Must Have Design Features for Your Northern Michigan Custom Home

Posted on November 23, 2021May 3, 2026 by Chris Mason

(Updated 3/22/2022)

Planning and designing your new custom home should include features and details that will make your home more livable as well as an extension of your personal style. The planning stage is the perfect time to ensure that your new home has all the features you truly desire. As your custom builder, Lakeshore Custom Homes can guide you through the entire custom home design process. Here are a few popular design trends and ideas to ponder as you create your wish list.

Entryways

Living in Traverse City or Northern Michigan means four-season weather conditions. You’ll want your dream home to be accommodating regardless of the season. Suppose you plan to live year-round in Northern Michigan. In that case, consider an attached garage with a breezeway or an entrance that leads into a mudroom. This option is convenient for hanging damp clothes and shedding wet or muddy shoes before tracking in a mess to the rest of the house. Often this design consideration sets the stage for the rest of the floor plan.

Storm doors with a screen option allow summer breezes to flow through while offering protection in harsher weather. And, of course, having a closet or coat room nearby is very convenient to accommodate your seasonal wardrobe changes.

Open Floor Plans

Nothing beats an open floor plan to add the feel of spaciousness, no matter the size of the home. Popular designs include large windows to let in light and to appreciate the beauty of your setting. Often this area becomes the central feature of the house and sets the stage for the rest of your design ideas.

Lighting

Lighting is often overlooked, and adding the required wiring and fixtures later can be a nuisance. Homeowners in Northern Michigan need to consider how seasonal changes in natural and ambient lighting will affect each room and plan accordingly.

Be sure to think about how trees and landscaping can change the available light with the change of seasons. Sometimes flipping the blueprint or changing the house’s orientation on the land can make a significant impact.

Custom Built-ins

Custom built-ins are a popular feature among luxury custom homes. These can include built-in bookcases, entertainment centers, and closet organizers. They provide additional storage space while creating a unique design element in the house.

Laundry Rooms

No one ever complained about having too big of a laundry room. However, with all our area’s outdoor recreation opportunities, you’ll likely need to accommodate extra laundry and storage for extra gear and clothing.

Closets

Like laundry, extra closet space for storing your wardrobe is super desirable. Walk-in closets are great as they can be designed to arrange easier access and provide better lighting making for a much more functional space. Consider finishing the interior with genuine cedar. Cedar naturally repels moths, and other insects, is low maintenance, and provides a natural fresh scent!

Spa-Like Bathrooms

Luxurious bathrooms that provide a spa-like experience are becoming more popular. Features can include heated floors, large soaking tubs, rain showers, steam rooms, and multiple showerheads.

Pantries

Sometimes living in Northern Michigan means your closest grocery store might not be so convenient. However, having extra room to store staples can make country living more enjoyable. Walk-in pantries also give you more space to store kitchen gadgets that might otherwise take up counter space.

Wine Rooms and Wine Closets

Whether you prefer one of the Grand Traverse region’s wineries or perhaps something from another part of the world, climate-controlled wine storage is highly desirable. Besides protecting your investment, a well-designed wine room can accent your home beautifully. They can be designed to fit any size or shape, with features such as temperature control and custom lighting to showcase the wine collection.

Bars

There’s something special about a home bar. Perhaps you entertain frequently, and a bar makes a great place to congregate, or maybe you’ve always wanted a place where everybody knows your name. With Northern Michigan having so many great breweries, a built-in tap system is a perfect way to enjoy the local flavor.

Home Theater or Audio Room

Are you a film buff or an audiophile? If so, a dedicated home theater or audio room should be in your plans. Special design considerations such as dimensions, wall construction, insulation, floor and ceiling materials, wiring, lighting, seating, and other details make for an ideal acoustic environment. Perfect for relaxing and enjoying your favorite film or musical recording!

Home Office

Traverse City or Northern Michigan is a popular choice for those who can work remotely. Consider having additional electric outlets and a dedicated Internet router or network cable. Lighting is critical for reducing eye strain so consider both windows and lighting fixtures in your plans.

Luxury Garages

Why build a dream home and then have an ordinary garage? Luxury garages are one of the hottest trends these days. Well-lit with fully finished walls and ceilings, epoxy floors, plenty of storage, extra electrical outlets, and extra room for all your toys and maybe even a convertible for cruising down M22. With creature comforts like this, your garage becomes a natural extension of your home. When designing your perfect garage, heating, and cooling, televisions, sound systems, wet bars, and bathrooms are often asked for features.

Secret Rooms

You may want a private space for a home office, a humidor, or a safe room. Either way, a secret room can be a unique addition to your home.

Outdoor Spaces

There has been a shift toward more open patio or deck areas to enjoy the outdoors that Northern Michigan offers. Outdoor living spaces have become increasingly popular. This can include outdoor kitchens, fire pits, swimming pools, and hot tubs. Homeowners can also add landscaping and features such as outdoor speakers, TV screens, and water features. See our in-depth article on outdoor living spaces for more information.

COVID-19 Home Building Trends

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed more focus on the home and amenities that can help make your time at home even more enjoyable.

