Philosophy:

There is no doubt that the most important home in the world is yours. Elster relishes the challenge of designing to that high ideal and the very personal journey that client and architect embark on together. On the way, Elster carefully probes the client’s requirements, wants, and needs and those aspects that separate their current and their preferred lifestyle. It is through that journey and the incorporation of these elements that he makes the home truly become yours. With his refined detailed approach, designing your own custom home should be one of the most positive experiences of your life.

Process:

Elster finds that it is relatively easy to satisfy the typical short list of big ideas every client presents — it is all the layers of little things and the numerous details that distinguish the best designs and often present the bigger challenges — solving both simultaneously is what leads to the homes his clients cherish.

Professional Development:

From the beginning, Elster's vision has led the firm to achieve ever higher standards of design, both technically and aesthetically, while simultaneously fostering ever better communication with our consultants, clients and the contractors we collaborate with. By setting an ever-higher bar for himself and his colleagues, AOME has earned a reputation for relentlessly striving for excellence. Over time Elster’s role in the firm emerged as its managing director, leading the firm toward future expansion and growing prominence in the design community.

Personal:

Ultimately, Elster simply enjoys applying his artful eye and inquisitive mind to the creative process and the discoveries that come with each unique project and client. Producing pleasant surprises, uncovering opportunities, solving problems, reassuring and guiding his clients through the potentially intimidating process of designing and building a custom home, while inspiring all the myriad people who will collaborate with him to do better than they’ve done before — all of these aspects and more continue to stir his passion for residential design. 

When not working, Elster enjoys spending time with family and friends, actively volunteering in the community, and doing things for others. He has numerous hobbies and interests including photography, book making, woodworking, painting and sketching, model ship building, railroad modeling, mineralogy, gardening, mountain climbing, biking, history, movie making, magic performance and teaching, and — very occasionally — sitting around and doing nothing! He takes time each day to celebrate the moments that happen while pursuing all of the above with family, friends and peers alike.

Interesting Personal Projects:

Elster occasionally engages in interesting design and construction projects outside of his professional life, both large and small scale. For example, he built a timber framed roof for his brother, and also works on an on-going kinetic architecture project involving a secret compartment within a fireplace mantle in his own home.