OUR WORK
Modern Farmhouse Custom Home in Ann Arbor
A family of six wanted room to gather, room to host, and a room of their own for every child.
THE STORY
What the homeowners wanted, and what we found.
WHAT THEY WANTED
After outgrowing their previous home, this family came to us wanting a house that was spacious and built around how they actually live. They host often, so they wanted plenty of places to entertain. And with four children, they wanted each child to have their own space, plus a living room of their own on the second floor.
WHAT WE FOUND
A ground-up build on an Ann Arbor lot, so nothing had to be worked around. The site, the plan and every finish could be shaped around the family: how they entertain, how four kids get ready in the morning, and how the parents carve out a retreat of their own.
HOW WE DESIGNED IT
We gave the parents a first-floor suite of their own, the “apartment,” and gave the kids the whole second floor.
THE INSPIRATION
Modern farmhouse outside: white board-and-batten, black windows and a stone base. Inside, an art deco note at the front door sets the tone, with black and white hexagonal tile and geometric wallpaper that carry the palette through the whole home.
THE PLAN
The first floor is open, with long views out to the main balcony. It also holds the primary suite the owners call “the apartment”: a primary bath with a large open shower and separate water closet, a walk-in closet, a coffee bar and its own laundry. The bedroom has a vaulted ceiling, an accent trim wall and direct access to the deck. Upstairs, each child has a bedroom, with a living room and study area at the top of the stairs, a second-floor laundry and a shared bath built so no one slows anyone down in the morning. The lower level is finished for entertaining, with a sliding door straight out to the patio.
THE OUTCOME
How it turned out
The family gathers on an open first floor that flows out to the balcony, the kids have the second floor to themselves, and the parents have the apartment. Downstairs is built for a crowd. The art deco entry sets the tone, and the stairway is ready for this year’s photo.
FINAL PHOTOS
The finished space.
AT A GLANCE
A Luxurious Custom Home for a Growing Family in Ann Arbor
A new whole-home custom build.
Ann Arbor, Michigan.
First-floor primary suite, four kids’ bedrooms and a second-floor living room, finished lower level, covered balcony with dual-sided fireplace, art deco entry.
THE FLOOR PLANS
The plan, floor by floor.
We gave the parents a first-floor suite of their own, the “apartment,” and gave the kids the whole second floor.
LOWER LEVEL
FIRST FLOOR
WHAT MAKES IT WORK
Three details that carry the design.
FEATURE 01
The stairway is the first thing you see from the mudroom, the family’s everyday entry. A wide path and wrap-around steps give it presence, and that was on purpose: the family wanted a spot for a photo on the stairs every year as the kids grow. Iron spindles and a handrail that seems to rise straight from the floor keep it clean and open.
FEATURE 02
The second-floor bath is shared by the daughters, so it was designed to move. Three sinks with storage, an enclosed lavatory and two separate showers mean three people can get ready at once. Geometric wallpaper and gold finishes keep it feeling elegant rather than institutional.
FEATURE 03
Time with family and friends happens outside as much as in. A large sliding door off the lower level opens to a stamped-concrete patio, with the same stone on the columns as on the front of the house. Upstairs, the balcony has a dual-sided fireplace shared with the living room and doors from both the main living area and the primary bedroom, with part of the deck covered for shelter.
THE PROJECT
A Luxurious Custom Home for a Growing Family in Ann Arbor
AT A GLANCE
A new whole-home custom build.
Ann Arbor, Michigan.
First-floor primary suite, four kids’ bedrooms and a second-floor living room, finished lower level, covered balcony with dual-sided fireplace, art deco entry.
THE STORY
After outgrowing their previous home, this family came to us wanting a house that was spacious and built around how they actually live. They host often, so they wanted plenty of places to entertain. And with four children, they wanted each child to have their own space, plus a living room of their own on the second floor.
HOW WE DESIGNED IT
The first floor is open, with long views out to the main balcony. It also holds the primary suite the owners call “the apartment”: a primary bath with a large open shower and separate water closet, a walk-in closet, a coffee bar and its own laundry. The bedroom has a vaulted ceiling, an accent trim wall and direct access to the deck. Upstairs, each child has a bedroom, with a living room and study area at the top of the stairs, a second-floor laundry and a shared bath built so no one slows anyone down in the morning. The lower level is finished for entertaining, with a sliding door straight out to the patio.
