Creativity and artistic talent are synonymous with the Riddle family. Eileen Riddle and her son, Aaron, design kitchens, baths, pantries, closets and laundry rooms, while Eileen’s daughter, Elizabeth, is a designer for Ethan Allen. On occasion, their talents come together on a project. 

Eileen has loved all forms of artistic expression since she was a child growing up in New Jersey. “I was always drawing or coloring,” she recalls of her childhood. “Art was my favorite subject in school.” Her love of art took Eileen to the duCret School of Art in Plainfield, New Jersey. Her foray into kitchen design resulted when she answered an ad placed by a Long Island design firm in need of an artist who could translate ideas into drawings. “Those were the days before computers,” she explains. “All the plans were done by hand on drawing boards. I still have some of them. Maybe one of these days I’ll frame one and hang it in the studio.” 

What brought her to Lancaster? Grandchildren! Aaron, who is a graduate of Hofstra University, and his wife, Esther, moved here in 1998 for career opportunities. The couple became the parents of two children, a son who is now involved in the business and a daughter who is in high school and dabbles in art. 

Before she and her husband, Bob, made the move, Eileen began sending her resumé to prospective employers. Fortunately, Eileen was heading to the epicenter of cabinetmaking. She ultimately accepted a position with Rutt HandCrafted Cabinetry. “I worked with Ruth Rutt,” Eileen recalls. “It was fascinating to work with her. I learned so much from her.” After leaving Rutt, Eileen began working with a design firm in the King of Prussia area that was a Rutt dealer. Again, Eileen was able to expand her knowledge of the design process. 

Confident in her own skills – Eileen says she developed a “real passion for kitchen design,” describing it as “a perfect blend of art and technology” – she launched her own design firm. Her confidence also radiated from the fact that she loves to cook and was fully aware of the frustrations that home cooks encounter in their own kitchens. “I can’t tell you how many times clients have said how thrilled they are to be working with someone who understands kitchen design from a user perspective,” Eileen shares. 

In 2009, tiring of hauling door samples and other design elements to clients’ homes, she began entertaining the idea of opening her own storefront. One day, while walking down Broad Street in Lititz, she spied a For Rent sign in a quaint, turn-of-the-century building that features a large picture window. “It felt right,” she says of taking that leap. 

She opened Kitchens by Eileen with one assistant on staff. She admits that launching a business in the midst of the Great Recession tested her mettle. “I figured I had nothing to lose. If it failed, I could always go back to working from home,” she says. 

Kitchens by Eileen not only survived the recession but it began to thrive. “There’s a lot of remodeling going on in Lancaster,” she says of her success. Aaron, who has always harbored an interest in architecture and a talent for art, began working with the firm on a part-time basis soon after it opened. In 2013, he joined forces with his mother full time as the firm’s project manager. “I learned the trade side from our subcontractors and the design side from my mom,” he explains. “I really enjoy the process of seeing an idea being created and following it all the way through. That final walk through is always very rewarding.” 

Aaron saw the post-recession remodeling and building boom as an opportunity to expand the services offered by Kitchens by Eileen. From kitchens, the design firm expanded into baths, laundry rooms, pantries and full-scale remodeling projects. They became associated with Boyertown-based Victory Closets. With 14 now on staff, Kitchens by Eileen – the name was recently altered to KbE Design & Build – is busier than ever. 

Elizabeth was blazing her own career path. After graduating from the Art Institute of York, she knew she had a job waiting for her at Kitchens by Eileen. Still, she decided it would be prudent to spread her wings and initially entertained the idea of heading for  New York. When she was given the opportunity to work with the same King of Prussia design firm her mother had worked for, she took it. She was also on staff at the downtown store, Details, where she worked on visual merchandising and window displays. 

Her ultimate goal was to become a designer for Ethan Allen. “I kept applying and eight years ago, I got the call,” she relates. She accepted her dream job at Ethan Allen’s Lancaster store, which recently moved to The Crossings at Conestoga Creek on the Harrisburg Pike. “It was time,” Liz says of the store’s 40-year tenure on the Manheim Pike, where it was impacted by flood waters on two occasions. The store had also faded into Lancaster’s subconscious. “People would stop in and say, ‘I forgot you were here,’” she notes. 

The new 7,000-square-foot store, which places an emphasis on lifestyle as opposed to retail, is state-of-the-art, with touch-screen kiosks and an inviting design center. Large windows, high ceilings and a touch of industrial styling deliver a thoroughly modern look for Lancaster’s branch of the 88-year-old New England-based company that created the Early American look but now offers what its website calls “a melting pot of designs” that now define the American home. Liz is especially excited about Ethan Allen’s take on Scandinavian farmhouse that is set to debut this fall.

