Ann Arbor Residence Ann Arbor, MI

When a Michigan family started the journey of updating the home they built nearly 20 years ago, they envisioned an expansive upgrade. They dreamt of an open floor plan that centered around an enclosed glass Zen garden room with a skylight to illuminate the space, putting their Asian culture center stage.

The homeowners also wanted to take full advantage of the remarkable views their property offered by including larger windows and doors that would span the back of their home.

Through word of mouth and online searches for an architect with an impressive design portfolio, the family found their architect. DesRosiers Architects builds architecturally designed residences that put the homeowner’s lifestyle at the center of their plans. Design after design, Louis DesRosiers and his team strive for perfection, using only the best building materials and finest finishes.

Throughout this residential refresh, the family, along with the architects at DesRosiers, had to make a myriad of decisions about what products to put into the home and how they will all work together in the design, aesthetic and function. Two of the most important choices to make: windows and doors. They affect not only the overall aesthetics of the home but have a substantial influence over energy efficiency, functionality, ambiance and privacy.

DesRosiers Architects had their work cut out for them. The residence was built by a standard home builder 20 years earlier and lacked the innovative design and open yet functional floor plan that today’s homeowners expect. Using the current site and core structure as a starting point was a challenge, especially since the floor plan had to be reinvented into something completely different.

The Solution

“Our philosophy is to design the home of your dreams, centered around your lifestyle,” said Louis DesRosiers, president of DesRosiers Architects. “With our clients, many of whom desire a unique, innovative residential design, we incorporate custom products and we don’t want to be controlled by standard sizes. We continually work with Weather Shield because not only do they have an impressive portfolio of window and door products, but doing custom projects like the Michigan residence – where we used casement windows, sliding doors and French doors – we’re able to create the high-end look but at a moderate, reasonable cost.”

The goal was clearly defined: a home that’s beautiful inside and made even more beautiful by drawing in the outdoors.

DesRosiers used Weather Shield Contemporary Collection™ windows and doors to achieve the custom look and the homeowners received much more in return. A return on investment. In the bitter-cold Michigan winters and hot, humid summers that follow (as well as the sheer number of windows and doors that are included on the home), the windows and doors must be well-insulated to help keep the house comfortable for the occupants as well as keep the utility bills low. Every window and door included on the home are energy efficient with tempered, insulated low-E-glass, which is a perfect pairing with their newer, larger home.

The Weather Shield windows and doors also included an aluminum-clad exterior, providing a virtually maintenance-free finish that resists the elements. Another Weather Shield specific benefit is the designer-focused hardware options and customizations available. The homeowners chose the Hoppe® hardware collection with handle sets and levers that are available in a finish that perfectly complemented the interior design. In addition, the windows and doors included clad exteriors in various bronze colors and unfinished pine interiors that were later stained to a mahogany color. The homeowner chose this combination as the unfinished wood interiors allowed them to customize the colors to the rest of the home. This versatility, along with Weather Shield’s impressive portfolio, allows homeowners and designers to choose nearly any size, shape and color for a truly unique home geared toward their taste.

Window and door choices can completely change the look of a home. By choosing Weather Shield, the family was able to get a custom solution that helped bring their vision to life. Overall, the homeowners were beyond pleased with their new custom-designed home. They were able to get the home of their dreams that was at once modern, innovative, and unique with the right amount of Asian flair intertwined into the design.

Weather Shield Products Used in the Home

• Contemporary Collection Casement Windows
• Contemporary Collection Direct Set Windows
• Contemporary Collection Hinged Doors
• Contemporary Collection Sliding Patio Doors

About DesRosiers Architects

DesRosiers Architects specializes in custom luxury home design across traditional, transitional and contemporary architecture. Each home is custom designed to reflect you and your lifestyle and to embrace the natural splendor of your site whether nestled on a lakeshore in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, or perched on a hillside in Beverly Hills, California. DesRosiers Architects