Architects, Architecture Firms, & Building Designers in South Mills

“We hired Jeff to develop a design for the remodeling of the downstairs of our then 80-year-old house. He did a superb job of designing a new entry, rearranging the flow of the house, and integrating the best aspects of the house's existing features, Jeff was attentive to our needs and desires. He as also cognizant of our budget. Our neighborhood organization has an annual contest that awards prizes for the best designed home improvements, and Jeff's redesign was selected as the best for that year. We subesquently had Jeff design a replacedment garage and then design the remodeling of our upstairs rooms. On all our projects, Jeff was involved from the design to the construction supervision. He did a fabulous job, and we would recommend him highly.”

“Tom Retnauer and his team are a pleasure to work with. They are able to take a concept from a sketch all the way to completed construction documents in a very timely manor. Tom has a warm way of nurturing ideas from his clients and helping them become a reality. Tom Retnauer and Sandra Baynes are great partners for our firm helping us to be on the cutting edge with our architecture and I whole heartedly recommend their firm for your next project.”

“I've worked with Lee Kartis for several years and he is simply OUTSTANDING! He is an excellent visionary and has always made improvements to our designs continuously. He is a master in using Goggle SketchUp. He's fairly priced and ALWAYS meets his deliverable timelines. I would high recommend Lee for any projects!”

“Mr. Wermers prepared architecture plans to renovate my existing 1700 s.f. ranch house and to construct a 2000 s.f. addition. The renovations included one bathroom, three bedrooms, kitchen, breakfast room, dining room and living room and to demo the existing one car garage. The additions included a family room, sunroom, two bathrooms, one bedroom, mudroom, two-car garage, laundry room, and a room above the garage (frog). While obtaining a building permit, City staff commented on the detail and thoroughness of the construction plans. Also, Mr. Wermers performed several inspections during construction that resolved several disagreements between the Contractor and the Owner. During the inspections, Mr. Wermers found a few construction faults that saved the Owner thousands of dollars.”

“ Full disclosure- I am a kitchen and bath designer who works part time for Featherlite Coaches. For those not familiar with the motor coach world- it is an amazing combination of high tech system integration, extraordinary design and the ultimate in custom work. Featherlite takes an empty bus shell and with the help of a team of engineers, interior designers, electricians, plumbers, and a woodworking shop, convert it into a stunning and technological wonder. Whether it’s for a sports star or someone who loves the journey as much as the destination - clients end up with the ultimate in functional elegance! ”

“First I'd like to add that they are the most likeable, honest, respectful and professional contractors I could have ever met. After our first meeting I knew I was in good hands! I had a large addition added on ( like mother in law suite). I created a plan but they professionally designed a 3D blue print with better suggestions that allowed me to get the best use out of the space. I had a budget that they met no overages except for the changes I made which were reasonable. During execution of the project there were no problems, no surprises, no going back and forth and they kept me informed every step of the way. When I had a question they were there to answer without hesitation. I never felt like I was a bother. They went with me to select my hardware, paint colors and when I couldn't find the bathroom double sink I wanted with space. They made me a ceramic top sink with drawers. The project took under five months to complete. I'm very satisfied and pleased of how my project went from start to finish. Mostly they made me feel like a person not a project! I highly recommend this company!!”

“Esprit Design helped us give our shop in Kitty Hawk a makeover. Terry Talbert worked easily with our schedule and helped us to introduce more color to our store, create a more eye-catching window display, and relocate furniture and merchandise to make the space more inviting and better highlight our offerings. We have received nothing but compliments on the changes and will continue to use the insights she gave us in the future.”