With moviegoers deterred from attending theaters and theater closures, many new film releases are now being streamed. Subsequently, larger, more luxurious home theater rooms are in demand.

The same applies to home fitness rooms, as traditional gyms and fitness clubs face restrictions. The upside is that a home gym can save you travel time as well as time saved, not waiting for a machine to become available. Plus, a home gym no longer means working out alone or being isolated. Streaming fitness services like Peloton are popular. Planet Fitness is even streaming “Home Work-Ins,” and dozens of other services are available, including yoga, dance, and strength classes.

Working from home is now mainstream and upgrading your Internet and home networking are vital. You can add network cables throughout the house to facilitate additional WIFI routers. These can easily be added to new construction and will reduce clutter. More and more, Smart Home features are in demand.

With less time dining out, the kitchens, pantries, and dining areas have more focus. Larger pantries and more spacious kitchens make it easier for more cooks in the kitchen and dining spaces that are more open and flexible.

Touchless technology has experienced an increase in popularity due to the public’s desire to minimize the transmission of germs and viruses. Touchless bath and kitchen fixtures are also more popular, and more styles and options are available than ever before. Motion-activated faucets, touchless toilets, and automatic doors are a few examples.

With more family members at home at the same time, privacy is more valued, and bedrooms and dens can offer a needed quiet space or retreat. Simple additions like additional furniture, like a recliner and reading light, can add a more comfortable touch to these spaces.

Please view our portfolio to see examples of some of the finest homes in Northern Michigan.

Are you ready to make your dream home a reality?
Contact us today to make an appointment to discuss your home-building plans. We’ll be with you every step of the way to guide you to the perfect home.

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Northern Michigan Smart Homes

Posted on December 23, 2020May 3, 2026 by Chris Mason

Updated 5/3/2026

When planning a custom home in Northern Michigan — whether it’s your primary residence, a seasonal retreat, or a weekend “up North” getaway — Smart Home technology can make your life easier, more secure, and more comfortable, and give you genuine peace of mind.

Weather, distance, busy lifestyles, and the unique rhythm of Northern Michigan living all present challenges that a well-planned home automation system can help you manage. Being able to monitor your home’s temperature, control lighting, and check on your property’s security from anywhere in the world is no longer a luxury reserved for the tech-savvy. Today’s smart home systems are more affordable, far more capable, and significantly easier to use than they were just a few years ago.

A well-integrated home automation system can also reduce energy costs and may even earn you a discount on your homeowner’s insurance.

One important planning note before we dive in: when building new construction, there has never been a better time to plan your smart home infrastructure from the ground up. Running the right wiring, conduit, and network cabling during the build costs a fraction of what retrofitting requires later. We’ll touch on this throughout.

Consider the features below as you build your wish list. Many can be installed individually, but a whole-home approach — especially when planned from the start — yields the greatest benefit.

Security and Monitoring

Basic Home Security

Door and window sensors and motion detectors form the foundation of most home security systems. For Northern Michigan homes that sit unoccupied for stretches of time — whether you’re away for the winter or simply back in the city during the week — a monitored security system provides an essential layer of protection.

Fire, Smoke, Water, and Environmental Monitoring

Protecting your home goes well beyond deterring intruders. Smart detectors can monitor for smoke and fire, carbon monoxide, radon gas, water leaks, and temperature extremes. New smart detectors can send text or email alerts the moment something is detected, giving you time to act even when you’re hours away.

Water leak detection deserves special attention for Northern Michigan homes. Systems like Moen Flo and Phyn monitor your home’s water lines continuously and can automatically shut off the main water supply the instant a leak or pipe burst is detected. For a seasonal home sitting empty during a Michigan winter, that automatic shutoff can be the difference between a minor repair and a catastrophic loss.

Doors, Deadbolts, and Locks

Andersen VeriLock® sensors are an optional feature for Andersen windows and doors that allow remote monitoring via smartphone, so you can confirm everything is closed and locked no matter where you are. They integrate with most major security platforms, keeping your app situation manageable.

Keyless PIN entry locks allow you to assign individual access codes to family members, housekeepers, contractors, or guests — and receive a text notification each time a code is used. Temporary codes for package delivery or service visits can be created and expired without any reprogramming. For a vacation property with rotating guests, this kind of access control is genuinely transformative.

Security Cameras

Modern home security cameras offer real-time monitoring, motion detection, night vision, and cloud recording. Many systems allow two-way audio, so you can communicate with whoever is at your door — or check in on a pet — remotely. Some platforms can automatically alert local authorities and share video footage in the event of an intrusion.

Smart Lighting for Security

A home automation system can create the convincing appearance of an occupied home while you’re away. Lights, window blinds, and shades can be programmed to follow natural patterns — not the obvious on-at-dusk, off-at-10pm routine that signals an empty house. Outdoor lighting can further deter unwanted activity and activate automatically when motion is detected.

Comfort and Convenience

The Matter Standard: Why It Matters for New Construction

If you’re building a custom home today, the single most important smart home planning decision is designing around Matter — the new industry-wide interoperability standard launched in 2022 and backed by Apple, Google, Amazon, and most major device manufacturers.

