Northern Michigan Custom
Homes Built With Integrity
When the relationship matters as much as the result, and the legacy matters even more.
Complete transparency, curated choices, and guidance that protects your interests.
Every detail handled with the excellence you expect and deserve.
Lifetime relationship with builders who become trusted partners.
Good people building for good people since 1988.
Your Northern Michigan Custom Home Starts Here
Two paths to the home where memories matter most.
New Construction
Your land becomes your family's gathering place
Transform that special property into the home you've been envisioning, whether newly acquired or long cherished. Built for how you want to live, and every detail with the high quality you deserve.
Complete Rebuild
The location you love with the home you deserve
Honor your property’s significance while creating something entirely yours. Designed for gathering, not maintaining. The fresh start you have been waiting for means more time with family and less fixing.
505 Belvedere Club
Located in the heart of Charlevoix, Michigan, 505 Belvedere Club is a thoughtful renovation that honors the legacy of one of the area's most iconic neighborhoods.
With strict preservation guidelines in place, this project couldn’t be torn down or expanded—but that limitation became a creative opportunity. The team embraced the challenge, breathing new life into the original structure while carefully maintaining the aesthetic and architectural charm of the Belvedere Club.
This video offers a look inside the renovation process—highlighting the craftsmanship, design solutions, and respect for history that make this transformation both timeless and true to its roots.
Distance demands trust
Building from a distance demands absolute confidence in your builder’s integrity and communication.
You Want Your Northern Michigan Dream Home, But...
Past experiences create skepticism
You've heard the horror stories, maybe you’ve lived through one. You need proof, not empty promises.
Complexity overwhelms
You're accomplished and capable, but you need expert guidance and a team to handle the unique complexity of custom home building.
Irreplaceable time slips away
With every construction delay is a season lost, a gathering postponed, an opportunity missed.
Without the Right Custom Builder, Too Much Is at Stake
Relationships face unnecessary strain
Building should bond, not divide. The wrong builder turns excitement into exhaustion, partnership into conflict.
Investment becomes regret
You deserve a home that reflects your vision, values, and legacy. At Craftmark we excel at making your vision come to life to be enjoyed by generations to come.
Stability and Strength When You Need It Most
Our 20+ person team means your project maintains momentum regardless of season or circumstance. While smaller operations juggle multiple sites or disappear chasing subcontractors, we're focused on your timeline. Whether you want weekly updates, milestone meetings, or minimal contact, we match your management style, delivering peace of mind on your terms.
Local Expertise That Eliminates Surprises
Every lake has its quirks. Every association has its requirements. Every site has its secrets. After nearly 40 years of building throughout Northern Michigan, from Charlevoix to Petoskey, Harbor Springs to Sturgeon Bay, we've solved these exact challenges dozens of times. Your unexpected is our expertise.
Complete Transparency From Day One
Every receipt. Every timecard. Every decision documented. You'll know exactly where your investment goes because we believe transparency isn't just about money, it's about respect. No hidden markups that you discover later. No surprise change orders that double your budget. No games. Just honest numbers from people who value your trust. That's why our peers call us "the most ethical in the business."
Comparing Northern Michigan builders?
You should.
Why Discerning Families Choose Craftmark Construction
Small Crews (2-4 people) |
Large Firms |
Out-of-Area Builders |
Craftmark Construction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projects sit idle for weeks | You're just another contract | Learn Northern Michigan on your dime | Continuous progress, guaranteed |
| Owner vanishes post-contract | Handed to junior staff | Can't navigate local complexity | Senior leadership throughout |
| No capacity for challenges | Nickel-and-dime change orders | Weather stops everything | Nearly 40 years mastering every challenge |
| 3-4 year waitlists | Minimal communication | Don't understand associations | Start within 12 months |
| One-size-fits-all approach | Corporate and impersonal | No local relationships | Tailored to your exact needs |
| References unclear | Policy restrictions | Difficult to verify | Call our past clients directly |
Comprehensive Solutions for Northern Michigan's Distinctive Requirements
New Custom Homes
Complete design-build excellence from concept through completion, including architect coordination.
Heritage Transformations
Thoughtful renovations that honor history while embracing modern luxury and functionality.
Architectural Additions
Seamlessly integrated expansions that enhance, never compromise, your home's character.
Complete Renovations
Sophisticated updates balancing preservation with innovation for timeless appeal.
Seasonal
Home Care
Year-round protection through inspections, winterization, and emergency response when away
Lifetime Partnership
Decades-long relationship with ongoing support ensuring your investment remains pristine
Trust Earned Through Decades of Excellence
What Our Clients Say About Craftmark
Why Craftmark Has Earned Northern Michigan's Trust
See why clients trust us with their most important investment.
