KDH Residential Designs

What KDH Residential Designs does

KDH Residential Designs (legal entity: KDH Residential Design, LLC) is a privately held, founder-owned residential design firm headquartered at 18644 W Catawba Avenue, Suite 201, Cornelius, North Carolina. Founded in 2007 by Kevin Holdridge — a Certified Professional Building Designer, Certified Green Professional, and Certified Aging In Place Specialist (CAPS) who serves as President of the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD) — the firm employs a six-person team comprising the owner, a production manager/residential designer with construction experience, a CAD operator, a designer with a Master's in Architecture, an executive admin/reception lead, and a marketing/social media manager.

The firm's core deliverable is project-based residential design across three service lines: (1) custom home design for individual homeowners purchasing their own lots, (2) home renovation and remodel design, and (3) optional on-site observation during construction. Each engagement follows a two-phase workflow — an initial design phase producing floor plans, site plan, and front rendering with 2-3 revision cycles, followed by comprehensive working drawings (site plans, foundation/framing plans, roof plans, exterior elevations, structural details, electrical plans, door/window schedules). The firm complements drafts-based output with hand-drawn renderings and photorealistic 3D visualization models that let clients walk through designs and evaluate materials before construction, which the firm cites as a mechanism for reducing mid-build changes and wasted space. Specialized offerings sit on top of the core service: green building specification (solar, foam insulation, advanced framing), universal design / aging-in-place, and outdoor living design (pool houses, guest suites, outdoor kitchens, screened porches). The technology stack is conventional and human-driven: hand drafting, CAD (with a dedicated CAD operator on staff), and 3D rendering software — no AI/ML, no proprietary platform, no software product, no public API or SDK.

The revenue model is fee-for-service professional services, billed per project on a quote basis tied to scope, complexity, and square footage; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is a hybrid of direct sales (initial design consultation typically held on-site at the build location) and channel partnerships: named builder relationships with McSpadden Homes, LakeMist Homes, Andrew Roby, Artisan Homes, and T Whelan Homes, alongside a realtor referral relationship with Corcoran HM Properties (Joey Adams) covering property listings and "phantom spec home" designs used to help agents sell challenging lots. Customer segments are primarily individual homeowners (custom build and remodel) with secondary segments of custom home builders and real estate professionals. The firm markets through a content blog, organic social (Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Pinterest), an email newsletter, a portfolio gallery on Squarespace, and a Houzz profile with Best of Houzz recognition in 2015 and 2016. Geographic reach is intentionally regional — Lake Norman and greater Charlotte, with completed projects from Salisbury, NC to Fort Mill, SC. The firm is entirely bootstrapped, with no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and no institutional ownership; ownership and operational control sit with Kevin Holdridge.

Name

KDH Residential Designs

Legal name

KDH Residential Design, LLC

Website

https://kdhresidentialdesigns.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KDH Residential Designs is a privately held, six-person residential design firm in Cornelius, NC, founded in 2007 by Kevin Holdridge, providing custom home design, remodel, and on-site observation services to homeowners and custom builders across the Lake Norman and greater Charlotte region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Home Building (IMAFABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Whole-Home Interior Renovation (Non-Structural) (HSAPAEAC), Home Accessibility Assessment & Design (HSAPANAA), Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

Keywords

• Custom home design
• Residential architecture
• Home renovation design
• Working drawings
• Green building design

Headquarters

HQ city

Cornelius

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Custom Home Design Services: Project-based design fees for custom residential home design, including initial consultations, design development, working drawings, and optional site observation services during construction
2. Remodeling Design Services: Design services for home renovations and additions, including kitchen designs, bathroom designs, and outdoor living designs
3. Site Observation Services: Optional site visits and progress reports for clients during the building phase, typically for out-of-town clients

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KDH Residential Designs is a residential design firm that creates custom home designs, renovations, and remodels for individual homeowners in the Lake Norman and greater Charlotte area of North Carolina. Services include initial design consultations, design development, comprehensive working drawings, hand-drafted renderings, life-like 3D models, and optional on-site observation during construction. Each project is tailored to the client's lifestyle, lot topography, and budget, with specializations in green building, universal design, and outdoor living spaces.