Before Matter, smart home devices from different brands often wouldn’t communicate with each other, leaving homeowners locked into single-brand ecosystems or juggling multiple apps. Matter changes that. It allows devices from different manufacturers to work together seamlessly under a single platform.

For new construction, this means planning your network infrastructure — wired ethernet drops, WiFi access point locations, smart panel capacity — with Matter compatibility in mind from day one. The cost at build time is minimal; the payoff in flexibility and future-proofing is significant.

Thermostats and Climate Control

Today’s smart thermostats go well beyond programmable scheduling. They can monitor furnace health, provide diagnostic alerts, and display real-time weather forecasts and radar — useful context when you’re deciding whether to head up north for the weekend. Combined with a virtual assistant like Amazon Alexa or Google Home, you can adjust temperature, lighting, and more by voice from anywhere in the house.

For larger homes or multi-zone systems, smart climate control ensures that rooms used only occasionally aren’t being heated or cooled unnecessarily — a meaningful efficiency gain for Northern Michigan’s shoulder seasons.

Home Audio

Wireless whole-home audio systems have matured considerably. Today’s systems allow you to play different music in every room independently, control everything from a smartphone or voice command, and achieve genuinely high-quality sound without a single wire running to a speaker. If audio quality matters to you, plan speaker locations and any in-wall wiring during construction — it’s far easier to do it right the first time.

Home Office and Connectivity

Remote work has made reliable, whole-home internet connectivity a non-negotiable for many custom home buyers. Plan for hardwired ethernet drops throughout the house during construction — they support additional WiFi access points, reduce wireless congestion, and eliminate dead zones more reliably than any mesh system alone.

For properties in rural or remote areas of Northern Michigan where traditional broadband has historically been unavailable or unreliable, Starlink satellite internet has been a genuine game-changer. Starlink now delivers fast, low-latency broadband to locations that have never had viable high-speed internet options. If your property is in a township, on a lake road, or anywhere cable and fiber haven’t reached, Starlink is worth serious consideration — and it pairs naturally with a smart home system that depends on a reliable internet connection.

Home Appliances

Most major home appliances now offer smart connectivity. Washer and dryer alerts when cycles finish, ovens you can monitor remotely, refrigerators that track temperatures and send alerts if something is amiss — these are all standard features on current mid-to-high-end appliance lines. Plan adequate electrical capacity and outlet placement during construction to accommodate them.

Robotic vacuum cleaners like Roomba have become reliable enough for daily use and work well in combination with a scheduled cleaning routine — particularly useful for seasonal properties being prepared for a visit.

Smart Irrigation and Lawn Care

Smart irrigation systems water your lawn and garden based on actual soil moisture and weather data rather than a fixed schedule, conserving water and producing better results. Your landscaping gets water when it actually needs it — including an automatic pause when rain is in the forecast.

A natural companion: robotic lawn mowers such as the Husqvarna Automower can maintain your lawn autonomously within a defined boundary, operating quietly and returning to their charging dock on their own. For Northern Michigan property owners who aren’t on-site every week, this is a practical and increasingly popular option.

Virtual Home Gym

Dedicated home fitness spaces have become a standard feature in custom home plans. Current platforms like Peloton, Tonal, iFIT, and Tempo offer high-quality virtual coaching for cycling, strength training, yoga, and more. When planning your home gym, consider ceiling height, flooring, electrical capacity, and ventilation — details that are straightforward to accommodate in new construction and far harder to address after the fact.

Smart Bedroom Technology

Smart mattresses can monitor sleep quality, automatically adjust room temperature during the night, and wake you with a gentle vibration instead of a jarring alarm. Automated lighting with programmable dimming and blue light filtering supports better sleep quality. These are small details that add up to a meaningfully more comfortable daily experience.

Energy and Infrastructure

EV Charging

A dedicated Level 2 electric vehicle charging circuit in the garage has become a standard consideration for new custom home construction. Even if you don’t currently own an EV, the incremental cost of running a 240V circuit to the garage during construction is minimal — and the alternative, retrofitting it later, is considerably more disruptive and expensive. As EV adoption continues to grow, it’s simply good planning.

Whole-Home Battery Backup and Solar

Northern Michigan winters bring power outages. Whole-home battery backup systems — Tesla Powerwall is the most widely known, though several strong competitors now exist — store energy to keep your home running through outages. Paired with rooftop solar, they can also reduce your dependence on the grid year-round.

For seasonal properties especially, a battery backup system provides both a practical safety net and the peace of mind of knowing your home’s critical systems — heat, water, refrigeration, security — stay online regardless of what the weather does to the power grid.

Planning Ahead

The common thread running through all of these features is that new construction is by far the best time to plan for them. Conduit, wiring, network drops, electrical capacity, and structural blocking for mounting hardware cost very little to include during a build and a great deal to add afterward.

At Lakeshore Custom Homes, we work with you during the design and pre-construction phase to think through your technology goals alongside your architectural goals — so your home is ready for the way you actually want to live in it.

Please view our portfolio to see examples of some of the finest homes in Northern Michigan.

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