Over the past decade, the three have collaborated on several projects. Inevitably, clients will ask Eileen or Aaron for design advice that is out of their realm and they will suggest that the client consults Liz. The opposite also holds true. You know what happens if you redecorate one room – suddenly, you want to remodel the kitchen, upgrade the bath … Fortunately, Liz has connections! 

Time, of course, marches on, and Eileen has decided to step back from the business. Aaron has assumed the role of president of the company. Eileen describes her new role as “ambassador” and explains in that capacity she will be representing KbE Design & Build in community endeavors such as becoming involved in Lititz events and service organizations. “Things I’ve never had time to do,” she says. 

She also wants to support her daughter, Jennifer, and her service dog, Benny, and travel with them to art shows. Jennifer is associated with Lancaster’s Friendship Heart Gallery. Benny, who is an artist in his own right, is a magnet for visitors at shows and in the studio. “If I know clients are dog lovers, I’ll bring him to the studio for our meeting with them,” Eileen says of the Black Lab’s PR skills.   

Kitchen Design for a New Decade 

“There’s no place like home,” has come to define life in the 21st century. “Our homes are our retreats,” says Aaron Riddle. 

“Kitchens are an investment,” verifies Eileen Riddle, who points to the thought process and space planning that is required of both the clients and designers to arrive at the end result – a dream kitchen. “I know we’ve done our job when a client sees the results and comments, ‘You really listened to us.’ That’s really important for us to hear,” she says. 

Aaron agrees that customer service is the hallmark of the company. “Attention to detail is one thing we take pride in,” he says. Offering clients options is another – final plans always entail good, better and best selections that help them meet budgets and achieve the styling they envisioned. 

Fortunately, the Riddles also have the X factor on their side. Through working with local cabinetmaking companies and other subcontractors, Aaron is of the opinion that the craftsmanship Lancaster County is known for is “second to none.” 

Helping clients with the decision process every step of the way – including accompanying them to other vendors – is a third component of customer service. 

According to the Riddles, today’s kitchens entail much more than a place to cook. They are where kids do homework while a parent makes dinner. They are where friends catch up over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. They are where dinner guests inevitably congregate before or after dinner. They are where milestones are celebrated. “In my opinion, the kitchen is the most important room of the house,” says Eileen. 

Warm and inviting kitchens are on clients’ minds these days. It begins with light. Aaron reports that clients are opening up walls to make way for large windows or even a series of doorways in an effort to meld indoor and outdoor spaces. Layered lighting also helps to create a mood for day and night. 

While white-hued painted cabinets continue to be popular, natural wood is making a comeback. “A pop of color could be introduced by painting the island a bold color,” Aaron says. Gold pulls for drawers and cabinets add both color and richness. “Gold is huge,” says Eileen. 

Backsplashes that travel to the ceiling are also in vogue. Quartz has become the counter covering of choice, “especially if it resembles marble,” he adds. 

Both Eileen and Aaron agree that clients who lead busy lives are desirous of having well-organized and clutter-free kitchens. “I’m a firm believer in ‘a place for everything and everything in its place,’” says Eileen.  

Garage-style cabinets ensure that items such as toasters, coffeemakers, mixers, canisters etc. can be put out of sight once they are no longer needed. Stoves are surrounded by pullouts that hold herbs and cooking oils. Deep drawers allow space for oversized pots. Cabinet interiors are designed to store and easily locate cookie sheets and other baking items. Pantries provide storage for everything from food to linens, china and glassware that are used for special occasions. 

Technology is also being taken into consideration. The days of having offices in a kitchen have been relegated to the ‘80s. “We’re tearing them out,” Aaron says of remodeling jobs. Instead, today’s kitchen is outfitted with a message center that could have something as high-tech as a charging station for phones to something as old-school as a bulletin board. Eileen names high-tech appliances as one of the biggest changes she’s seen over the course of her career. 

Aaron also points to a new phenomenon that is impacting kitchen design – pet stations that are carved into an island, or perhaps a staircase, and are used for feeding purposes or a getaway for napping. 

As for bathrooms, clients are bringing home ideas from hotels and vacation homes that translate into a spa experience at home. The need to organize also extends into bedrooms. “We’ve been doing a lot of closets lately,” he says of KbE’s licensing agreement with Victory Closets. 

For more information, visit kitchensbyeileen.com. 

