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Finding Your Home's Style — And Why It Matters More Than You Think

Style Is Personal — And That's the Point

When people start thinking about building a custom home, one of the first questions they ask is: what style? It's a natural starting point, but it can also feel overwhelming. Craftsman, Modern, Timber Frame, Tudor, Transitional, Farmhouse, Contemporary, Cottage — the options are endless, and most people are drawn to elements of more than one.

Here's what we've learned after decades of designing and building custom homes across West Michigan: the style of your home should come from you — from how you live, what moves you, and what feels like home when you walk through the door. It's not about picking from a menu. It's about discovering what resonates and building something that's authentically yours.

The Styles You'll See Most in West Michigan

West Michigan's landscape — lakefronts, wooded lots, rolling farmland, established neighborhoods — lends itself to a wide range of architectural styles. Here are some of the most popular, and what defines each one:

Craftsman

Rooted in the American Arts and Crafts movement, Craftsman homes feel grounded, warm, and enduring. Think low-pitched gable roofs with wide overhangs, tapered columns on stone piers, natural materials like cedar and stone, and interiors rich with built-in cabinetry and handcrafted detail. Craftsman homes age beautifully — the patina of real wood and stone only improves over decades. They translate well to lakefront settings, wooded lots, and established neighborhoods alike.

Modern

Modern homes emphasize clean geometry, open space, and a strong connection between indoors and out. Flat or low-slope rooflines, expansive glass, restrained material palettes, and open floor plans with minimal visual barriers define the style. Modern homes pair exceptionally well with lakefront lots where the view is the centerpiece and the home should frame it without competing. The simplicity of form can be deceiving — the precision required to make "simple" look effortless demands tight tolerances and careful detailing.

Timber Frame

Timber frame is both a style and a building method. Exposed post-and-beam structures — typically heavy Douglas fir, white oak, or cedar — become the defining design element. Soaring cathedral ceilings, open loft areas, and dramatic great rooms give these homes an unmistakable presence. They carry a strong sense of craft and permanence, and they excel on wooded lots and lakefront parcels where the home should feel like it belongs to the land.

Tudor

Tudor revival homes bring old-world character with steeply pitched rooflines, half-timber detailing, arched doorways, and a mix of stone, brick, and stucco. They feel stately without being stuffy, and they work particularly well on larger lots where the home's massing and roofline can make a statement. Tudor details — leaded glass, heavy wood doors, ornamental ironwork — reward close attention.

Transitional

Transitional style bridges traditional and contemporary, borrowing the warmth and texture of classic design while embracing the open floor plans and cleaner lines of modern living. It's one of the most versatile styles because it doesn't commit fully to either direction — a transitional home might have a Craftsman-inspired exterior with a modern open kitchen, or contemporary lines softened by warm wood and natural stone. For clients who feel pulled in two directions, transitional is often the answer.

Farmhouse

The modern farmhouse has evolved well beyond the trend — done well, it's a timeless approach that emphasizes simplicity, natural materials, and comfortable living. Board-and-batten siding, metal roofing, wide covered porches, and open kitchens anchored by large islands define the look. Farmhouse style feels especially at home on rural and countryside lots across West Michigan.

Most Custom Homes Blend Styles

Here's the truth most style guides don't mention: the best custom homes rarely fit neatly into one category. A predominantly Craftsman home with a modern open kitchen. A timber frame great room anchoring an otherwise contemporary floor plan. A Tudor exterior with a warm transitional interior. A farmhouse shell with clean modern detailing inside.

That's not indecision — that's good design. Your home should reflect how you actually live, not conform to a style label.

How to Discover Your Style

If you're not sure where you land, that's completely normal. Here's how we help clients find their direction:

  • Gather what moves you: Save photos of homes, rooms, and details that catch your eye — Pinterest, magazines, photos you've taken driving through neighborhoods. Don't worry about whether they "go together." Patterns will emerge.
  • Think about how you live: Do you gravitate toward cozy, enclosed spaces or wide-open rooms? Do you want to see the lake from every room or have quiet retreats tucked away? Your lifestyle shapes the architecture.
  • Consider your site: The land has a voice. A wooded bluff above a lake suggests something different than a flat lot in a walkable neighborhood. The best homes respond to where they sit.
  • Let the design process guide you: This is where working with a design-build firm matters. We'll sketch options, explore directions, and help you react to real drawings — not just abstract ideas. Most clients discover their style during the design process, not before it.

Our Approach

We don't have a house style. We've built Craftsman lakefront homes, modern estates, timber frame lodges, Tudor revivals, transitional ranches, and farmhouses — and we've loved every one of them. What we love most isn't any particular style. It's building the home that fits you specifically — the one that matches your inspiration, works for your family, and belongs on your land.

If you're starting to think about style — or if you're torn between three different directions — let's talk about it. We'll bring examples from our portfolio and help you find the direction that feels right.