ER Home

The Man Behind the Name, the Gift, and the Journey by Melissa LaSaleia For interior design maven and the owner of ER Home LLC, Eric Richards, creativity and a drive for excellence have always come naturally. “In design school my teachers were blown away by my proficiency and I was too,” Eric says. “How I got this gift, I don’t know, but I’m grateful I have it and I don’t take it for granted.” That gift launched him on a path as a designer and into a richness of life experiences he never could have imagined. Over the last thirty-odd years of his career, Eric has undertaken projects for multi-billion dollar corporations; Luxury Living magazine; as well as numerous private homes coast to coast and along the Grand Strand. He also birthed his company, ER Home LLC. “Interior design is not as much about decorating as people believe,” Eric explains. “It’s about form and function; configuring and utilizing a space to achieve a certain lifestyle and feeling depending on how people interact with their home and with one another in it.” But to get to that point, a lot of work has to be done in terms of architectural construction and installation. He sees architecture— including plumbing, hardware, electrical fixtures, and flooring— as an integral component of interior design. He learned all the skills he considers essential for his creation process, and, with his team at ER Home, works as an all-inclusive, multi-talented, and licensed contractor. He completes tasks such as: painting; wallpapering; tile work; custom furniture design and building; refurbishment; carpentry; kitchen and bath remodeling; electrical; plumbing; and decorating. ER Home is proficient in green construction and building practices, as well as feng shui— the latter, a technique which Eric was already employing intuitively in his designs without realizing it. Nevertheless, he spent six months of study in San Francisco to gain a deeper understanding and confidence in the art. For Eric, interior design is a highly individual and joyful process for each and every client— as well as a fluid and constantly evolving one. “The longer you’re personally in the home and around the clients,” he says, “the more they all speak to you. So the different layers will change throughout the process. There’s a psychology about working with clients and with design— you have to use it to fuse many different styles together.” This may seem like an overwhelming task, but early in life, Eric chose to live by a mantra that has guided him ever since, and which he attributes to one of the hallmarks of his success: “There are no problems, only solutions.” “With all of my experience, I still learn something new every day,” he says. Eric views every challenge he’s faced as an opportunity to think outside the box and reach new heights in his depth both as a person as well as a designer. Since he began, his talent has grown in the scope, sophistication, and nuance of what he is able to achieve, no matter the size or budget of his project. “As my business has grown, my reputation has too, and it’s given me the opportunity to be more creative and more grateful than I ever thought I could be,” he says. “I’m confident in my gift, but I’m humbled I’m the man it was gifted to. My cup truly runneth over; I have incredible clients and friends, and I spend my days doing what I love, making a difference in other people’s lives. “Confucius said, ‘If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.’ And that’s my reality. I’m just so grateful for my life every day, no matter the challenge.” Call Us Website Facebook

The ER Home $5000 Room Makeover Prize-Winning Story by Melissa LaScaleia Interior designer: in·te·ri·or de·sign·er (noun): Someone who solves a problem you didn’t know you had in a way you don’t understand. (See also, wizard, magician.)  This is how Eric Richards, the mastermind behind ER Home most aptly defines what he does. And he’s well equipped to do so.  Eric has been a designer for thirty years and has created a company that is a one-stop-shop for any and all home refurbishment needs. His impressive skillset includes: painting, wallpapering, flooring, tile work, custom furniture design and building, refurbishment, carpentry, kitchen remodeling, electrical, plumbing, decorating, and feng shui.  For more than half of his career, Eric has been traveling the country executing design projects small and large. He completed the redesign for two medical facilities in Philadelphia; and for several years he was the designer for Lowes Motor Speedway, a multi-billion dollar racetrack venue in Charlotte in which he designed their five-star restaurant, glassed-in penthouse suites, ballrooms, meeting rooms, and boardrooms.  