Dreaming of Home 

Laurie and Jim Martin had always wanted to build a custom home. They knew who the builder would be – Custom Home Group – from visiting the company’s Parade of Homes entries. Fortunately, they also made the acquaintance of Liz Riddle-Hash. 

The couple’s dream of building a new home took an important step when they learned of a lot that was for sale in one of their favorite neighborhoods from their realtor/colleague, Dwight Brubaker. Best of all, their daughter could remain in the same school district. The stars were definitely aligning for the couple who are co-owners of the American Music Theatre.  

For the Martins, there was no looking back. Their home of 14 years sold in a matter of one day. So, Laurie forged ahead and immersed herself in designing her dream home with Jared Erb of the Custom Home Group. A French villa was Laurie’s inspiration in designing the open and airy first-floor living spaces. “I love everything French,” she says. 

As she would be starting from scratch, Laurie asked Jared for his recommendations in securing the help of a designer for choosing furnishings, accessories and lighting. Jared suggested Liz Riddle-Hash. The two met and, according to Laurie, “We really clicked.” Laurie and Liz began meeting every Monday. “It was also nice to be able to run all my selections made with the builder by Liz,” she notes. 

Liz loves such a working format. Working from plans enables the designer and client to zero in on selections that will complement a room’s dimensions and vice versa. Choosing paint colors and flooring early on (which also involved Olivia Barnhurst from Custom Home Group) also helped to establish a color palette for the house. “Today’s look is eclectic and collected,” Liz explains. “There’s lots of layering going on, which adds warmth and texture to a room.” 

She is also noticing another trend – clients who love to travel are incorporating elements that remind them of their favorite places into their homes. “It’s part of the reason why coastal continues to be huge,” Liz says. “People like to be reminded of their favorite places. They bring a sense of calm and serenity to a home.” Of course, for Laurie, France would be her ultimate vacation destination. 

The Martins’ home embodies all those philosophies. The gallery-style main hallway definitely has a European vibe thanks to the stone-like tile and French-inspired furniture and accessories that define it. The living room’s eclectic decor is courtesy of a sectional sofa, Asian-inspired accent chairs, Euro-inspired accent tables and lamps, a modern fireplace and a gold-and-crystal chandelier that adds a touch of glam to the space. 

The floor-to-ceiling windows provide the wow factor as they are hung with linen draperies that provide privacy yet are transparent enough to admit natural light and, if open, a view of the outdoor fireplace. Texture is achieved with a wide selection of throw pillows and fabrics such as velvet and linen. “Today’s fabrics are both beautiful and functional,” Liz shares. 

The kitchen reflects today’s preference for creating a beautiful, clutter-free space (thanks in part to a spacious pantry) that is perfect for cooking, socializing and entertaining. 

The fourth element is a dining room whose ambiance is what Liz calls “California casual” due to the comfortable seating, farmhouse table, unique lighting fixture, retro-style buffet and cotton window shades. It offers a view of the expansive outdoor-living area and backyard that is often filled with deer at sunset. 

“Your surroundings definitely have an impact on how you feel,” Liz says. Laurie agrees with that sentiment, sharing that her home’s first impression on visitors is often, “This is like being on vacation!” 

For more information, visit ethanallen.com. 

It’s not unusual for families to outgrow their homes. Nor is it unusual for businesses to relocate when office space becomes inadequate. What happens when a family-owned business needs to expand? In the case of Garman Builders, the company solved the problem by embracing adaptive reuse and relocating to a new headquarters that includes a state-of-the-art design studio. 

More than five years ago, the Garman brothers  – Mike, Shawn and Jason  – realized their company’s headquarters along North Reading Road in Ephrata, was not keeping  pace with the growth of the multifaceted company. Founded in 1972 by their parents, Ivan and Charmaine, Garman Builders was originally located at the family’s home in Ephrata. “My dad used to meet with clients around our dining room table,” Shawn recalls. “We were not fond of those meetings,” he says. “It meant we had to be quiet and keep the television volume down low.” 

Still, the Garman brothers knew from the time they were small children that they would one day join their parents in the family business. In fact, you could say that Shawn was born to it. “My mom was helping my dad hang drywall on the night I was born,” he says of Charmaine, who wore the hats of wife, mother, PR and marketing person, bookkeeper and staging wiz for the company’s model homes and Parade of Homes entries. 

Shawn, who is the middle son, remembers going to job sites with his dad and brothers when he was 5 years old. “It was our job to sweep the floors and carry wood to a pile,” he recalls. He also shares that as much as it was a bonding moment for the Garman men, Shawn believes Ivan saw it as a way to give Charmaine a break from dealing with three energetic boys. 

