February 26 was a big night for Compelling Homes and their Founder, Rusty Green.
Rusty was honored with the inaugural dsm Home Design Professional of the Year award. As part of the annual dsm Home Design Awards ceremony at the Krause Gateway Center in Des Moines, the Home Design Professional of the Year award recognizes innovation, craftsmanship, and leadership in the home design industry across Central Iowa.
For those of us who work with Rusty every day, there’s no doubt that he’s extremely deserving of this award. We see firsthand everything that he does for his clients and for Compelling Homes, and we couldn't be prouder that he was recognized for his leadership and accomplishments in our industry.
The dsm Home Design Professional of the Year award looks at the big picture, drawing on client testimonials, peer recognition, and a body of work built over time. For Rusty, that's 30-plus years in the trades and nearly two decades running Compelling Homes.
If you've worked with Compelling Homes, you already know how Rusty approaches a project. He shows up, he asks a lot of questions, and he pays close attention to how your family actually uses your home. All of his design decisions are downstream from the core principle of truly listening to clients.
One homeowner put it this way in their nomination: "People think we're nuts when we say we actually enjoyed a remodel project—but with Rusty, the experience set a new standard for customer service across any industry." The team never get tired of hearing that.
The dsm award is the latest in a string of honors for the Compelling Homes team, and it feels like a good time to look back at where it all started.
In 2000, Rusty won a gold medal at the National Craft Olympics as a carpenter, taking home this major prize from a national championship organized by the Associated Builders and Contractors.
That expert craftsmanship laid the foundation for further development as a remodeler who offers innovative and tailored design solutions for homeowners. Over time, recognition has kept up with the evolution of Compelling Homes:
On multiple occasions, the Home Builders Association has also given Compelling Homes the “I Wish I Would Have Thought of That” award for creative design solutions. And if you know Rusty, that’s about the most fitting award out there.
But now, to top it off, Compelling Homes is proud to add the 2026 dsm Home Design Professional of the Year.
Awards are nice, but the feedback that means the most comes straight from the people you work with. Compelling Homes has dozens of five-star reviews on Google, and the things their clients write still blow us away.
Jordan Navara, after a recent basement remodel, wrote: "From the very first meeting, we knew this was the company to complete our basement remodel. The designers took the time to sit with us, listen carefully, and spent countless hours to make the best possible usage of our space a reality. Every personal interaction was thoughtful, warm, and genuine with everyone on their team." Jordan went on to mention the daily cleanup, the strict 8–5 timeframe so the crew never cut into family time, and the constant check-ins throughout the build. "I never had to worry, because I knew I was in the best hands possible."
Brad Conover put it simply: "Refreshing that there are still folks that do things the right way with a customer-first mindset."
Kelly Zelinsky trusted Compelling Homes enough to leave town for a couple of months while they completed her bathroom and closet remodel. And when she came back, she hired them again—this time for the kitchen.
That kind of feedback is what this incredible team works for every day, and we love seeing the impact Compelling Home's work has on friends and neighbors in this region.
Rusty would be the first to tell you that an award like this doesn't happen because of one person. The designers, project managers, site supers, carpenters, and office team all play a part in creating a top-flight experience for clients. And Denise, who runs operations and has built out much of the business alongside Rusty, deserves a huge share of the credit.
Above all, this award belongs to Compelling Home's clients. You trust Rusty and his team with your homes and your families' daily lives. That trust is what makes the work possible, and what makes it worth doing.
Rusty's design philosophy has always been simple:
Design is personal. Function creates freedom. Craftsmanship matters.
Day in and day out, Compelling Homes keep building on that.
If you're thinking about a remodeling project in the Des Moines metro, the team would love to hear from you. Visit https://www.compellinghomes.com/contact today to schedule a consultation.