.

OUR INTRODUCTION.

Most people will never have the opportunity to build a home in their lifetime and for those who do, it’s often their first time. The first time working with an architect, the first hiring a builder, the first time dealing with construction terminology and the first time attempting to translate abstract dreams and goals into a physical form. Adding to the uncertainty, building a home is often the largest financial investment a person will ever make and because it’s frequently the realization of a lifelong dream, it’s a deeply emotional investment as well. Just starting the process can seem daunting.

But if you trust us, we can help.

If I have learned anything in my twenty-five years in this profession, the one factor which most accurately predicts the success of any given project, is the client/architect relationship. A good partnership will almost inevitably result in something special, whereas the wrong fit can result in frustration from all involved. And the only way to determine whether we are the right fit is to start the conversation.

The first home I ever designed was a disaster…the floor plan was disjointed, the exterior was lacking cohesion and the construction detailing was poor…describing it as a trainwreck might be too generous. But that was over thirty years ago in a high school drafting class.

Since then, I’ve dedicated my life to this profession. Six years of formal design education followed by a decade in Boston, working with and learning from some of the most talented architects in the country, before returning home to Michigan. Add in another twelve years of lessons learned designing homes along the shores of Lake Michigan and other stunning Northern Michigan landscapes and I think I’ve started to figure out this whole architecture thing.

My role now is to act as a guide to clients who are looking to turn a lifelong dream into reality and being there to help lead them every step along the way.

This introduction is intended to help explain why we do, what we do, and how we do it. Every architect has a design philosophy and process. This is ours. Take your time to review it and when you are done the only question is Do you trust us to get you there?