HELMAN SECHRIST Architecture

We couldn't be be more satisfied with Jeff and Brad. They made what we expected to be a painful process, easy and enjoyable. We met with them and shared examples (mostly from Houzz) of the style we were looking for, answered many questions on what was important to us, and they came back with a plan that hit our bullseye in one take. They spec'd different building materials than are typically used ,and backed these recommendations with sound reasoning. The detailed plans they delivered made it possible for our builder (KW Yoder) to quote a price that ended up being accurate with the actual cost to build. Every other time we built we ended up making changes as the home was being constructed, but Jeff and Brad have thoughtful process that works, and this time we did not change a thing. They were a pleasure to work with, and highly recommend them to anyone looking for new home.

Hellman/Sechrist did an amazing job throughout our project. Everything from design through the build phase was spot on! They worked well with our contractors and made the process very pleasant. I would work with them again on any project or refer them to anyone looking for architecture and design needs. Dr. Brian Topping

K. W. Yoder Construction INC has been working with Helman Sechrist Architecture for more than 25 years, We highly recommend them for your custom home designs, and renovations. They are extremely creative in design and deliver an exceptional package. Their attention to details is extremely valuable and extends beyond the building itself. The HSA Team consider your lifestyle and design your floor plans to fit those needs, while at the same time design the exteriors to enhance the landscape of your property and surrounding areas. There can not be enough said about how important it is to have a well thought out plan that considers all of these details. They are a pleasure to work with. Kevin Yoder

Since 2007, Our Hospice Foundation has had the privilege of working with Jeff Helman and Brad Sechrist on 10 different projects: seven new construction and three major remodels --- and we are getting ready to start on yet another major remodeling project early next year. In each case, we have been extremely happy with the thoughtful and highly professional manner with which they approach every project. These projects have ranged from designing and building a new 2,400/sf residential home to construction of a 15,000/sf hospice inpatient unit to transforming a 40-year old commercial building into an adult day and caregiver training center. In all, HSA has helped us either build or remodel a total of more than 90,000 sf of space with a total aggregate budget of approximately $30 million. From concept through completion, Jeff and Brad have been our most valued partners. Their attention to detail, design-build approach, value-added engineering and deep vendor relationships have no doubt saved us many headaches and a great deal of time and money through the years. Though I have no formal architectural training, up until the time I began working with HSA, I thought I could pretty much be my own architect --- and had done so on several previous projects. Knowing what I know now, I would not even think of building a house, a new office building or completing a major remodeling project without getting HSA involved form the very beginning. In short, these guys rock!

Jeff, Brad and their team are exceptional! After interviewing a handful of architects we easily decided to use Helman Sechrist. They have been so easy to work with and communicate with from the start. Our first meeting was an easy 2 hours where they spent time getting to know who we are, our style, our vision, our wants, our needs etc etc. When we received our initial design, we were floored how they got it right! They have made the whole process of designing a house, which we have never done before, seamless. And their attention is like no other. They thought of things we never would have, which we know will save us on the building process. Thank you Jeff & Brad, you are amazing!

We have had the pleasure of partnering with Helman Sechrist Architecture on Custom Homes and Large Addition/Renovations for many years. From the initial conceptual meetings all the way through detailed construction documents, the value our clients have received from the HSA team has been consistently exceptional. We highly recommend them to anyone who is considering a unique custom home or significant addition/renovation.

Helman and Sechrist did an excellent job designing our dream home! Our initial meeting was very important. Clint and Jeff did an excellent job of listening and taking notes on what we wanted in this home. We were very impressed at the second meeting with what they created from our wish list. We would highly recommend this company to anyone needing an architect. We worked with them in the summer of 2020.

My husband and I began our journey with Helman Sechrist in 2016 finding them on Houzz, researching and viewing projects they had done. We found that Jeff Helman and Clint Stoeling were not only comfortable and patient to work with they had wonderful fresh ideas for us to contemplate. The renovation project is in full force currently and we are so appreciative for their help in bringing our home into a new faze of life for our next 20 years of enjoyment. Thank you Jeff and Clint of Helman Sechrist.

I highly recommend Helman Sechrist. We worked closely with Jeff Helman, who has an amazing talent to extract an idea in your head and transfer it to reality. He will also add his creative flare to your idea that will make your project truly unique and outside of anything you could imagine yourself. The process is interavtive, fun and simple. We also got to work closely with Clint Stoelting who is also remarkably talented, responsive, knowledgeable and had influence on the final design. We could not be more pleased.

We had an amazing experience working with Helman Sechrist. They are a creative and talented team. Easy to work with and guiding us. We highly recommend them for your future home projects...new or remodel!

We could not have had a better experience working with Jeff and Brad! After a few conversations, meetings and viewing our Pinterest site, they created our dream home on the first try! There were so few changes between the initial drawings and the final constructed home. They were on time and on budget. They really understand what you want, even when you don't really know how to explain it! It was such a pleasure working with both of them, they are very professional and are great listeners! I would HIGHLY recommend them and wouldn't think of using anyone else in the future!

HELMAN SECHRIST Architecture is unparalleled when it comes to thoughtful, efficient, unique design. This firm has mastered bringing their clients' vision to reality. They are talented artists, thoughtful problem-solvers, and work diligently to give the client exactly what they dream of - sometimes even things the client didn't even realize they wanted! Nothing is out of the realm of possibility with them. I would recommend this firm to anyone and everyone desiring a custom-designed home.

