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Mike Miller Building Company
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Pro Spotlight: Build a Beautiful New Home That Feels Timeless
A Detroit-area builder suggests looking to the past to design a home that won’t go out of style
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Who: Mike Miller
Where: Northville, Michigan
In his own words: “You want your home to look good today, tomorrow and 50 years from now.”
What’s the secret to making a new home feel like it’s been there from the start? It lies in the past, says Northville-based builder Mike Miller. “We like trends,” he says. “They’re exciting.” But if you want a home that won’t quickly feel dated, Miller recommends using the latest trends sparingly, as a way to enhance a style that already has proven staying power.
Where: Northville, Michigan
In his own words: “You want your home to look good today, tomorrow and 50 years from now.”
What’s the secret to making a new home feel like it’s been there from the start? It lies in the past, says Northville-based builder Mike Miller. “We like trends,” he says. “They’re exciting.” But if you want a home that won’t quickly feel dated, Miller recommends using the latest trends sparingly, as a way to enhance a style that already has proven staying power.
Construction fanatic. Miller’s fascination with building began in kindergarten, when he was expelled for spending all of his time watching the construction project across the street. Despite such early interest, Miller hadn’t considered building homes as a career until college, after a chance encounter with a high school friend. The friend pointed him toward construction management, and he later earned his degree at Michigan State University. Miller opened his current design-build business, Mike Miller Building Company, in 1991.
Building homes and relationships. Building or remodeling your home is an exciting but lengthy process. Miller tells homeowners to search for a builder with whom you truly connect. “You’re going to be stuck with us for a long time,” he says. And as with any relationship, communication is key. Miller suggests looking for a company that responds quickly to your questions and concerns. “You don’t want to have to navigate through layers of management,” he says.
Want a new home with lasting appeal? Read Miller’s tips below.
Want a new home with lasting appeal? Read Miller’s tips below.
1. Find Inspiration in Your Neighborhood
Add details that reflect the prevalent architectural era of your neighborhood. This family home in the Cabbagetown neighborhood of Northville is new, but it fits in easily with neighboring homes built in the 1920s and ’30s.
Miller included characteristics found in nearby homes, such as muntined windows and fish scale siding. He also added a traditional large open porch, a nod to the pre-TV era when families and neighbors gathered on their porches in the evening. With enough space to hold a table that seats eight, the porch is an ideal place for summer dinners or for kids to do homework. “It’s warm and welcoming,” he says.
See more of this project
Add details that reflect the prevalent architectural era of your neighborhood. This family home in the Cabbagetown neighborhood of Northville is new, but it fits in easily with neighboring homes built in the 1920s and ’30s.
Miller included characteristics found in nearby homes, such as muntined windows and fish scale siding. He also added a traditional large open porch, a nod to the pre-TV era when families and neighbors gathered on their porches in the evening. With enough space to hold a table that seats eight, the porch is an ideal place for summer dinners or for kids to do homework. “It’s warm and welcoming,” he says.
See more of this project
2. Reflect Your Surroundings
Include elements that mirror the environment around your home. Take, for example, the woodsy setting of this family home, located on two acres of land in the middle of Northville. The homeowners wanted a classic New England colonial look with a bit of Northville flair. They also wanted to incorporate touches of nature.
“You want to nestle your home into the area,” Miller says. He started by stepping the house down the slope toward the woods, then finished the exterior with natural stone and wood siding. He brought natural touches to the interior with a mix of rough-sawn cedar beams, quarter-inch acacia floors, cultured stone accents and unadorned windows that frame the view.
See more of this project
Include elements that mirror the environment around your home. Take, for example, the woodsy setting of this family home, located on two acres of land in the middle of Northville. The homeowners wanted a classic New England colonial look with a bit of Northville flair. They also wanted to incorporate touches of nature.
“You want to nestle your home into the area,” Miller says. He started by stepping the house down the slope toward the woods, then finished the exterior with natural stone and wood siding. He brought natural touches to the interior with a mix of rough-sawn cedar beams, quarter-inch acacia floors, cultured stone accents and unadorned windows that frame the view.
See more of this project
3. Respect the Past
When updating or replacing a home, be sure to carry over some architectural features. “Use as many elements from your original home as possible,” Miller says. When the farmhouse on this property in Northville’s historic district couldn’t be saved, Miller looked for ways to replicate certain aspects of the original home in the new Craftsman design.
He added exterior details such as the exposed rafter tails and stacked corbels, both of which had been used in the original home. Miller also considered the overall scale of the previous building and made sure the front facade of this now much-larger house was low-key enough to not overpower the surrounding homes.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Mike Miller and examples of his work, visit Mike Miller Building Company’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
When updating or replacing a home, be sure to carry over some architectural features. “Use as many elements from your original home as possible,” Miller says. When the farmhouse on this property in Northville’s historic district couldn’t be saved, Miller looked for ways to replicate certain aspects of the original home in the new Craftsman design.
He added exterior details such as the exposed rafter tails and stacked corbels, both of which had been used in the original home. Miller also considered the overall scale of the previous building and made sure the front facade of this now much-larger house was low-key enough to not overpower the surrounding homes.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Mike Miller and examples of his work, visit Mike Miller Building Company’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
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Mike and his team built our custom home. He worked with us on everything from the overall design to the little details that made our home work for us. The communication, problem-solving and really lis...Mer
I have seen Mike's work up close. He is absolutely immaculate!