Home-design firm opens showroom on Taylor

The evoDOMUS team: Mike Farinacci, Robyn Holman, Rob Shearer, Michelle Kolbe, Alexander Kolbe and Mary Gut.

“We chose to be here because we love Cleveland Heights. It's the perfect microcosm," explained Alexander Kolbe, co-founder of evoDOMUS, the contemporary design firm that has established roots on South Taylor Road.

Kolbe and his wife, Michelle, met while designing high-end pre-fabricated homes in Berlin. After some years spent doing the same in England, the couple decided to move to Ohio, where Michelle had spent her childhood. Having visited several times a year while living abroad, the couple knew that this was their favorite corner of the United States. Kolbe cited “the friendliness of the people, the laid-back nature, the picturesque neighborhoods, and the vibrant merchant districts” as part of the Heights’ charm.

With kids at Ruffing and a century home a mile away, the former site of Taylor Road Discount store was an ideal home for evoDOMUS when the firm outgrew its office on Cleveland’s West Side. “We had astounding support from the city,” said Kolbe, adding that he would encourage other business owners to choose Cleveland Heights.

The firm loves that passersby have been intrigued by the renovation of the retail space, which now serves as an exemplar of the sleek beauty that sustainable, energy-efficient building supplies can create.

“We always built and designed pre-fab, energy-efficient homes,” explained Kolbe, citing the reliability of materials created in a controlled environment with reliable team members—key strategies for custom building. All of the offered materials have been curated by evoDOMUS, with an emphasis on durability, sustainability and beauty. This “high-end approach to energy efficiency” translates to features such as super-insulated walls to reduce heating costs, triple-glazed German windows, and heat pump fueling technology.

The irony of a custom-builder setting up shop in Cleveland Heights—a city comprised predominantly of century homes—is not lost on Kolbe. Most evoDOMUS customers are not local—they are homeowners who are looking to build from scratch their dream homes; they want something crisp and sustainable. Kolbe said that most customers have done extensive research before finding evoDOMUS, noting, “The people we build for are seeking exactly this.” 

The Kolbes and partner Mike Farinacci travel to work sites nationwide for construction management, but projects also require that clients come to Cleveland Heights for two days to select all of the items that will go into their homes. Because of the nature of the materials and the significance of the project, it is essential that customers choose in-person—that they touch and feel the materials directly. “It helps people enjoy the journey,” said Kolbe, sharing his affection for the process.

The two days in Greater Cleveland enables Kolbe to showcase the city he loves so much. Incorporating the beautiful drive from the airport, meals at amazing restaurants, and time at the art museum, Kolbe masterfully crafts a visit that enchants newcomers as they make their architectural dreams a reality.

Located at 2176 S. Taylor Road, evoDOMUS welcomes walk-ins. To learn more, visit www.evodomus.com.

Shari Nacson

Mostly a mom, Shari Nacson, LISW-S, is a freelance editor, child development specialist, and nonprofit consultant who makes her home in Cleveland Heights. More than anything, Nacson is inspired by kids and adults who build connection through kindness.

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Volume 11, Issue 7, Posted 5:00 PM, 06.28.2018