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Randall Smith can barely remember a time he didn’t love design.
When a grade-school teacher asked students to write about what they wanted to be when they grew up, Smith didn’t hesitate. “I knew back in second grade that I wanted to be an architect. I knew it before I could spell it,” said Smith, who owns Plansource Residential Design, a business based in Lutz. Smith recalls getting his first drafting table for Christmas when he was about 10 years old. He said he’s not sure why he was drawn to designing homes, but he thinks his background gives him a unique perspective. “My father built houses in South Carolina, so I’m very familiar with how houses go together,” Smith said.
He also studied architectural design and construction at Clemson University, getting degrees in both disciplines. “When I came out of college, the only job I could get was with a homebuilder.” In retrospect, the experience was invaluable, he said. “I’ve been out there in the dirt, talking to the subcontractors getting houses built on a high production basis. I know exactly what these guys are going through. “I know how to sit down and talk to builders. I know what interests them. I know what they look for in a house.”
He sells house designs through a catalog, which he can customize upon request. He also offers one-of-a-kind house designs. The catalog features 160 designs, ranging from 900 to 7,520 square feet. They are designed to meet Florida’s building code, which varies from other states because of hurricane requirements. “We’ll design a house from scratch for anybody. We just sit down, discuss their lives, their lifestyles and what they want in a house,” Smith said.
The plan for his own home, a two-story modified Southern Colonial, was inspired by his front door - a 300-year-old heart pine from a tavern in Virginia that Smith found at a salvage yard. The house initially was designed for a family of three. Smith now lives alone and has made changes to the interior to reflect his personal interests. The house showcases his passion for art, a love he inherited from his grandmother, who owned an art gallery. It even has a special niche he designed for an original Salvador Dali wood block. There is a room dedicated to crafts and another one for his collections. Rooms are designed to achieve different effects. The family room soars two stories. The dining room and music room are intimate. The kitchen has plenty of working space and a pantry door coated with chalkboard paint that provides a convenient spot to keep track of his grocery list or chores to be done.
Rooms in the house flow easily into each other, making the most of its 3,300 square feet. He works a quick walk away in a 700-square-foot office above the garage. Using space well is one of Smith’s aims, whether he’s designing a McMansion or a cracker box. “I actually think it is more challenging to design small stuff,” he said. “If a house is big enough, it hides the flaws.” He seeks to design efficient houses that have appeal. “You put in what people see as pizzazz and leave out what they don’t,” he said. “A simple added jog in a house can add thousands in cost. If you can take out that jog and not sacrifice the design, why not?”
Before construction begins, Smith said he can picture how the house will look. “As I am looking at a plan on paper, as I am designing it, I can visualize what that looks like in my head. I can see 3-D in my head. It’s like a virtual reality tour. That’s kind of a unique talent that helps me be good at what I do.” Keeping an eye on cost is important, Smith said, predicting that houses of the future will be smaller and more efficient. He has requests from builders for houses less than 2,000 square feet and for houses using fewer materials. “I’m getting requests for garage-less houses because that’s a cost that doesn’t need to be spent. “We’re going back to lower ceilings because why air-condition space that’s above your head?” He’s also seeing a demand for open floor plans - to eliminate walls and create a more spacious feel.
Despite simpler plans, Smith thinks home prices will be headed up once the market gets back on track. Builders won’t have a choice because construction and land costs keep rising, Smith said. The cost of petroleum is a huge issue for homebuilders because everything that is used to build a house has petroleum in it - such as carpets, appliances, cabinetry, paint and roofing - or must be transported to the site, Smith said. The availability of land for development is shrinking, too, he said. Much has been developed and, in many areas, government is being stricter about where homes may be built.
Smith gets high marks from builders who use his plans. Greg Wiederman of Baycrest Builders met Smith about 5 1/2 years ago at a trade show in Orlando. Wiederman, who had recently started his business, was impressed by Smith. “Our very first house that we ever built was one of his plans,” Wiederman said. “He’s very versatile. He’s 100 percent professional. His prices are very, very good.” Smith’s plans are practical and deliver the level of detail builders need, Wiederman said.
Bryan Thomas of Tamlin Homes appreciates the variety of homes in Smith’s catalog. Using the plans saves time and money because builders aren’t reinventing the wheel every time, he said.
John Matera of Matera Homes has been working with Smith on custom homes for about four years. “My experience has been phenomenal as far as the quality of work that he does,” said Matera, who builds homes primarily in Lutz and Land O’ Lakes. When people ask Smith to do a custom plan, he said he advises them to choose a design and materials that will reduce the home’s heating and cooling costs.
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