Maintaining relationships with families since 1988.
Zero compromises on quality, regardless of project size.
Recognized by professionals for exceptional business ethics.
20+ dedicated professionals who call Northern Michigan home.
Hundreds of successful projects across decades of continuous operation.
Three generations of leadership, one consistent commitment to integrity.
Your Custom Home Journey in Six Simple Steps
No surprises, no confusion, just clarity
The Craftmark Signature Process
Step 1
Connect
You reach out. A senior team member of our team will ask a few questions about your project and discuss your ideas, timeline, and budget with honesty. If you choose to move forward we will schedule an on-site meeting.
Step 2
Consultation Meeting
We meet at your property to understand what you're truly creating. Measurements, photos, and most importantly, listening to what matters to you. Back at our office, we prepare a transparent budget estimate for your review.
Step 3
Project Design
Whether you have plans or need guidance, we coordinate everything. We’ll connect you with the right architect or work with yours seamlessly. Every decision is curated into smart options that are never overwhelming.
Step 4
Proposal + Contract
All details finalized, documented, and presented clearly with full price transparency and timeline. Your approval and deposit sets your project in motion with materials ordered and construction scheduled.
Step 5
Construction
Your dedicated crew introduced, your preferred communication style honored. Progress that doesn't stop, updates that keep you informed all with a team that keeps your home safe and clean during your project.
Step 6
Love It
Final walkthrough where everything is exactly as promised. Any concerns addressed immediately and without delay. The beginning of our long-term partnership, not goodbye.
Your Home Crafted for Comfort Through Every Season
Built for Northern Michigan, designed for your life
Northern Michigan demands more than beautiful design, it requires intelligent construction that honors both the landscape and your lifestyle.
After nearly 40 years building in Harbor Springs, Petoskey, and Charlevoix, we understand what your home needs to endure and what you need to enjoy it. From the foundation that handles spring thaws to the systems that keep you comfortable through lake-effect winters, every detail is engineered for this specific environment. But more importantly, every choice is made with your actual use in mind, whether you're here year-round or returning each summer to reconnect with what matters most.
Let Time Slow Down
Imagine the moment that makes it all worthwhile as your family arrives for the first time. The kids race to claim their rooms. Conversations flow from kitchen to deck as the sun sets over the water.
Later, after everyone's settled in, you stand on the porch watching life unfold exactly as you imagined. This isn't just a house anymore. It's where your daughter gets engaged on the dock. Where grandchildren learn to swim. Where three generations gather because they want to, not because they have to.
This is the true value of your investment.
The place everyone chooses to return to.
The place where time actually slows down.
Where Your Northern Michigan Story Begins
Choose the path that fits your timeline and vision
Build From The Ground Up
That property you've been holding becomes home.
Finally ready to build on that special piece of Northern Michigan. Designed around your lifestyle, not adapted to someone else's choices. From breaking ground to breaking bread, every detail considered. Investment-minded construction that appreciates with time.
Replace With Excellence
Same address, completely reimagined.
The spot that holds your memories gets the home it deserves. Modern comfort where outdated struggles used to be. Built for hosting grandchildren, not hosting repair crews. Investment-minded construction that appreciates with time.
Start When You're Ready, Build When It's Right
We can often begin construction within 12 months, much faster than the 3-4 year waits you'll hear elsewhere. But the best projects start with thoughtful planning. Whether you're ready to break ground next spring or still dreaming about possibilities, we'll help you navigate timing that works for your life. Starting our conversation now means you control the pace, not the calendar.
Let's Talk About Your Northern Michigan Home
Ready to build something that matters?
Hello, I'm Paul White, owner of Craftmark Construction. We have been building dreams in Northern Michigan since 1988.
Born and raised here, I've spent nearly my entire life in Northern Michigan enjoying the same lakes you love, skiing on the same hills in winter, golfing on the same courses, and loving the same summers that make it all worthwhile.
When you call Craftmark, you're not getting a sales team or call center. You're getting me and our crew of 20+ professionals who live here, work here, and understand exactly why you're drawn to this place.
You don't need finished plans, a finalized budget, or every decision made. What you need is someone who listens first, advises honestly, and treats your investment with the respect it deserves.
Whether you're reimagining an inherited property or building on land you've been holding, we'll guide you through every step—from architect selection through keys in hand and beyond.
My clients become friends because that's how we work, with integrity, transparency, and the understanding that this home represents something bigger than construction. It's where your family will gather, where memories will stick, where life will actually slow down.