Luxury Living magazine featured him in their Christmas-design edition, for which Eric decorated his sprawling seventeen-room house from top to bottom in August. Eric’s success isn’t just due to his inherent talent and skills, it’s also thanks to the thoughtful way he works with his clients. He takes a lot of time to understand their needs, to make the design make sense for their lifestyle.  In May, ER Home, in partnership with the Coastal Insider and Real Living Home Realty Group, ran a contest in which one lucky winner would receive a $5000 room makeover for any one room in their house, completely free. All contestants in Horry County were eligible, and no room was off limits.  “I have been so blessed with so many wonderful clients over the years that to be able to give back to someone that would not request it and feel their joy and gratitude is just phenomenal,” Eric says.  Eric and a small panel of judges from the Coastal Insider and Real Living Home Realty Group reviewed the submissions and decided on the winner collectively. There was no specific criteria to be met for the contest; all factors were taken into consideration— greatest need, greatest desire, most moving entry.  Before: the Copley’s plain bedroom. The winners, John and Michelle Copley, live in Emmen’s Preserve in the Market Common; they were notified on July 27, and Eric reached out to them soon afterwards to learn about their vision and how he could make some magic for them.  The couple had recently purchased the house, and their daughter Chelsea entered their submission. In it, she spoke about how in growing up, her parents had always put her and her sister’s needs before their own, allocating all available resources to support their passion for playing sports.  At their house in Ohio, where John and Michelle raised their family, their master bedroom remained unfinished— as the couple always found it more important to spend on their family, any money that would otherwise have gone to the room’s redesign.  The couple’s dream was to retire in Myrtle Beach, but Michelle was able to secure a transfer for her job in the area, and the two moved earlier than they had hoped. With the current escalation in home prices, once again, any hope of a redesign for the master bedroom had to be put on hold. Chelsea was hopeful of having her parents receive a master bedroom redo as a present for well-meaning parents who had sacrificed for their family all of their lives.  “They are a wonderful family,” Eric says in speaking about the winners. “These are parents who were so selfless all their lives— they never did a lot for themselves. It was all about their church, daughters and community, and it feels nice to do something for them.”  The day the contest winner was announced, Michelle and her youngest daughter, Hunter, were at Crepe Creations Cafe.  “Chelsea was working that day, and she told us to make sure we watched Facebook for the announcement,” Michelle says. “So we did, and that’s how we found out we had won. We were shocked. Chelsea didn’t find out until later in the day.”  After: Eric made magic with calming coastal colors. Michelle and John had just moved into their forever home in the Market Common the day before they won the contest. So they had a chance to settle into their new home with the pleasure and anticipation of having a master bedroom customized just for them.  “I didn’t have a vision,” Michelle says. “I just knew I wanted it to be beautiful so that when you walk in, you say, ‘Wow.’ Eric was absolutely wonderful to work with. He met with us as a family and got an idea of what we’re like and what our tastes are. And then he just did his thing. From the time he started until he finished I didn’t see anything. It was a complete surprise.”  “I did have a little anxiety,” she admits with a laugh. “But it wasn’t because I was worried I wasn’t going to like what it looked like; it was more of a natural anxiety of the unknown, of not really being in control.”  Eric completed his renovations and the big reveal came on Friday, September 10. John was out of town and surprised Michelle by showing up just in time to share the first glimpse with her.  “My initial impression was, ‘Oh my goodness! I can’t believe I’m living in something so beautiful!’ It looks like something out of a magazine. I never could have done what Eric did. And to be honest, my husband and I probably would have made do with what we had.”  Eric painted the room sea salt— a light blueish green color. He changed the furniture to white, and incorporated art work, lamps, and accent pieces to give it a homey, welcoming feel.  “There’s not one thing I regret about our … Read more

Eric Richards, artist, visionary, and owner of ER Home, LLC has a vision for each home he works in, and he implements that vision from beginning to end, working as an all-inclusive, multi-talented contractor.

