Custom Detached Garage and Shop Design

The following is a garage project addition I was contracted to work on in the fall of 2008.

The design/build went as follows:

• I meet with the client (in this case, over the phone and via email with photos), and we discuss their vision for what they would like to accomplish in the new garage.
• Based on their ideas, I derive an estimate for the design project. This includes conceptual designs and detailed construction documents for permits and for the contractors to build the project.
• Once we agree on design concept, I create the construction documents.
• Once construction documents are ready, the client submits for their permit, finds their contractor, and work begins.

My Design Proposal:
After some time and discussion in design, a concept has been agreed upon.
The cars are my added extra - no charge to the client.
This is a rendering that I presented to the client to show what their garage could look like. (click on the images to view in full screen)











The finished project:
Note the similarities from my proposal to the final project.

Interior Design Projects

Following is a selection of interior living space renderings.
These are all interior remodeling projects that I have worked on.




A custom basement bar. Note the Chicago Bar Rail.








A Family Room & Rec Area.
An open floor plan with ceiling treatments to define the spaces.





A view of the same family room from the other side.






A Game Room.
Wainscot, coffer ceilings, and crown molding define this space.
(Note the floor tile change into the family room)






A fully furnished Basement Family Room.








Another fully furnished Basement Family Room. Note the use of ceiling treatments and columns to hide the structural steel.

Living Large: New Home Plan Design

Here is a new house design I just worked on.

This house is 3856 square feet of living space. Included in that space are 4 bedrooms (or one guest suite), 3 1/2 baths, a study, formal dining room, living room, family room, kitchen with butlers & walk in pantries and a breakfast area, 2 fireplaces, a large covered lanai, and lots of storage space.





The Floor plan. (click on the thumbnail to view a larger image).







Exterior View.







View in the dining room. Notice the ceiling treatments.






View from the breakfast area into the kitchen and family room.




This plan of course would be fully customizable.

Commercial - Interior Spaces

The following post is a sampling of renderings for interior commercial and office spaces that I have worked on.



Break room at AES Logistics Offices, Beaver Falls, PA








Locker room at AES Logistics Warehouse, Beaver Falls, PA








Storefront proposal forGravity M.B.A
Exeter, PA







Health Specialties Clinic within Queen's Natural Market
Lebanon, PA





Narthex view of Church of Christian Compassion
Philadelphia, PA







Same view - high quality rendering
Narthex view of Church of Christian Compassion
Philadelphia, PA







Sanctuary view of Church of Christian Compassion
Philadelphia, PA

CONTACT

Get in touch today!

I look forward to hearing from you.

Call my home office at 717-277-7244 so we can make an appointment to meet.

• Office hours by appointment only.
  

Send a Message!
We welcome your questions and appreciate your comments.
Feel free to e-mail any time.

selahdesignservice@verizon.net

You may send all plans for design estimates or work, correspondence, and payments to the address below:

Selah Design Services
307 Cumberland Street
Lebanon, PA 17042

I look forward to working with you.

What Ohers are Saying About Selah Design Services

Chris' expertise proved very helpful in our first time experience of designing and building a house. He took our ideas and made them even better. We were able to get our plans approved in a timely manner for a township that has meticulous requirements. Thanks for helping make a dream become reality!
-The Mosemann Family



"Chris,
Thank you so much for taking time out of your Holiday to finish this for me! I so much appreciate all your wonderful work.
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You
I cannot say it enough"
- Bonnie; Marshall, VA



"Chris,
It is a pleasure working with you. I appreciate your ability to work with my clients with the same manners and ethics that I would . I also like the fact that you have worked hands on in the field and can adjust a drawing knowing that it's easy to put on paper what is more challenging to actually building . Your creative ideas also help with a client that isn't sure what they are looking for."
-Wessner Contracting



"Chris,
Thank you for all your great ideas and help designing our new home. Your plans were detailed and well laid out. You took the time to listen to our ideas and in the end produced a design that really worked for our family. Our sub-contractors found them very intuitive and extremely helpful through certain phases of the build. We built our home as designed in the plan set and we couldn’t be happier!
Thank you, The Tavanis"



"I have been using Chris Fenstermaker of Selah Design Services for about a year.
Chris is professional, courteous,prompt, and technically up to speed. Since I've been using Chris, applying for a permit is faster ,easier and more professional looking. My customers appreciate the detail and views he is able to produce. This is a great selling tool. I can highly recommend his service without hesitation."
- Jake Ensminger: Ensminger Builder, Inc.



