Richard Laughlin’s Texas Hill Country roots run deep. The Fredericksburg-based designer and builder has lived there since he was 12, and can trace his local family ties back four generations. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who were both commercial contractors, Laughlin apprenticed with a carpenter just after he graduated from high school. He caught the building and designing bug, and he’s never looked back.
His strong connection to the region shows in his carefully thought-out projects. They often feature stone and wood salvaged from old barns and houses in Fredericksburg, which was originally settled by German immigrants in the 1840s. About 20 percent of his work consists of historic preservation and restoration. “I got into restoration because of the nature of the area,” he says. “And being a small company, you have to be diversified.”
Laughlin designs about 90 percent of the projects he builds. He begins the process by asking his clients to list the 10 things they desire most in a house. “It helps them figure out what they want,” he says. “A lot of the time, when it’s a couple, they don’t know what the other is thinking.” Then he moves on to free-hand sketching, usually with the clients looking over his shoulder. “I do a lot of brainstorming with the client,” he says. Finally he shifts the design process to the computer, where he uses Chief Architect software because of its 3-D capability. He also personally does all material and finish selections with the clients. “I try to be hands-on,” he says. “Design is my passion.” Luckily, he has veteran foreman Douglas Grona to help him oversee construction, freeing up more time for design.
Laughlin Homes & Restoration, Fredericksburg, Texas
www.hillcountrybuilder.com
Type of business: design/build
Years in business: 21
Employees: 12
2004 volume: $2 million
2004 starts: 10