Affordable Interior Design That Makes a House Your Home by Melissa LaScaleia ER Home LLC is an innovative interior design company owned and operated by Eric Richards. The Insider caught up with Connie and Jim Allcorn, recent clients of ER Home, to get a firsthand perspective on what it’s like to be on the receiving end of his talents and skills. The couple relocated to Myrtle Beach several years ago, and bought a house in the Market Common where they live with their dog, Maxie. The brand new home didn’t feel personal to Connie, and she felt like she was living in her past with a lot of antique furniture. She decided to enlist the aid of ER Home after seeing the advertisement month-to-month in the Insider and hearing rave reviews from neighbors. Connie shares her experience: “One of the things that really struck and impressed me about Eric was the quality and variety of his initial questions. “He asked me: how much involvement did I want to have in the process? Did I want to go shopping with him? He came over, walked through my house, and asked me what my prized possessions were that I didn’t want to part with. He spent time with my husband and I to get an understanding of how we spend time in our space; the colors that I like; and what it is I really wanted. It’s only once he gets to know you that he makes recommendations about what he thinks you should get rid of. “He asked me what my budget was and what I was looking to spend for what I wanted. And he really worked to stay within that budget while giving me what I wanted. He’s very good because he has the knowledge to understand how much things cost, and can forecast if there could be a problem ahead of time, so you can reorganize your plans and budget if need be. “Unlike a lot of other designers who come in and say this is what I can do, trying to get you to tailor your wants to their vision, he really does try to get a feel for his customers, and took a lot of time to understand our needs. To make the design make sense for our lifestyle, he came up with ideas that I never would have imagined and created space where it seemed previously there was none. “Initially, I told him to come up with a plan for one room, and determined that if I liked it, I’d move forward with the rest of the house. My husband and I left town while he was working, and when we got back, we were blown away by what he had done to make it more functional. I was amazed that somebody could do what he did. Most people contract out, but he did the majority of the work himself, which really impressed me. “He told me to take a couple of days and see if there was something I wanted changed. But we were happy as larks, and scheduled him to do the entire house. Once Eric gets started on a job, he takes everything down himself and packs it for you, so that there’s very little work on your part as the customer. “He redid our entire 4 bedroom 3 bath house in two weeks. He put in new flooring in the master bedroom, painted everything, and outfitted all the rooms with new furniture. He turned a bedroom upstairs into the antique room, solving my problem of not wanting to part with my family heirlooms, but not wanting them throughout my entire house. It flows beautifully with the rest of the design. “I also appreciated that he imparted his experience about the design process in general to help me make more savvy decisions. He shared that most people get tired of their design scheme within 5-7 years and want to change things, so he recommended that we not overspend on particular items. He helped to guide me on things. “He really does try to work with you in the most thoughtful of ways. When my husband and I both got sick, and then I had to have surgery, Eric moved his schedule around and juggled things to accommodate my new needs. “He came back in December and decorated for the Christmas holiday. He has so much fun doing what he does and it shows. It was absolutely amazing. I was like a kid in a candy store not knowing what to touch first. “Right after the holiday, I had him come in and redesign my garage. He took down the shelves that came with the house and rebuilt them, and arranged how things were; we were amazed at how he utilized the space so we knew where everything was. At some point, I’ll have him redesign our laundry room. “When my neighbors came and saw, they were totally blown away and amazed by what he had done. “I took a liking to Eric because I didn’t feel like he was a phoney or outrageously priced. And coming from Atlanta where I lived for forty years, that was my previous experience. At this point in my life, I want comfort— I want when I sit in a room to like it and feel comfortable. And since I’m new here, I don’t know where to go to find what I want. Having someone who knows where to go makes a world of difference. He made our house a home. I can’t recommend Eric highly enough.” Eric has always been passionate about the creative process. In college he studied furniture design but when he took courses in interior design, he captivated his teachers with the artistry of his visions. He followed his natural talents to pursue a career in interior design, and to round out his skills, obtained full knowledge in construction— a skill he considers essential for his creation process. With his company, ER … Read more