Truly a pleasure working with Helman Sechrist on our beautiful home. They were very attentive to the details we wanted and very creative with the parameters we gave them, resulting in an amazing, beautiful and functional home. Technically our home was an extensive remodel, Helman Sechrist helped create a low stress environment with the builder (Kevin Yoder) which translated into everything we had asked for and more! They were able to transform a 1940's ranch house (2,300 square foot - on a slab) into a beautiful 5,000+ square foot craftsman style home with a basement.

Jeff Helman & Brad Sechrist were the architects we selected to design our new home in Grand Beach, MI completed in 2016. Their entire team's professionalism, creativity, energy & expertise made the process an absolute joy from start to finish. The design process began with a discussion of our "vision" for the space. This narrative of how you plan to live in the house, your design and style aesthetics (i.e.desire for light flooded rooms to materials) and what features are necessities to those that are luxuries becomes the foundation for their design work. This back and forth dialogue and exchange of ideas gave us great confidence that we were achieving exactly what we wanted and designing within budget. Beyond the house plans and 3D online model, the house placement was adjusted to fit our lot and provide the best possible view and use of space. Jeff & Brad's expertise included recommending resources for land, survey and soil work to eliminate surprises during the build. The "magic" did not end with a beautifully designed house plan but went well beyond with guiding and advising us through a myriad of functional design options. We opted for Helman Sechrist to also provide plans for electrical, lighting and structural integrity to create a total building blueprint. Both Jeff & Brad were generous sharing their experiences and making introductions to local builders & resources. Once our build was underway, their team provided expert input for on site visits and offering a point of view for any modifications or issues that arose. Critical to us since we were out of state. We continue to marvel at their smart design work everywhere we walk inside and outside our home and are so grateful for the experience.

We are in process on our new home construction with Jeff & Brad of HSA and cannot say enough positive things about our experience thus far. In our initial meeting, Jeff and Brad were so clear about the steps my husband and I needed to take making our experience less daunting as first time builders. Throughout the process, they have been completely open to our input and accommodating of our special requests. Now that we are in the phase of selecting finishes and interior detailing, Jeff is more hands on than ever, joining us at meetings and serving as our advocate through every step of the project. He has attended and guided several site meetings, sets up appointments for us so that we don't have to navigate the supplier/vendor world alone, and is incredibly accessible. You never feel like Jeff is too busy to take care of you, and that's what we have appreciated so much about this process (not to mention the outstanding design work!). A Helman Sechrist home can be spotted a mile away thanks to exquisite attention to detail, and unique customization that other designers we looked at couldn't compete with. We look forward to spending the rest of our lives in our HSA home.

Helman Sechrist Architecture is second to none. With original design, and exceptional quality, there is no question as to whether Helman Sechrist should be first choice in architects. Jeff and Brad are true artists. Without a doubt, their homes and commercial buildings are a gift to the eye. Working with this company is a joy. I cannot recommend them enough.

I have had the privilage of working with Jeff and Brad on multiple projects in the past. I'm a swimming pool builder and get to build some unique pools on nicely designed homes in the michiana area. Jeff has had a couple of pools over the years and this gives him an insight that a not many architects have as to how things really flow around a pool and what area is needed for items associated with the space. I look forward to working with them for many years to come. Congradulations on 25 yrs in buisness milestone and on continued success in the future.

Sincerely enjoyed working with the Helman Sechrist team. Jeff designed an addition to our home and our business, and the results of both were above and beyond what I was expecting. In both cases, I was on a short timeline, and he was able to turn the design around very quickly.

We highly recommend Helman Sechrist Architecture! They designed the vacation home of our dreams that has stood the test of time for 12 years. We had a great working relationship with Jeff Helman. He listened to our ideas and studied how our family lived before designing a floor plan that worked very well for us and suited our lakefront property perfectly.

I have hired Helman-Sechrist several times--a commercial project as large as $2.4 million and residential office design as small as $15,000. Jeff Helman and his team have a great balance of professionalism, talent, and relatable personal skills. They listen well and then bring a great design to the table. They understand budgets and have always brought a mix of creative possibilities as well as value-conscious alternatives. I'd highly recommend Helman-Sechrist for any project that requires creativity and collaboration.

Very enjoyable to work with. His specialty is narrow lake lots. Unique designs. Would definitely use again. Their homes definitely make a statement.

Nothing but praise for Helman Sechrist Architecture: we are in a home we couldn’t even dream of (better than a ‘dream home’) - designed by Helman Sechrist! We had a design challenge - leaving behind two homes that we loved, and combining into 1 new home that would accommodate my family (husband and 3 kids) and my mom, ensuring space for everyone and universal accessibility. We looked at a few homes in our area, then we spent months looking at plans, and realized that nothing pre-drawn was going to work for our family. From my first conversation with Jeff Helman, I was confident that he understood our unique situation - he agreed that we would need to start from scratch. I realize now that this is how they design all their homes - designing spaces around the needs and wants of their clients, spaces that function perfectly and are beautiful! The journey was amazing - their process ensures they are aware of all the functions you want to accomplish in your home - before any plans are drawn. We met extensively with Jeff and Brad (Sechrist), they were alway patient and a pleasure to work with even when we were not at our best - ( imagine how hard a project is to coordinate between two people - then add a mom / mother-in-law to that mix). The staff at Helman Sechrist was there for us throughout the project - They helped us with the bidding process, helped us pick the right builder, made sure that the house was on the lot where it should be, and even talked us through the inevitable rough spots. I cannot express how much we love our new space, how perfectly it is working for us. The spaces that we are living in are just the right size, very spacious - but still cozy; never cavernous or cold. If you want a house that fits your family and your needs - not a house that you have to fit into - Helman Sechrist is well worth the investment.