Whether you found us through a neighbor's recommendation or you're discovering Craftmark for the first time, you'll find the same commitment to integrity that has defined us since 1988.
FAQs
Direct Answers to Important Questions
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Our clients consistently tell us it's our people and our approach. We believe in transparency, clear communication, and treating your investment with the respect it deserves. We're relationship builders who happen to build homes.
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While many builders quote 3-4 year wait times, our 20+ person crew typically allows us to begin within 12 months, including design time. We maintain the capacity to move when you're ready, not when we can squeeze you in.
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We adapt completely to your preferences. Some clients prefer weekly video conferences, others want written summaries, and some simply want milestone notifications. Most visit a handful of times during construction. Your involvement level is entirely your choice.
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Not at all. We collaborate with your chosen architect or connect you with the ideal design partner for your vision. Having worked with every major firm in Northern Michigan, we enhance the design process rather than complicate it.
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Craftmark Construction has been Northern Michigan's trusted custom cottage and home builder since 1988, nearly 40 years specializing in luxury vacation homes, second home construction, and family cottage builds. As a lifelong Northern Michigan resident, Craftmark’s owner, Paul White knows every lake community from Walloon Lake to Charlevoix to Burt Lake and the shore of Lake Michigan, every architectural guideline, and every construction challenge. Our 20+ person local crew builds custom cottages and vacation homes exclusively in Northern Michigan's resort communities. We're your permanent partners for cottage maintenance, additions, and future family needs.
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Unlike other Northern Michigan custom home builders who may say they are booked 3-4 years out, we typically begin vacation home builds within 12 months. Our 20+ person crew and established subcontractor relationships allow us to complete construction projects efficiently, without sacrificing quality, finishing custom vacation homes in 12-18 months versus competitors who take 2-3 years. If you already have your property and plans for your custom home project, we can often start within a few months, even if it is during the winter months.
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Custom cottage construction and luxury vacation home builds require complete budget transparency. Before starting any construction, we identify potential unknowns and provide detailed cost scenarios. We will show you every receipt and timecard so you know exactly how your investment is being handled, down to the penny. Our transparent approach to custom vacation home budgeting has earned us referrals throughout Harbor Springs, Petoskey, and Walloon Lake resort communities where trust and integrity matter most.
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We specialize in complex lakefront cottage construction and challenging vacation home sites throughout Northern Michigan. Our 35+ years of custom cottage building experience covers every challenge from steep sites, waterfront access issues, historic district and home owner association requirements. We're the go-to cottage builder for 'impossible' lakefront construction projects other Northern Michigan contractors avoid. Our intelligent building solutions and engineering expertise turn challenging vacation home sites into stunning family cottage retreats that maximize water views and site potential.
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As Northern Michigan's most ethical custom builder, we combine small-town values with big-project capabilities. We make every client feel prioritized, you're never just another project. Our 20+ person crew delivers luxury cottage construction faster than competitors while maintaining superior craftsmanship. Clients throughout Harbor Springs, Petoskey, and other Northern Michigan resort communities consistently refer to us as the most trustworthy and ethical builders who deliver exactly what they promise. We're building experts who become lasting family partners.
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We specialize exclusively in custom cottage construction, luxury vacation homes, and second home builds throughout Northern Michigan's resort communities. Unlike general contractors, we understand the unique needs of vacation home owners, from designing family bunk rooms and guest quarters to incorporating three-season rooms that extend your cottage season. Every custom cottage we build is designed for multi-generational family gatherings, with features like chef's kitchens and private guest suites that make your Northern Michigan retreat perfect for entertaining family and friends.
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We're the premier custom cottage and vacation home builder serving Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Walloon Lake, Good Hart, Charlevoix, Bay Harbor, and surrounding Northern Michigan resort communities. Our local expertise covers luxury lake house construction on all the major lakes including Lake Michigan, Lake Charlevoix, Burt Lake, Walloon Lake and Mullett Lake. We understand each community's architectural guidelines, including Harbor Springs' historic and exclusive neighborhoods. Whether you're building a family cottage, vacation retreat, or second home, we know the unique requirements of each Northern Michigan location.
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Absolutely! We maintain current architectural guidelines for every Northern Michigan resort community and have successfully navigated requirements ranging from cedar roof mandates to specific exterior color restrictions. Our experience with association approvals in Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Walloon Lake, and other exclusive communities means your custom cottage project moves smoothly through approval processes. We'll handle all HOA submissions and ensure your vacation home design complies with community standards while maximizing your investment and family enjoyment.