Some of the best ideas are hatched while breaking bread and brainstorming. For Erich Eggers, it was a discussion with a colleague over pizza and beer that led to the creation of Remodeling Designs, which has evolved into one of the most renowned full-service design/build companies in southwest Ohio.
“I had just lost my job at an engineering firm, where the morale was low, turnover was high, and I put in 80-plus hours a week,” said Erich, a Huber Heights native who graduated from Wayne High School before earning a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton in 1983. “I asked myself, ‘What am I going to do now?’ I saw it as an opportunity to pave my own path.”
Construction was a natural fit, Erich thought. During college, he helped his parents build their dream home, and that led him to start buying distressed properties, fixing them, and selling them before ‘flipping’ was a household word.
“The first project was a kitchen renovation. The client was happy, and he asked, ‘Do you know how to build decks?’” Erich said. “After a few jobs, word spread and Remodeling Designs was born.”
For a few years, Remodeling Designs was a home-based business. Erich moved the company to Washington Township before relocating to its current location in Miamisburg in 2018. The 8,400-square-foot showroom demonstrates the company’s impressive capabilities.
Remodeling Designs started as a construction company. Today, it is an award-winning, full-service design/build firm. Most projects involve entire homes, kitchens, bathrooms, lower levels, and room additions. Each project is assigned a project manager who is a trained professional with CLC (Certified Lead Carpenter) credentials. Erich’s daughter, Christine Balsan, and son-in-law, Mark Balsan, are co-owners.
“Detailed communication from start to finish is what we attribute to our customer satisfaction, and our growth,” Christine said. “It minimizes oversights, facilitates a smooth project, and provides peace of mind. This involves fully understanding what you want to achieve, and taking into account your personal tastes and lifestyle.”
As a growing number of people are reaching retirement, aging in place is becoming a prevalent term since people want to remain in their homes as long as they physically can.
“People are spending more money on their existing home to make it more comfortable, and they are moving forward with projects they have thought about for a while,” Erich said. “When we first meet with a client, we ask, ‘How do you plan to utilize your space and what is your lifestyle?”
An example of this approach, Christine explains, is a project that generated a Local Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award for 2020 in the Interior Specialty $100,000 to $250,000 category. The honor was presented by the Miami Valley Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).
“The owners of the home love to entertain. They love to cook and have dinner parties with gourmet meals from around the world,” Christine said. “The kitchen was positioned between the living room and the dining room, but cut off from both. This didn’t make sense for a couple who love to make cooking part of their entertainment experience.”
To brighten the entry, Remodeling Designs painted the woodwork and added new light fixtures, and they removed the hallway between the entry and living room.
“The new view from the front door makes the home look more spacious,” Erich said. “We also removed the walls between the living room, dining room and kitchen to make one large room. The final floorplan changed the entire feel of the house and the way the homeowners could entertain.”
The new kitchen has amenities for gourmet cooking with storage. Baking centers, a lighted lazy Susan, an onion and potato cabinet, and utensil cabinets are among the features. The large island simplifies food preparation. A small eating area on the end offers a cozy spot for two to dine.
“With no walls between the living room and the new dining room, it is easier for the couple to entertain their guests,” Erich said. “Visually, the spaces flow one into the other, giving the opportunity for small or larger parties. This is a prime example of how you fit a space for the client’s lifestyle.”
For more information about Remodeling Designs, visit www.remodelingdesigns.com.