Speaking for his brothers, Shawn says becoming part of the family business was “all we ever wanted to do.” Now, a third generation has followed in their grandparents’ footsteps, as Mike’s sons, Jared and Matthew, and Shawn’s children, Brandon and Abby, have joined the staff.   

When the business outgrew the family garage, it moved to the site of a former auto dealership along North Reading Road, where it remained for 23 years. There, the home-building business expanded to include renovation and restoration divisions. The company’s new-home communities were springing up all over South Central Pennsylvania. “It was time to do some major renovations or move on,” Shawn says. 

The three brothers live in close proximity to each other in the Brunnerville area. During their travels they often passed a building that sits at the corner of East Main and North Oak streets in Lititz. “I often thought it had possibilities,” Shawn says. So, he placed a call to the building’s owners, Listrak, a multi-channel marketing company, and, to his surprise, learned the building had just been put on the market. 

While Listrak had outgrown it, a walk-through convinced the Garmans that they had found their company’s new headquarters. “We have a thing for former car dealerships,” Shawn laughs, explaining an auto dealership once called the property home, as did a home-furnishings store and a succession of other businesses. 

The Garmans also had an idea beyond office space. They wanted to provide clients with a one-stop selection experience. “We live in an instant-gratification world,” Shawn observes. A design studio would allow Garman to showcase the company’s capabilities as far as moldings and finishes are concerned, plus it would enable clients to select all aspects of their home’s design and finishing touches under one roof. The days of going from vendor to vendor – which can be time-consuming, sometimes frustrating and always mind-boggling – to choose the detail items that define a home’s style, would be relegated to the past. “We weren’t giving the customer a good experience,” Shawn says. “We wanted to change that. We wanted to make it an enjoyable experience.” 

Three years ago, the brothers got serious about transforming the building into what Shawn calls a “customer-centric” design studio. They personally visited design studios outside the area and sought input from their employees. “Everyone provided input,” he says. Once they began the design process, it became evident that even this building would not accommodate their vision, so they made plans to enlarge it with a 3,000-square-foot addition. 

In the meantime, an outside consultant was brought in to streamline all the ideas that had materialized. 

Last spring, the Garmans unveiled their new headquarters. The design studio is both beautiful and inspiring. Envision a home and a series of showrooms under one roof. The rooms of the “home” – including kitchens and baths – are stylishly trimmed with moldings and other finishes, illuminated, decorated and furnished. The concept extends outdoors, as well. The showrooms are outfitted with the wide selection of products that figure into Garman’s designs. 

“We pride ourselves in offering our customers the most current products that are available,” Shawn says. “We feel the things we have to offer our customers represent where the industry is heading. Our trade partners have been very supportive. In fact, we are now at the size where the manufacturers are coming to us. Our work is being featured on their websites, social media and internal communiques.” 

Shawn maintains that a design studio such as Garman’s is a reflection of the changing dynamics of the region. Lancaster County, of course, has always been regarded as the epicenter of traditional styling. We have always liked our cherry kitchens, oak furniture, quilts and antiques. But, according to Shawn, “Lancaster isn’t Lancaster anymore.” He attributes the fact that Lancaster’s tastes have become more diverse to newcomers (many times from urban areas) who have been attracted to the charm of Lancaster County, the post-recession business climate, and to a new trend that is seeing parents follow their children to Lancaster in order to be close to their grandchildren. “They’ll build houses on the same street,” Shawn says. 

Garman’s price points are also proving to be popular with downsizers, rightsizers and that coveted demographic, the millennials. “They are starting to buy homes,” Shawn says of the latter. 

Lancaster has also become more “worldly” thanks to the Internet and television shows/networks (Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network is set to debut this fall) that inspire ideas for the home. 

Living in Lancaster County also presents potential homeowners with a factor that is becoming increasingly difficult to find – craftsmanship. “Lancaster is blessed to have forward-thinking tradespeople,” Shawn says. 

 

The selection process begins soon after clients sign on the dotted line. A required orientation meeting is followed by an appointment with an interior designer during which customers make their selections. “They’ll spend anywhere from three to six hours with one of our designers,” Shawn explains. ‘Everything is priced a la carte, so they walk away knowing what the final cost of their home will be.” 

While customers are giving the design studio rave reviews, Garman is doing the same for Lititz. “We’ve been received very well,” Shawn says. “A lot of people have told us that the work we did to upgrade the building has provided Lititz with a gateway from the east. Our employees love being in Lititz. Customers love coming to Lititz. Our new concept has received nothing but positive feedback. It’s been a win-win for everyone.”  

For more information, visit garmanbuilders.com.