The Design Element

My family recently completed a new home construction project with R Henry and The Design Element — we couldn’t be more pleased with the results. I’m going to break the project down into a few areas for clarity. Getting started We had some ideas on the type of house we wanted. We provided Rich and his team with pictures of houses and floor plans we found online. The architects took what we provided and put all the concepts together into a design we loved! Education and guidance Going into this project I was concerned about the decisions I would have to make and the potential for cost increases. Everyone at R Henry and The Design Element kept our needs and finances in mind. They educated and guided us every step of the way. They helped us understand what products would be critical to our home and items that wouldn’t make much difference when it came to resale value. They also helped us steer clear of products that could result in less than ideal quality. Architecture Every element of the home architecture was thought out, right down to placement of windows and the direction they opened. We wanted a lot of windows and an open floor plan. Jeff from R Henry helped us figure out the ideal floor plan and window placement so we were able to get what we wanted without breaking the bank. Kailee guided us to get an excellent kitchen layout that is spacious and convenient. Interior design We had several collaborative meetings with The Design Element and R Henry. One great thing about these two businesses is how closely they work together which provides continuity. Put simply, the interior of our home is amazing. We loved the products and finishes recommended by The Design Element. I want to give a special acknowledgement to our designer, Megan. She listened to our requests, sent us amazing options and guided us in what would look great. I feel like we had the freedom to get what we wanted and at the same time the guidance we needed to make sure everything worked together. We were so impressed with the home design itself that we extended our work with Megan to have her help us select furnishings and other decorations for our home. Everything is stylish and beautiful! Project management Overall the process was easy and I would do it again. There was a ton of moving parts and I couldn’t imagine trying to manage the project all by myself. For this, I want to give a special acknowledgement to Aaron from R Henry. We actually started this project living across the US and he kept us in the know every step of the way with pictures and weekly, if not daily emails and calls. He sheltered us enough from the crazy pieces all needing to fit together and yet was transparent with us and explained all the details without them being overwhelming. He shared what was being done, why it was being done and how it was going to happen. Very clear and concise. Aaron always made time for those burning questions — his patience and ability to keep things moving was key to the project. Quality and craftsmanship R Henry and The Design Element strive for quality. Our friends built a home at the same time we did with another builder. When I look at the products and finishes in their home, they do not compare. When my wife and I considered less than quality products, our builders and designers educated us on the pros and cons on those products. If our motivation for selecting a product was financial, they helped us find high-quality products at our price point. R Henry and The Design Element are proud of what they do and only want the best for their customers. I want to acknowledge the amazing woodwork done by Rob — a master at what he does. We provided old barn wood from our family farm and he turned it into spectacular doors and accents throughout our home. His work on the shiplap is impeccable. We plan to continue Would we use R Henry and The Design Element again? Absolutely. The combination of quality, attention to detail, transparency and education, seal the deal. As a matter fact, we are already considering when we will have our next project with them.

The Design Element has been a huge help in making suggestions based on our needs and tastes. They have been very patient with us!! They have an awesome selection of products. The Design Element works hand in hand with R Henry Construction which is very synergistic! A special thanks to Megan!

My husband and I were in love with our large, wooded lot, but unsatisfied with our dated, small house. Having no personal experience in home remodeling and a VERY limited budget, we were unsure as to whether or not we would be able to achieve our vision realistically. Thankfully we decided to begin with R. Henry and The Design Element. One of the more unique aspects of working with R. Henry is their partnership with the Mankato Design Center. Not only did this place serve as a headquarters where we could meet to discuss plans in their comfortable and well designed space, even after business hours if need be, but it also served as a kind of one stop shop for interior and exterior design. MDC made designing our home so much easier because all of our needs were met in one place. From shingles, to cabinet handles, to furniture, and easy access to material samples we were able to find everything we needed for our home within the walls of the MDC, and to experience samples tangibly. There are always interior designers on site that were interested and invested in the outcome of our home while maintaining our price range by being resourceful, developing alternatives to expensive materials, repurposing whatever was available, and designing custom solutions. Dedicated to our vision, Margot, the owner of The Design Element, was always very accommodating of whatever last-minute ideas we would blurt out along the way and she would make them happen. For example, we wanted to have a creative rustic interior and Margot found old doors from a farmhouse and was able to repurpose them in our home, which meant custom sized doorframes. Margot made sure that this would happen for us, and the carpenters at R. Henry executed the job seamlessly. This is one of many examples... Margot also orchestrated the design and building of a kitchen island from a beautiful farm table we wanted to incorporate, used pallet wood in our entertainment center to add to our effect, and Rich himself built a beautiful headboard in our bedroom from our old wood floors, at our request. R. Henry Construction and The Design Element surpassed all of our expectations, easily. These companies are incredibly hard-working, creative, resourceful, and never compromise quality or craftsmanship, down to the smallest detail. Thanks to them, my husband and I were able to fulfill our vision of a beautiful home at an affordable cost that compliments the lot we never wanted to leave!