"Working with Selah Design Service has been a pleasure. Their knowledge and expertise helped me to efficiently deliver plans and renderings for my recent residential projects. I plan to engage them to assist me with future projects as well."
Michael P Dolce AIA Architect.




Find out why you should hire Selah Design Services for your next design project.

Clients

Professional Clients:
I take pride in my work and in my clients. Selah Design Services works with some of the finest designers, builders, architects, and remodelers in the area. Visit our clients sites and see the quality work they offer. I am proud to be a part of such high level of service. 

Freedom Design Build, Inc.  
Haymarket, VA

Shelton Construction
Decatur AL

 Funk & Sons. Inc.
Lebanon, PA

 Keith Homes
Washington, PA

 Michael P Dolce, AIA
Forest Hill, MD

 Our House Design & Construction
Southbury, CT

 Inch By Inch Construction
Lebanon, PA

Glickman Design
Rockville, MD  

Mancuso Construction
Hershey, PA

Wessner Contracting.
Womelsdorf, PA

Finesse Design & Remodeling
Springfield VA

Bellevida Design
Tampa, FL

DNR Services
Harrisburg, PA

SKSI

Private Clients:
We honor our clients and their dreams. Selah Design Services also partners with the private sector to help homeowners and private businesses develop, design, and execute their own design-build projects. These clients have utilized Selah Design Services to produce both excellent design projects, and complete their own builds.

Hillary DeckLockport, NY
Dyer Residence - Kitchen Remodel & AdditionHershey, PA
McCaffrey Basement RemodelMechanicsburg, PA
Blayer - Kitchen RemodelSteelton, PA
Zinn - Basement RemodelHershey, PA
Feed My Sheep MinistriesHalifax, PA
M. Mosemann ResidenceMechanicsburg, PA
R. Cundiff - Garage AdditionNatick, MA
J. Wallis ResidenceWilmington, NC
Queens Natural Market - Store Renovations
Lebanon, PA
M. Vovakes - Bath Renovations
Camp Hill, PA
M. Tavani - New Home Design
Bethel, PA
J. Barr - Farmhouse Addition & Renovations
Lebanon, PA
B. Geiges - Auto Garage
Bensalem, PA
J. McDougal Home Addition
Gulfport, MS
Daesha Youth Center
Tucson, AZ
Gravity M.B.A.
Exeter, PA
J. Spencer New Home Design
Bethel, PA
M. Gassert Deck Addition
Myerstown, PA
R Fenstermaker Estate
Hellertown, PA

Professional Partners:
Selah Design Services partners with some of the finest designers, architects, and related service providers.
Visit these partnering sites and see the quality work they offer. I am proud to be a part of such high level of service.

Schillaci Architects, Ltd.Ephrata, PA
828 Real-Estate
Lebanon, PA
Clinton Robertson, PE, LEED AP
Charlotte, NC
Tri-Valley Contractors, Inc
Lebanon, PA
Betsy Interiors
Hummelstown, PAHabitat For Humanity
Cincinnati Ohio & Lebanon County Chapters

How To Get Started on your Design

Getting started is quite simple. If you have come here, you more than likely already have an idea of what you would like to accomplish. Our first thing we need to determine is if you want to proceed with complete Construction Documents, or if you are in need of Design Documents, or both. See the documents page for the differences between Construction Documents and Design Documents.

Once you have determined which set we need, the design process begins.

• Full Construction Document sets and Design Document sets are estimated on a per
  project basis. The estimate is based on square footage of the necessary areas within the project.
• Estimates are free and can often be provided over the phone in a few minutes.
  
• Miscellaneous hourly rates are $35
• For more detailed pricing and rates, please see my custom rates page (coming soon)

For a free design worksheet please email:

selahdesignservice@verizon.net

Or Direct contact:

Selah Design Services
307 Cumberland Street
Lebanon, PA 17042
717-277-7244

There are essentially two phases in the design process:

The Preliminary Design Process: (Creating Design Documents):

• Design of the Floor plans
• Preliminary 3-D Rendering

We will work through a preliminary design of your floor plan ideas and needs. From this design we will develop an exterior model, showing some materials, roofs, and exterior conditions. Once we have a design that is approved by both the designers and the client, the final layout process begins. Design Documents are not buildable plans.

