Sophisticated Living – Jan/Feb 2012

"The gardens are absolutely legendary," said interior designer John Harrison of DIGS when describing the 1920s-era Hyde Park home of his longtime friends and clients. Equal parts urban and Eden, the premises boasts an enviable level of privacy, courtesy of its placement on a bluff, and carefully manicured grounds dotted with majestic specimen trees. Harrison's involvement with the property spans nearly two decades, and he was ecstatic that for the most recent renovation and redesign his deft interior design skills were once again called upon in collaboration with architect Don Beck.

Each room is a repository of treasured items, often with an interesting provenance. In the dining room for example, the 19th century French chandelier was procured from a shop in New Orleans. "Hunting for period antiques of appropriate scale was a fun aspect of this project," said Harrison. Hangin above the sideboard is a mixed media piece by Judy Pfaff selected from the Carl Solway Gallery. Part of the wife's burgeoning collection of Majolica is found in the dining room, and Harrison remarked that she is prone to frequently rearrange their presentation. Drapery is ombré silk with heavy fringe. The deep windowsills are topped with granite to provide additional serving space. Read More (Article begins on page 18)

Sophisticated Living – Sept/Oct 2011

A conundrum often faced by historic home enthusiasts is how to preserve the historic integrity of their residence while making it conducive to standards of living in contemporary times. Such was the task for interior designer Brian Gibson of DIGS, who partnered with the owners of an important early 1800s riverfront home for a major renovation endeavor.

Now all but obscured from street view by a canopy of deciduous trees, including a majestic elm purported to be more than 100 years old, the facade of the estate-sized home constructed in the Federal style with Gothic and Greek Revival touches boasts a recessed two-story front porch defined by slender columns with Ionic capitals on the first floor and Corinthian capitals on the second; stone-trimmed, rose-colored brickwork; recessed windows with arched lintels and Georgian tracery; a Greek Revival wing with side-galleries; silver Masonic stars in stone panels; and a Grecian side entrance porch. Read More (Article begins on page 22)

Sophisticated Living – July/August 2011

"When I first met [the homeowners] 11 years ago, they were in a whole other design world; very traditional with prints of soldiers in tortoise shell frames," said interior designer John Harrison of DIGS. Quick to point out that he is not adverse to such inclinations, "a designer in Cincinnati can't have 'a look' or you'll be a pauper," he laughed. Nonetheless, as their friendship progressed, Harrison gradually introduced them to new ways of thinking about design.Read More (Article begins on page 24)

Sophisticated Living – March/April 2011

"I have a repuration as a monochromatic designer, but when I do use color, I enjoy making a statement," said interior designer JOhn Harrison, who brought his years of experience and training in New Zealand, Sydney, Australia, and London, England, to DIGS when he joined their staff of experts in October 2010. Case in point is a stylish unit in the Grassmoor where the design doyenne "stepped up the color ratio" to create a residence full of panache.

The spacious home is the result of combining three units in the Grassmoor, an elegant and classic pre-war blong brick and red barrel tile-roofed condo building oriented around a courtyard located at the corner of Madison Road and Vista Avenue in Hyde Park. According to Harrison, the building "has a lovely sense of period to it." He added that it was undoubtedly the premier address in the pre high-rise era. Read More (Article begins on page 76)

Sophisticated Living – September/October 2010

It is not unusual in highly desired neighborhoods to find countless examples of humble adobes that have fallen victim to renovations gone awry, which have nearly obliterated any semblance of historic character. Fortunately, this historic Hyde Park home has been spared such a fate.

While the yellow clapboard farmhouse with its classic combination of white trim and black shutters has been enlarged and renovated to suit the expectations of modern life, it still retains its old soul, now coaxed out a bit more by the deft styling of interior designer Brian Gibson of DIGS. Over the years the home has benefitted from several well-intentioned owners, including a hardwood floor proprietor in the 1920s, who laid the lovely herringbone pattern quartersawn oak throughout the first floor. There is little doubt that each of these wise decisions stem from referencing an oil painting of the home in its original state that has been passed along from owner to owner. Read More (Article begins on page 26)

Cincinnati Enquirer – Home & Style – Saturday February 13, 2010

Anyone who commutes past 2801 Erie – a contemporary condo development finished less than a year ago on the corner of Erie and Shaw avenues in Hyde Park – might wonder whether the modern elegance of the frosted glass balconies, cool gray stone and wood paneling carries inside to the 13 units. The answer is yes, and no.

Developed by Bloomfield/Schon+Partners, the project is LEED-certified and was designed by renowned architect Jose Garcia, who is known for his simple, modern designs and use of natural materials. As such, the U.S. Green Building Council's "green" requirements are artfully integrated throughout the poured-in-place concrete building. Read More

Better Homes and Gardens – February 2005

When Loris and David Wellinghoff purchased their small Craftsman bungalow, there was no doubt in Lori’s mind what color she would choose for the kitchen cabinets: bright chartreuse. “It was never a question,” says Lori, an interior designer and owner of DIGS, a Cincinnati-based design, real estates, and construction firm.

