder explaining in great detail why he insisted on being the initial contact with potential clients. He spent a good amount of column space demonstrating that his clients were best represented by working through his process to develop designs for their project. His belief was that only through a process such as his, would clients be able to have plans developed that would be able to be built with-in their budget.

Having worked as a residential designer both independently and in the employ of several builders, I certainly understand his perspective. It is very common for clients to come into our office with grand dreams, essentially with “champagne taste and a beer budget” as the saying goes. Someone must introduce some hard cold facts into the conversation very early so that realistic expectations are set before pen or mouse are in motion.

There is nothing worse than having a set of construction documents fully developed only to find out that the house is way over the client’s budget. A lot of money has been wasted including the builders’ time along with all his trade partners, bidding a useless set of plans. The point that the builder was emphasizing was that costs must be part of the discussion and controlled all the way through the design and construction process. I couldn’t agree more.

All our designers have construction management and hands on building experience which allows us to have a realistic cost perspective when initially meeting with clients. We always have a cost discussion before we get started so it really doesn’t matter who qualifies the client. The key is tracking costs at every step of the design process, from initial sketch “ballpark” pricing to final construction/contract documents.

The point that I want to convey is that it really doesn’t matter who comes first if both the builder and their designer are working closely together. The resulting home will be one that the clients are thrilled to own at a cost they are comfortable with. Contact RDS to see how seamlessly we can become part of your team.