We Have No Problems— Only Solutions by Melissa LaScaleia Eric Richards has always been passionate about being creative. He attended college interested in learning the craft of furniture building, but where he really excelled was in the realm of interior design.  “My teachers were blown away by my proficiency and I was too,” he says. “It just came naturally. How I got this gift, I don’t know, but I’m grateful I have it and I don’t take it for granted.”  He also obtained his general contracting license and became certified in green construction and green building practices— skills essential for his creation process. Eric sees architecture— including plumbing, hardware, electrical fixtures, and flooring— as integral components of interior design.  When he began his own business, ER Home LLC, he decided to combine both the services of interior design and general contracting.  “Interior design is not as much about decorating as people believe,” he explains. “It’s about form and function— configuring a space and utilizing a space. But to get to that point, a lot of work has to be done in terms of architectural construction— the installation of things. I love doing those things.”  Eric has a vision for the home, and ER Home implements that vision from beginning to end working as an all-inclusive, multi-talented contractor. He and his team complete painting; wallpapering; flooring; tile work; custom furniture design and building; refurbishment; carpentry; kitchen remodeling; electrical and plumbing work; and decorating. If there’s something they don’t feel comfortable doing, they’ll pull from their library of qualified professionals to accomplish the job.  “People don’t have time to wait around for multiple contractors to get things done in a home,” Eric says. “So we pride ourselves on being able to give an expedited face-lift, if you will. Most of our clients are completed in a week to three weeks maximum, beginning to end.”  Additionally, Eric spent six months in San Francisco studying with a feng shui master.  “I was already implementing many of the feng shui practices in my designs for ER Home without being able to define them as such,” he explains. “Then, in the ’90s, when feng shui became more popular, I recognized how my own designs mirrored much of that discipline, and decided to learn from a master.  Those studies gave me a confident understanding of the choices I was making. They allowed me to elaborate my visions and give my clients things they didn’t even know they wanted. It’s nothing I question now, it’s just second nature in how I design a space.  “We as humans think we see with our direct eye, but we actually see more with our peripheral vision. When we’re in nature, there’s a natural flow to it— that’s why you feel soothed. This same peripheral flow that exists in nature, I try to replicate in the home. Coming from the outside to inside and seeing a drastic change will confuse the eye.”  ER Home approaches interior design as a process that unfolds.  “The longer you’re personally in the home and around the clients,” he says, “the more they all speak to you. So the different layers will change throughout the process. Because of this, I don’t provide drafts or even sketches. There’s a psychology about working with clients and with design— you have to be able to use psychology to marry many different styles together— of husbands and wives, or partners.”  “My job is to take a client’s vision if they have one, improve it, expand it, and excel with it beyond what they can see in their minds,” he says in speaking more about the ER Home approach. “Most of my clients though, will come in and see something I’ve done, and say, ‘This is what I like, this is my budget, have at it.’” A lot of people have the idea that interior design is extremely costly. But Eric is a firm believer that in today’s market, beautiful things are readily available at a low cost. He and his clients create a budget and stick to it as closely as possible.    “If somebody has a budget of $200, I will give them the maximum they can get for $200,” he says. “If they have a budget of $200,000, they’ll be treated the same exact way. It’s really not about the amount of money as much as it is about what the client wants and needs. My favorite phrase for life and work is: ‘we have no problems, we only have solutions.’  “That is my daily quote for work and life. And I love it when my clients adopt it for themselves and I begin to hear them utilizing it in their daily lives.”  His financial accessibility and varied skills make ER Home a popular choice for those in Myrtle Beach and beyond. In the Market Common alone, over the past 6-7 years, his company has redesigned 72 homes. Many people hire him to consult with them about design as they are building their home.  Eric has also spent more than half of his career traveling— executing projects in Maine, NY, Boston, California, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Texas, and Virginia. He completed the redesign for a Pulmonary Institute in Philadelphia last year, and just took on another medical facility in the same area.  For several years, he was the head designer for Lowes Motor Speedway, a multi-billion dollar racetrack venue in Charlotte, NC. Eric was responsible for designing their 5-star restaurant, glassed-in penthouse suites, ballrooms, meeting rooms, and boardrooms— and harmonizing all the spaces together.  Fifteen years ago, Luxury Living, a high-end magazine, caught wind of ER Home and Eric’s talents and wanted to feature him in their Christmas edition.   “I had to decorate my house from top to bottom completely for Christmas in August,” he says. “It was a very large seventeen room house. And I had nine Christmas trees. Every room had a different theme. I loved it so much it stayed up until February. It was absolutely beautiful, I will never forget. I was pulling pieces from thrift stores, department stores, from clients, friends, and family; these were the days before the internet. And it was really so much fun.”  … Read more