Such daring decisions come easily for a woman who has a long-established love affair with color—the stronger, the better. From her vivid green cabinets to her extensive collections of pottery and playful art, Lori has no fear when it comes to splashing color around her home. As she planned the palette, though, she also wanted to be sure the bold hues wouldn’t overshadow her favorite pieces of art. Her solution: Balance the bright hues with well-chosen neutrals on furnishings and surfaces. Read More

Cincinnati Enquirer – Business Section – September 30, 2005

The hassles and stresses of remodeling her own historic home here sparked a business idea for Lori Wellinghoff. After living through the process herself and creating the home of her dreams, she felt she could help others do it with fewer headaches and less anxiety.

Already a real estate agent with Comey & Shepherd, Wellinghoff brought together a partnership of designers, contractors and craftsmen to create DIGS, a full-service design and renovation firm that’s opening an office Monday off Hyde Park Square next to Beluga sushi restaurant. Read More

Design Magazine Cincinnati – February 2004

For many homeowners, color can be a guiding force. That’s certainly true for Hyde Park homeowners Lori and David. Lori absolutely adores shades of chartreuse—in her wardrobe and in her home. It started with a pottery collection: chartreuse, of course, but also limes, mints and soft yellow-greens in all shapes and sizes. Her love affair with green found its way into just about every room in the home. And eventually, she had to bring it into the kitchen too.

“I had a vision,” Lori says. Her and David’s 1915 Sears Craftsman Bungalow home (for which they were only the third owner) was in need of a remodel, and an odd-sized broken refrigerator became the impetus for reconfiguring the entire kitchen space. They knew they wanted a mix of concrete countertops (and this was in 1999, before they were all the rage) and stainless countertops, as well as a slate floor. But Lori also knew that the kitchen needed a real touch of daring, and it came in the form of apothecary-style chartreuse cabinets that reach all the way up to the ceiling with glass hardware. Read More

Hyde Park Living – June 2006

The Hyde Park Square Business Association has elected Lori Wellinghoff as its board president. She is joined by Co-Vice Presidents Margo Heubi (recent past president) of the Panhandler and Vince Bryant of Teller’s as well as new Secretary/Treasurer Chip Workman of Merchants Bank & Trust. They were installed at the Association’s Annual Meeting held in April at Teller’s, Hyde Park Square.

Wellinghoff, a realtor with Comey & Shepherd, is president and owner of DIGS, a full service real estate, design and renovation firm headquartered in Hyde Park Square at 3524 Edwards Road. Read More

Hyde Park Living – December 2005

DIGS, a full service real estate, design and renovation firm celebrated the grand opening of its offices on Hyde Park Square, 3524 Edwards Road with a fund-raising event for local arts organization Enjoy The Arts/START, the non-profit that connects people to the arts with its membership program and regular events. DIGS made a donation on behalf of its guests to the “20 Days & 20 Nights of Enjoying the Arts” Festival managed by Enjoy the Arts led by President, Lori Wellinghoff (who serves on the Enjoy the Arts board), DIGS is an alliance between veteran Real Estate agent Libby Mott of Comey & Shepherd Realtors, Interior Design gurus Brian Gibson and Garda Mann and a tightly-knit coalition of best-of-class tradespeople in disciplines including: architecture, construction, landscaping, woodworking, pools/fountains, audio/visual systems, custom fabrications, etc. Read More

Sophisticated Living – January/February 2009

The slogan of DIGS, a real estate, design and renovation firm based in Hyde Park, is “DIGS Does It.” A perfect case study evidencing the breadth and depth of their capabilities is an expansive Tudor-style home on a private lane in Hyde Park.

Long-time clients of DIGS interior designer Brian Gibson were looking to move from the outer suburbs back to the city in order to be closer to work and their children’s schools. No sooner had they mentioned their intentions than Brian found the perfect house. Though not officially on the market, Brian was familiar with the home and knew it was an exact match for his client’s needs. Read More

Sophisticated Living – September/October 2008

It takes a carefully trained eye to design interiors within the Tudor framework, lest the home appear too much as a period museum. A quick glance at the Gibsons’ CV certainly evidences them to possess ample knowledge for the undertaking. Brian is the director of interior design for DIGS in Hyde Park, a one-of-a-kind firm that offers real estate representation, interior design services, landscape architecture, and construction and renovation services all under one roof. While the core of their work is focused locally, they have also completed projects in Michigan, Rhode Island, Florida, North Carolina, Colorado and New Jersey. Due in large part to his involvement with the firm, DIGS is a silver sponsor of the 2008 Cincinnati Antiques Festival, scheduled for October 16-18. Read More

Spectacular Homes of Ohio & Pennsylvania

Inspired by the success of everything in one place businesses that provide a single source of convenience and quality to consumers, Lori Wellinghoff, a home service pioneer, founded DIGS: Real Estate/Design/Renovation. Lori’s signature one-stop-shop approach appeals to clients seeking an expert organization that offers everything necessary to make a client’s home dreams come true.

As President of DIGS, Lori Wellinghoff oversees all aspects of the company’s real estate representation, interior/exterior design and renovation practices. Lori is particularly adept in construction-related aspects of design including space-planning and selection of finish materials. To support her firm’s endeavors, Lori is joined by best-of-class professionals that fill positions critical to the success of DIGS, including some of the most renowned designers in Cincinnati. Read More