Builder - ArtistDan Elliott . . . The Builder - Dan Elliott . . . The Artist
Have you ever walked into an old estate home and said, "They don't build them like this anymore?"
From the huge welcoming entry throughout the home you marveled at the luxurious use of wood trims, the solid walls and leaded windows. It was a time when home builders were true craftsmen. Every detail was well thought out and executed. A time when homes were built especially for the needs of the people who were going to live in them.
These qualities are not a thing of the past with Dan Elliott. He has built his business on the principle that every home should be a castle and each one should be unique.
Dan begins each home with the clients and a blank sheet of paper. They work side by side, to develop a floor plan that will fit the needs and desires of the client to a tee. Does the client need lots of space for entertaining? What kind of gatherings do they host? Do they have high-pressure jobs that would make a peaceful, relaxing "getaway" master suite enjoyable. How many children do they have (or plan to have)? What kinds of family areas would they like? Should the master suite be located away from the children's areas? Are they gourmet cooks? Do they like lots of windows? What kinds of furnishings do they like?
Do they need a home office? These are only a few questions Dan asks of his clients before he begins to draw their plans.
"No two houses are alike," says Dan, "because no two families are alike. Each one has their own preferences, needs and lifestyle. I want to make sure their home reflects their personality. I want them to be as proud of their new home as I am... and I'm very proud of my work.
"I will also work closely with their interior decorators. Many times the choice of colors and furnishings will determine other things, like countertops and cabinets. Even the type of crown molding can be determined by knowing how a room will be decorated."
Once the floor plan is finalized, Dan goes to work on the exterior design. Here again, no two homes look alike from the outside. Many of the answers to the questions Dan asks his clients are put to use here, too. "If the client entertains outdoors, this suggests screened in porches, decks, a spa and maybe a pool," says Dan. "I want to know if they like stone, brick, cedar or redwood and their color preferences. Then I can design the exterior."
Of course, the lot also plays a part in the design of the home. Dan's background in civil engineering enables him to plan the excavating of the land, if needed, and design the supporting structure to minimize settling of the home. "That's an extremely important part of the designing," adds Dan. "Especially on some of the lots on Geist when the raw land appears to drop straight down to the water. But we've built the homes and even created a level back yard where there was none. I'll work with the client's landscaper, too. Often times, a type of landscaping will decide things like the angle of a driveway."
Once all the plans are approved by the client, Dan starts the real work of art. Each piece of material that goes into an Elliott home is carefully examined by Dan or his superintendent. One of them is also on the job site each day during construction to make sure every detail is carried out. Only the finest materials go into an Elliott home. "If a client wants a certain kind of wood trim, for example, or a hard-to-find imported tile, we'll find it for them. We want to give them exactly what they want," assures Dan. "Once we had to design a great room around a 1905 solid wood bar. The rest of the room had to blend in so the bar would be the focal point. We did it! It looks absolutely beautiful!"
Dan Elliott has had 33 years of experience. Ten of those years were in civil engineering. Since then, Dan has been designing and building luxury homes. Dan has built homes in all over the greater Indianapolis area.
A northsider all his life, Dan Elliott's office is located in Castleton in a 75-year-old home which he has remodeled with many of the features he uses in his new homes.
Dan Elliott is truly a fine craftsman ... an artist... and every home he builds is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
Have you ever walked into an old estate home and said, "They don't build them like this anymore?"
From the huge welcoming entry throughout the home you marveled at the luxurious use of wood trims, the solid walls and leaded windows. It was a time when home builders were true craftsmen. Every detail was well thought out and executed. A time when homes were built especially for the needs of the people who were going to live in them.
These qualities are not a thing of the past with Dan Elliott. He has built his business on the principle that every home should be a castle and each one should be unique.
Dan begins each home with the clients and a blank sheet of paper. They work side by side, to develop a floor plan that will fit the needs and desires of the client to a tee. Does the client need lots of space for entertaining? What kind of gatherings do they host? Do they have high-pressure jobs that would make a peaceful, relaxing "getaway" master suite enjoyable. How many children do they have (or plan to have)? What kinds of family areas would they like? Should the master suite be located away from the children's areas? Are they gourmet cooks? Do they like lots of windows? What kinds of furnishings do they like?
Do they need a home office? These are only a few questions Dan asks of his clients before he begins to draw their plans.
"No two houses are alike," says Dan, "because no two families are alike. Each one has their own preferences, needs and lifestyle. I want to make sure their home reflects their personality. I want them to be as proud of their new home as I am... and I'm very proud of my work.
"I will also work closely with their interior decorators. Many times the choice of colors and furnishings will determine other things, like countertops and cabinets. Even the type of crown molding can be determined by knowing how a room will be decorated."
Once the floor plan is finalized, Dan goes to work on the exterior design. Here again, no two homes look alike from the outside. Many of the answers to the questions Dan asks his clients are put to use here, too. "If the client entertains outdoors, this suggests screened in porches, decks, a spa and maybe a pool," says Dan. "I want to know if they like stone, brick, cedar or redwood and their color preferences. Then I can design the exterior."
Of course, the lot also plays a part in the design of the home. Dan's background in civil engineering enables him to plan the excavating of the land, if needed, and design the supporting structure to minimize settling of the home. "That's an extremely important part of the designing," adds Dan. "Especially on some of the lots on Geist when the raw land appears to drop straight down to the water. But we've built the homes and even created a level back yard where there was none. I'll work with the client's landscaper, too. Often times, a type of landscaping will decide things like the angle of a driveway."
Once all the plans are approved by the client, Dan starts the real work of art. Each piece of material that goes into an Elliott home is carefully examined by Dan or his superintendent. One of them is also on the job site each day during construction to make sure every detail is carried out. Only the finest materials go into an Elliott home. "If a client wants a certain kind of wood trim, for example, or a hard-to-find imported tile, we'll find it for them. We want to give them exactly what they want," assures Dan. "Once we had to design a great room around a 1905 solid wood bar. The rest of the room had to blend in so the bar would be the focal point. We did it! It looks absolutely beautiful!"
Dan Elliott has had 33 years of experience. Ten of those years were in civil engineering. Since then, Dan has been designing and building luxury homes. Dan has built homes in all over the greater Indianapolis area.
A northsider all his life, Dan Elliott's office is located in Castleton in a 75-year-old home which he has remodeled with many of the features he uses in his new homes.
Dan Elliott is truly a fine craftsman ... an artist... and every home he builds is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.