Q. What kind of projects do you do at DIGS?
We do quite an array. It’s primarily renovations. Right now, we’ve got quite a few whole home renovations and gut remodels with additions. What we’re seeing quite frequently is homeowners adding three-story additions. They’re reinventing the whole house and making it larger, reconfiguring rooms. It’s not just kitchens or baths, but we’re doing a lot of the whole home renovation addition projects.
Q. What is your team like?
I’ve got a great team. We have about 10 or 11 on the team — three on the design side and seven in construction. The design team can do anything from selecting furniture, fixtures and accessories to helping make selections on the construction project, like building materials, tile, backsplash, countertops, paint colors, you name it. We have a fabric and finish library. Clients will often come in, and we will sit and look at all the fabrics and finishes that we have around, bring out samples and help them select them on the spot.
Q. What can you tell us about LEED Certification?
We just did a LEED platinum, which in the remodeling world is not very common. It’s going to be an incredible home. Platinum is the highest level of LEED certification, which means that we have designed and built the building to environmental quality standards.
The majority of what I see is clients want LEED. We’ll get a tax abatement, but if you love the environment, you feel good about it. I feel like I’m doing something for the environment; I’m reducing my carbon footprint.
We have outside consultants who come to advise us. They say, “OK, here are the opportunities we have to get LEED credits, and here’s where we think the best route is to achieve that.”
Q. What makes DIGS different?
I have to say our team. We have a team-oriented approach. We have designers who are part of our team in addition to project managers and the construction side. When you combine all that, it’s just a better process. It’s a better experience from start to finish.
We’re very regimented and documented in our communication. How we communicate to and with the client is very structured. Clients enjoy our process and how we communicate with them and keep detailed records.
Q. Do you have a particular style or project you like?
I love all the projects, but what really excites me is a challenging old home. There’s a lot of that in Cincinnati. You don’t know what happened 100 years ago when this thing was built, and you don’t know what you will find behind that wall. There are always surprises. Part of the excitement is you’re looking at history. You’ve got to be able to have the skill, the team and the people who know how to handle it and solve whatever the problem is.
DIGS is located at 5654 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, Ohio 45227. Visit digs-home.com or on Instagram @digshome for more information.