I really appreciated working with Margot on three different projects. Two were smaller remodels and one was a major renovation/addition. She listened to what we wanted and worked closely with us to achieve our goals. She helped us to identify what we wanted and then worked closely with us to meet our needs. She is very professional in her approach but we had fun too. I highly recommend her services.

We built with R. Henry and were matched with Megan, a designer from The Design Element. It was a perfect fit! She has such a great personality and made it easy to make decisions and trust in her professional eye. When building a luxury home, it can be overwhelming with all the choices that have to be made, but she handled everything from colors, fixtures, textiles, built-ins, tile design, floor plan, well, basically everything in and out of our home. She has such a gift! We are forever grateful for her. {The Borers}

We highly recommend The Design Element of Mankato. Our 12 year old home needed design, decor and functionality updating. Margot and her team of professionals spent considerable time with us to determine our needs and what would be right for us. Their knowledge of light, color, texture, and space as well as the furniture, window treatments, and art that will work for us has truly enhanced our home. While we are still in the midst of our project we are very pleased thus far. We are falling in love with our home all over again!

The Design Element has such great ideas and really helps you with design direction, especially when you don't know where to start. They bring creative ideas to the table while listening to your needs. The staff is very helpful and knowledgable. Their projects ALWAYS turn out beautifully no matter what your budget. I have seen many of their projects from Craftsman, modern, farmhouse, to transitional and they nail it every time. Highly recommend working with this company if you want to acheive a look that is above and beyond.

Awesome job by Margot and Ian. Margot is fantastic at coordinating styles and colors throughout my home. Love it!! Margot understood what my likes and dislikes were. She is amazing!!

I had a very difficult bathroom remodel. I wanted to convert two joined bathrooms into completely separate ones and use a couple of closets as well to enlarge both spaces. Cassie's design was beautiful and creative and incorporated everything I was looking for. She took care of all the details. I am very pleased with the outcome and would recommend her to anyone.

I hired The Design Element for guidance on our main floor remodel - kitchen, living room, dining room, and bathroom. They went well beyond my expectations with their design knowledge, experience, and amazing talent. I highly recommend their services to anyone wanting a unique and lovely design for their home.

Megan Rolloff is a very talented designer! We absolutely love the transformation she helped make with our living room, dining room and kitchen. She was able to bring in new colors, furniture, light fixtures, kitchen back splash - even custom-made shelving for a wall. She was respectful of our budget and scheduIe. I can't wait to have her back to work on another section of the house . . . .

It has been a very fun and satisfying experience working with Megan Rolloff and the crew at The Design Element. My latest project was turning my grown children's bedrooms into guest rooms. Megan knows I am on a working gal's budget so she keeps the price point in mind, while keeping the quality standards high. I come to the table with a few ideas and Megan brings them to life!! She honors how important sentimental items are to me and did a wonderful job incorporating the rocking chair and family art in the design. The rocker I rocked my children in when they were babies, was brought up to date with pillows that coordinated with the bedding and the art was reframed. Megan has a great eye for color and making a space warm and inviting. The two rooms share a hallway that was also updated and added to the flow of the bedrooms. I did splurge on a velvet chest for the end of one of the beds. When I went to pick it up the other staff were all as excited as I was to see what it looked like and how it complimented the rest of the design. I appreciate the team effort and support the staff share as well as the timeliness of the project timeline. When the project was complete I sat back and said, " that is exactly what I was hoping for only so much better!". Thank you Megan, I couldn't have done it with out you.