“When my husband and I decided to look for a place to build our final home where there were still four seasons but without the ‘extremes’ (too hot; too cold; too much snow), with access to the water and other recreational amenities, we found Albemarle Plantation (AP) located near a sleepy little town called Hertford, North Carolina. The moment we drove into this gated community, we felt at home and knew this would be a great place to live. In addition to friendly residents, AP sports both a marina and a golf course, and is located off a small river leading to the Albemarle Sound that offers protection from storms. We thought this Inner Banks location would be ideal for us and our boat. When we sold our home in MD and moved into a rental house in AP, we started our search for the builder who would construct what we planned to be our final home. AP provided us with a list of builders that were 'recommended' and we began our interview process. We started with the residents themselves and soon learned that Sound Home Builders was a name that continually popped up due to the attention to detail and quality construction of the homes they built. We toured several beautiful homes at AP built by different builders. But, we found, even residents who didn't have their homes built by Sound Home Builders recommended them! We met with Sound Home Builders in August, 2013. We had just a vague notion of the house we wanted. They worked with us to develop detailed plans and to explore design options. We signed a contract in mid-December, 2013, and the construction of our house began on schedule on January 6, 2014. We have watched the daily progress of the build since we are renting a house within walking distance. When we met with Ron & Michele (the owners of the company), they asked us what was the most important thing we were looking for in our new home. We told them quality construction! We have not been disappointed! We met with Ron at the lot before we signed a construction contract. We had a notion of how to place the house on the lot. He listened, analyzed, and then made the recommendation that we reverse the plan and place the house ‘just so.’ You know what? He was right. He has a great eye for how the house can take maximum advantage of the lot. His approach greatly simplified the lot preparation, and positioned the master bedroom to take advantage of a beautiful natural view. It reduced the cost and increased the value! Before we began, we were aware that this house and related infrastructure (driveway, etc) would push the limits for what we could do on the lot. Ron’s precision approach made getting approval from the various authorities a breeze. We have just inches to spare on two set-back limits, and the authorities had no problem approving the plan. They knew the Sound Home Builders’ ‘as-built’ would be as good as or better than the plan. We were amazed when we came to the house one day after it had been framed and found one of Ron's workmen with an 8' level being held up against one of the wall studs. We asked what he was doing and he told us he was checking to see if all of the studs were vertical throughout the house. If not, he was marking each one so that the framers could straighten them before they moved on. We mentioned it to Ron who said, matter of factly, that making sure the house is framed as accurately as possible actually saves time down the road because the walls will be straight and everything that is dependent upon the walls (floors, ceiling) will be straight and easier and less time-consuming to complete. Made sense. :-) During the build, Sound Home Builders was extremely conscientious in helping us stick to the budget we had agreed to up front. Michele was always suggesting alternative materials and suppliers that would save us money. Ron would suggest handling a certain feature that would enhance the look of an area. For example, we wanted a waterfall installed over our gas fireplace in the family room. We had picked out the fireplace insert and the waterfall and had positioned the fireplace in the corner of the room so that we would have complete access to the back of the fireplace and waterfall for maintenance. This meant that a large access panel had to be made in the wall behind the fireplace that also led to the master bedroom. Ron came up with the idea of painting the door covering the access panel the same color as the surrounding walls and lining the perimeter of the panel with trim and hidden hinges that would make it appear just like a trim panel on the wall. Ron seemed to relish the challenge of building this fireplace because it required both an aesthetic touch, and detailed coordination among so many different construction disciplines: framers, stone mason, electrician, lighting vendor, plumber, fireplace vendor, flooring vendor, and others; he kept them focused and the result was a beautiful unique feature for our home.In another case, we asked him if he could possibly include a little balcony off one of the upstairs bedrooms so that the view from that room overlooking the 14th green and the creek beyond could be enjoyed with a glass of wine in the evening. He determined that he could provide us with a large deck off that room (at no additional cost) so that we could actually have several people enjoy the view with us. Based on that, we decided to ‘repurpose’ that room into a 'gathering room' for friends and family. We added a wet-bar with small fridge to the space as well, and enlarged the bathroom. This also meant that we reorganized another space upstairs that we had not originally intended to finish, to regain the bedroom we’d just lost. Because these decisions were made during the framing, the cost and schedule impacts were minor. At the same time, we also repurposed a space downstairs, moving a coat closet and installing a wet-bar/butler’s pantry to service both the family room and the dining room. Later, we decided to enclose the back porch. Again, with no schedule impact, and minimal cost. Ron continuously evaluates new building materials and technologies. Rather than just asking what we want to do, he listened to our goals, and provided us with viable options – geothermal air conditioning, tankless hot water, crawl-space conditioning, underfloor heating, LED accent lighting in tray ceiling, and many others. We had heard from residents at AP that Sound Home Builders does a great job, but we were concerned they may not be in our price range. We concluded that given the fact that all of the builders in the area use the same labor pool, and materials vendors, the cost differential couldn’t be too great. We discovered that some builders will actually get started with a low bid and a hand-shake. BUT, that hand-shake means you don’t really quite know how much the final cost will be. So, your initial estimate might be lower, but your final cost could be considerably higher than you expected. Sound Home Builders’ approach to detailed design up front doesn’t lock you into an inflexible project. On the contrary, it enables flexibility because you know exactly what your ideas will cost before they’re incorporated. You can make changes with confidence. That’s the difference. Despite significant changes over the course of the project – the price for the finished home came in within 3% of the original estimate! This surprising result was a direct outcome of their business model – they focus on getting a solid estimate up front for the ‘sticks and bricks.’ Their process for managing and executing a project works with the owner. They know owners often have limited experience building homes, and they adapt their process accordingly. The changes we made involved a little reframing, some additional wallboard, carpet, etc., but those things don’t add up to a lot when you make the decisions at the right moment during construction. And the entire cost-estimating process is transparent, so you know what the additional cost will be for changes before you decide to make them. We found Ron at the house late on a Friday evening – measuring and adjusting. He personally adjusted the doors to ensure that they open and close smoothly and solidly. Later we found him checking the framing of the back deck. This was Ron, putting his indelible mark on the construction. We decided he must have been diagnosed with OCD – obsessive contractor disorder! During framing, we found red writing all over the place on the studs. Ron’s like ‘Kilroy’ – leaving his mark everywhere. ‘Kilroy’ with OCD. One note directed the framers to move a window one inch to the right to ensure absolute symmetry with an adjacent window. Another required them to replace a stud that was not straight. Later, when the wallboard was up and the first coat of paint was on, we found pencil marks all over the place. Ron, again, identifying flaws that he could see in the wallboard joints. (Often we couldn’t see or even feel those flaws at all!) Still later, near the end, blue painter’s tape showed up all over the place. Like the house had chicken pox. Yep, Ron, again. Or rather this time one of his assistants who have been trained in ‘Ron’s way,’ identifying details that needed to be corrected. Again, flaws we could barely discern on close inspection. Apparently OCD is contagious. Ron met with the neighbors on either side of our lot prior to the start of construction. He also sent a nice letter to all of the neighbors in the adjacent cul-de-sac and approaching streets to inform them of the start of construction and to let them know that they should call him personally if they have any issues during the project. Toward the end, he surprised one neighbor with a gift certificate for dinner in a fine restaurant in a nearby town, another neighbor with free tickets to a local baseball game. They had been inconvenienced slightly, but they hadn’t said anything to us. He just wanted them to know that he appreciated that they had endured the inconvenience and noise of the nearby construction. They have beautiful custom homes built by other fine builders at the Plantation, but now, they rave about Sound Home Builders to everyone they meet! It’s not all about Ron. Michele is a force of nature in her own right! She keeps everybody facing forward – even Mr. OCD! She helped keep us sane and not overwhelmed with decisions. She made suggestions about style, and we always valued her opinions. She also was extremely helpful keeping us on track to make selections. It is amazing how many little decisions you have to make, and how hard it is to make them. Exterior: Shingle style and color, siding, shutters, garage door, railing, porch flooring; on and on. Interior: Color scheme, flooring, appliances, cabinets and countertops. She connected us with suppliers, but was just as eager to work with others if we found something unique that we were interested in. (Didn’t happen often, but when it did, you’d think they’d always worked together. I don’t know what she said to them, but they stepped up when needed.) We had to make some choices very early in order to get approval from the AP architecture review committee. Michele knows them, and they know her. She put the entire package together and we never even had to communicate with them directly. And she did this *before* we signed the construction contract. During construction, we came to count on Michele to let us know with plenty of lead time when decisions had to be final to keep the project on track. And, when we made changes that required review by AP, she took care of that, too. When we first met with Ron and Michele to go over the house plans we had selected as an example of what we were looking for, there were several things we wanted to change in the overall internal design of the house. In fact, we ended up changing just about everything from the original design! The kitchen in particular was not laid out well and Ron and Michele helped us redo the entire kitchen so that it became more attractive and more functional. In the end, our house was ‘inspired’ by the original plan, but was so much better than we ever imagined. For example, the original floor plans did not allow for access from the upstairs rooms into the space above the garage. Ron managed to construct the house in such a way that we had easy access to that space (31' long), and he built it so it can be finished in the future. And this adjustment didn’t cost us anything. It’s just a by-product of how he builds houses – as if he were planning to live there. We’re convinced. Sound Home Builders constructs the best homes in Northeast North Carolina and their reputation in the area is second to none. Quality, attention to detail, paying attention to customer needs and providing immediate feedback and communication. Managing the project to come in ahead of schedule and within 3% of the price, despite a harsh, wet winter, is the icing on the cake. These are just some of the outstanding attributes of this fine company and the great people who own and operate it. We did not know Ron and Michele Andronowitz before we signed the contract with them to build our home, but we now count them as friends. Great people, great company, great results! They’re slogan says it all: Building quality homes and lasting relationships. We want to mention that our new friends at AP, and the entire management staff at AP were extremely helpful throughout the project. When we needed their advice on something, we got solid helpful suggestions. AP was already engaged in refurbishing the golf course, including a complete re-greening. They had already planned to refurbish the golf cart path, as well. At their own initiative, they adjusted the refurb project schedule, accelerating the work on the cart path behind our lot before construction even began so as not to interfere with the construction, or with our subsequent enjoyment of the house. They coordinated with Sound Home Builders on a regular basis. Our new neighbors kept an eye on the construction and we got gleeful emails and calls when something interesting happened at the site. We never had a single reason to doubt our decision to build at AP. We’re glad to call AP our home now.”

“Our firms are currently working together on a unique older home to create more living space, changing interiors for better functional purposes while maintaining the period of the home. We are very excited about the process and the team at GMF is doing a very professional job in moving the project forward. As builders we highly recommend their team.”

“Kept us informed on everything. Great follow up on requests. Meticulous. Builds a fine house with attention to detail. Easy to work with. Very accessible.”