Product overview

KDH Residential Designs operates as a residential design firm offering a comprehensive suite of design services centered on custom home design, renovations, and construction support. The core offerings include Custom Home Design and Home Renovations as primary services, supplemented by On Site Observation during construction. The design process flows through two key phases: Initial Design (floor plans, site plans, front rendering) leading to Working Drawings (comprehensive construction documents). Premium visualization is provided through 3D Renderings and Hand-Drawn Renderings. Specialized design offerings include Outdoor Living Design (pool houses, patios, outdoor kitchens), Universal Design (accessibility-focused aging-in-place features), and Green Building Design (sustainable practices). The firm distinguishes itself through lifestyle-focused customization and site-specific design approaches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Home Design Bespoke residential design for new custom homes, tailored to each client's lifestyle, lot topography, budget, family composition, and entertainment preferences. Includes initial on-site consultations, floor plan design, multiple revision cycles, and final working drawings.
• Home Renovations and Remodels Remodeling and renovation design for existing homes, including kitchen and bathroom remodels, layout reconfiguration, additions, and modernization projects for individual homeowners in the Lake Norman and greater Charlotte area.
• On Site Observation Construction-phase monitoring including site visits and progress reports during the build, offered primarily for out-of-town clients or those unable to regularly visit the job site.
• 3D Renderings Life-like 3D visualization models that let clients experience the spatial layout, lighting, appliances, furniture, and material specifications of their future home before construction begins, with real-time design updates.
• Hand-Drawn Renderings Artisan hand-designed visual renderings of proposed custom homes, emphasizing craftsmanship and the artistic quality of the design process in addition to functional drawings.
• Outdoor Living Design Design services for backyard and outdoor living spaces, including pool houses, guest suites, tiny houses, man caves, kids' hangout spaces, outdoor kitchens, patios, screened porches, and landscape-integrated living areas.
• Universal Design / Aging-in-Place Design Accessibility-focused design approach that creates spaces functional for all ages and abilities, including wider doorways, lever handles, zero-clearance thresholds, motion-sensor light switches, and other Certified Aging In Place features.
• Green Building Design Sustainable and energy-efficient home design incorporating solar energy systems, foam insulation, low-VOC finishes, mold-resistant products, advanced framing techniques, and detailed HVAC specifications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3D renderings prevent costly changes during construction by allowing material and design decisions before ground breaks
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• McSpadden HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCustom home builder collaborating with KDH on the Contemporary Oasis project. Builder is credited on KDH's portfolio website for this completed residential design.
• LakeMist HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCustom home builder partner for the Modern Lake Retreat project featured in KDH's portfolio. Builder credited as the developer of this lakefront custom home design.
• Andrew RobycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCustom home builder credited as the builder for the Mountain Escape project in Hendersonville, NC. Ongoing collaborative relationship for custom residential projects.
• Artisan HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCustom home builder partner for the Cisar's Classic project. Listed as the builder in KDH's project portfolio.
• T Whelan Homes Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCustom home builder featured in KDH's blog content showcasing the Open Concept vs Traditional Floorplans design discussion.
• Joey Adams, Corcoran HM PropertiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRealtor partner featuring KDH's Lakeside Lodge design in property listings. Represents client connection channel for KDH's design services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Houzz Pro: Online platform connecting homeowners with residential design professionals, providing listing, lead generation, and project management tools. KDH itself uses Houzz (Best of Houzz winner), and Houzz represents both a channel for the firm and a potential competitor/platform threat.

Direct peers

• Sater Design Collection: Residential home plan design firm offering custom and pre-drawn plans with builder partnerships. Directly comparable product offering (residential design plans) and channel model (builder referrals) to KDH.
• Design Basics: Residential architecture and home plan design firm serving builders and homeowners nationwide. Operates in the same custom residential design space as KDH, with similar plan documentation, builder partnerships, and homeowner-facing service model.
• Archival Designs: Custom home design firm offering design plans, modifications, and rendering services. Comparable to KDH in residential design focus, builder/client channels, and customization offerings.
• Visbeen Architects: Custom residential architectural design firm producing high-end custom home plans and 3D renderings for clients across the U.S. Comparable to KDH in offering bespoke residential design with visualization services and a similar premium-positioning business model.
• Donald A. Gardner Architects: Designs and sells custom and stock home plans nationwide with a builder channel focus. Directly comparable to KDH's residential design services and builder partnership model, though operating at significantly larger scale.

Regional players

• LaRue Architecture: Texas-based residential architecture firm producing custom home designs with builder partnerships. Comparable to KDH in custom residential design and builder-channel model, though serving a different regional market (Texas/Southwest).
• Cornerstone Architects: Regional custom home architecture firm serving affluent clients in the Pacific Northwest. Comparable to KDH in custom residential design focus and lifestyle-driven client model, though operating in a different geographic market.

Broad incumbents

• Frank Betz Associates: Long-established residential home plan design firm with national builder channel distribution. Comparable to KDH in core residential design services but operates at much larger scale with broader geographic reach.
• BSB Design: Large residential design firm providing architectural design services for production homebuilders and developers nationwide. Comparable to KDH's residential design services but at significantly larger scale, serving master-planned communities and national builders.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kdh-residential-designs

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KDH Residential Designs