The Final Layout Process: (Creating Construction Documents):

• All Floor Plans (after revisions)
  
• Exterior Elevations
• Interior Elevations
  
• Foundation Plan
• Site Plan
• Sections and Details
• Structural Analysis
• Required Mechanical Schematic Plans (MEP)
  
• Window & Door Schedules
• PDF Booklet of Prints

Engineering Services
Fees for engineering vary based on the project. Engineering will be needed for some projects and townships for code compliance. Engineering can be provided through Selah Design Services or the client may choose to have the final print sent to the engineer of their choice.

Who Is Selah Design Services?

Selah Design Services is a sole-proprietorship owned and operated by Chris Fenstermaker from his home office in Lebanon, PA. Chris has been a user of the "Chief Architect" design software package since 1997, and has experience in many aspects of construction, ranging from framing to drywall, from painting to plumbing & electrical work. Chris also has training in construction management, planning, design, and the grueling estimating of materials and costs.

Selah Design Services comes from over 10 years of experience in construction document preparation, and design planning, along with real life hands on application experience in many forms of construction. With these learned qualities Chris brings to the table a well developed design sense, construction know-how, and professionalism.
This experience allows for a conceptual model created in the virtual world to be conveyed onto paper accurately so that its entire construction can take place fluidly and completely.
Chris lives with his beautiful wife, 4 sons, and 2 daughters in their home in Lebanon, PA. The Fenstermaker family are involved in Water's Edge Community Church (a church plant of Christ Community Church).

I take pride in my work. 
I honor the clients I serve.

Selah ( Hebrew: סלה) meaning ‘pause & reflection’, within the context of a prayer or psalms, is similar in purpose to Amen in that it stresses the importance of the preceding passage. In this way, Selah is to imply that one should pause and reflect on what has been said.

Our Services

Services Include:

• Residential & Commercial Design
• Structural & Design Consultation
• Construction Plans
• Conceptual Design Plans
• Exterior and Interior Computer Renderings
• Material List Calculations
• And so much more...

All plans are designed to comply with IRC codes for a quick, no hassle approval process. We recommend all plans be reviewed by a professional engineer and can have our engineer review and approve any plan.

From small changes to full plan development, I provide a full range of services. I will work with you first to determine the best course of action and then complete the project based on your approval.

From contemporary to the time-honored styles, we'll create outstanding design for building, remodeling, and decorating.

Located in Central Pennsylvania, I am able to work directly with many local builders, designers, and private clients as well as offer the same quality services to contractors, builders, and homeowners all across the country.

See How To Get Started on your Design to learn about the Selah Design process.

Custom Kitchen and Bath Designs

Following are four kitchen and bath design projects



A custom vanity for a master suite bathroom.









Bath vanity.







Kitchen remodel project.








Powder Room remodel project

Model Home Plan Design

Here are front renderings for two ranch houses I recently designed.

The first is a small 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath house.

The second is a large 4 bedroom 3 bath 3000+ sq.ft. ranch home.

Custom Deck Design - Outdoor Living

The following is a deck addition I was contracted to design.

The design/build process is as follows:

• I meet with the client and we discuss their vision for what they would like to accomplish in the new outdoor living areas.
• Based on their ideas, I derive an estimate for the design project. This includes conceptual designs and detailed construction documents for permits and for the contractors to build the project.
• Once we agree on design concept, I create the construction documents.
• Once construction documents are ready, the client submits for their permit, finds their contractor, and work begins.

The existing house and deck:

My Design Proposal: I create a virtual model of the house and the new outdoor living area and present a "photo" rendering to the client as well as 2D plans.

The finished project:

Outdoor Grilling Center Designs

I have designed a few outdoor grilling centers for clients.

Below I have selected some rendered views of my design models.

And, one more.

Computer Generated Video From a 3D Model

The following is a video that was created from a Chief Architect model. I made the model entirely in Chief V10. The individual that made the video took my model into X1 and exported the model as a 3dS file into Artlantis.

I think this all turned out quite nice.

I however, do not do videos myself. I am able to do low quality videos using Chief Architect X1 but don't do them very often.

Church of Christian Compassion; Philadelphia, PA

Commercial Design Projects

Below are a few commercial projects I have worked on.


Feed My Sheep Ministries, Halifax PA
to begin construction in 2010

Church of Christian Compassion; Philadelphia, PA

DAESHA Youth Center; Tucson, AZ

Small mercantile mall; near Philadelphia, PA

Custom Deck Designs and Additions

Following are some deck projects, and some additions.

Deck addition in Virginia

Sunroom addition in Harrisburg, PA

Garage proposal