MEET OUR DESIGNERS

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Design America, Inc. partners with over 100 designers and architects from across North America and Canada.  These designers are part of our team and give us the ability to offer consumers a wide variety of home and project plans in various styles and sizes. 

Having a father and grandfather in the business of homebuilding, I became interested in residential design at a very early age. In 1961 I began my schooling that lead to a career designing for 4 architectural firms on the East Coast and Midwest, and later a homebuilding firm in St. Louis, MO, for 25 years where I became the Architectural Department Manager. In 1995 I was delighted to accept a position as Sr. Residential Designer for HDA, Inc., a plan book publishing and nationwide distribution company. As their “in house” designer I added 251 home and 61 project designs to their portfolio during my 15 year tenure, many of which became their best sellers.  

Over my 50 year career, it was a joy and challenge to create an estimated 500 new home designs for various firms, homebuilders and individuals, 140 of which by Lawrence Rigg Designs, LLC. From these designs over 14,000 new home plans were sold and thousands built in St. Louis and around the country.

Company Overview: “I made a sincere effort to design each home to the best of my ability as though I were to be the one to live in it, and from experience derived from working along side a dozen very gifted architects and engineers through the years. Now retired and looking back on my work, it is my wish that everyone living in these homes enjoy them to the fullest and that they have helped to create happy families.” Larry V. Rigg  

Nelson Design Group offers more than 1,500 designs in every style and square footage imaginable. Michael E. Nelson is the President and Founder of Nelson Design Group as well as a nationally published award-winning designer with more than 38 years’ experience in residential design.

Steph G. Nelson is Michael’s beloved wife, co-founder and National Marketing and Sales Director for their firm. She has an extensive background in home planning and design as well as residential construction consulting.

Seth M. Nelson has followed in his father’s footsteps with over 12 years of experience in residential design and has his own signature collection, SMN Designs, showcases his fresh and modern spin on open floor plans and a sort of hybrid styling.

S. Taylor Nelson is the Media Director for his family business, a commercial drone pilot and professional videographer working to create a social networking presence as well as creating Nelson home plans.

Company Overview:

“It’s not just a home, it’s a neighborhood.”  This primary philosophy has driven us since 1985, when we began sketching floor plans and developing custom blueprints for individual homebuyers.  Today, Michael E Nelson incorporates unique designs, which complement each other and foster family values and traditional ideals.  The result is an effective overall design theme, encouraging interaction not only between family, but also between neighbors. 

“Our goal is to provide our clients with a design that perpetuates a constant feeling of pride.  Each owner should step into their dream home each day knowing they made the best decision possible, not only with their home, but with their surroundings.” Michael E. Nelson 

House Plan Gallery is an Award-Winning home design firm with an extensive collection of more than 300 house plans that have been designed for the way “real families actually live, day-to-day”.

The company was founded by George Mathis, M.S., FAIBD, who spent over 40 years in the home design industry, both through client-based custom residential design projects and through his 30+ year career as a distinguished professor and department chair of the Architectural Construction Technology program at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Mark Mathis has over 25 years in the home design industry and currently serves as the President of House Plan Gallery.  Mark has extensive experience in residential design & marketing.

Stephen Mathis has over 30 years in the home design industry and currently serves as the Vice President of House Plan Gallery.  Stephen has extensive experience in residential design/development & construction and enjoys helping their clients to find the home design of their dreams.

Company Overview:

“Our focus has always been to design beautiful, affordable, & highly-functional home designs that fit the way “real families actually live, day-to-day”.  

We pride ourselves on working directly with our clients to ensure that all their needs and wants are met in their new house plans and that their new home can easily evolve, with their specific requirements, over time.”  - Mark Mathis