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, Inc., 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 earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton in 1983. “I saw it as an opportunity to pave my own path.”
Construction was a natural fit. 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.
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.”
“When we first meet with a client, we ask, ‘How do you plan to utilize your space, and what is your lifestyle?’” Erich said.
An example of this approach is a project that generated a Local Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award for 2020, 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.”
To brighten the entry, Remodeling Designs painted the woodwork, added new light fixtures and removed the hallway between the entry and living room.
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.”