05/27/2026
KDH Residential Designs was born in the midst of the market collapse of 2007. Our owner and CEO, Kevin Holdridge, has a very resilient and goal oriented drive. So when KDH first opened its doors and the real estate markets came to a screeching halt, our team welcomed the challenge. Kevin took this time to reflect on his 16 years of previous experience in the construction and home design industry. He focused on and distinguished what worked and what flaws clients and vendors saw in the industry as a whole.
Up until this time the market was mainly speculative, meaning our clients were mainly builders. The builders bought the property from the developers and we would design homes to fit their criteria (what they thought would sell fast). The potential home owners would then meet the Realtors of the development who would showcase each home while it was under construction or when completed. The end user had very little input in this process. They were buying a home designed for the masses.
KDH would focus their new design process on this premise of custom homes being custom to our client’s need. The market slowly recovered and we were able to test these theories. The builders didn’t own the land anymore so there was a paradigm shift in how we do business. The new process was to meet with the home owner to ask what they actually wanted in a home. How do they entertain? Who comes over for extended stays or holidays? What kind of vehicle do they drive? How old are the children? What is important to the function of the home? And most importantly, what is the target budget for the home?
In the early years of KDH, Kevin sought out knowledge. What are things that would be important to my clients? He studied universal design, aging in place design, classic home styles, and proportions. Through this he acquired designations through the National Home Builders Association in Green Building, Certified Aging In Place (CAPS), and became a Certified Professional Building Designer through the National Council of Building Designer Certification (NCBDC).
Our firm spends time understanding what our client’s needs are and how they will be using the space through our teams years of experience and studying. We visit every build site so we understand the positives and negatives that will impact the design. Knowing and understanding the practical use of the spaces and the topography of the property is crucial when designing. Let us show you what you haven’t seen yet!
