Mark's journey is the heart and soul of Dwell Architectural & Interior Designs. His unwavering belief that great design can transform lives has shaped the company into what it is today. 

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“My passion for design began back in high school, where I dreamed of becoming an architect. However, it’s hard to believe that a vocational drafting teacher once discouraged me from pursuing this path, citing his belief that most architects made little money. Instead, he steered me toward mechanical engineering, which I explored as a Junior and Senior, even working as an intern at General Motors Tech Center in Warren, Michigan. After graduating, I continued down this path, attending Michigan Technological University.

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My career eventually led me into the field of special machine design, where I thrived, ultimately advancing to the position of Vice President of Sales & Service. While I loved the work, my territory spanned the globe, which meant I was away from home. This lifestyle grew increasingly difficult as I was married with two young children and a third on the way. I knew I needed to make a change to be present with my family.

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A close friend who had entered the construction trade right out of high school was doing exceptionally well, and his success inspired me to consider building homes. The synergy between designing special machines and constructing homes made the transition logical, and by God’s grace, one opportunity after another opened up. 

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Within a few years of building, I encountered a pivotal moment with a unique client. This client, who had relationships with four different builders, decided to contract each builder with a designer/architect to compete for his project. The builder whose design he liked best would win the job.

 

After six months of collaboration with our client and the architect, we hit a roadblock. At breakfast one morning, the client informed me he was pulling the plug on the project because none of the four designs resonated with him. That same day, determined not to let the opportunity slip away, I bought a roll of paper from Kinkos, drew a quarter-scale grid on it, and created a schematic for his first floor. I returned to Kinkos to have the drawing copied and brought it to his home.

 

The client wasn’t home that evening, but by Sunday, he called me, asking where I had gotten the plan. When I explained I had drawn it after our breakfast, he told me, ‘This is the plan.’ My very first design, in 2000, turned into what was at the time the highest construction cost project we had ever worked on—a $3.5 million, nearly 15,000-square-foot home.

 

Since that defining moment, our design capabilities and business have grown and evolved. Without a doubt, being a builder has made us better architectural designers, and being architectural designers has made us a better builder.”

 

 

Today, we continue to design truly unique tiny retreats to truly one-of-a-kind showcase homes. Our approach is highly selective and deeply rooted in the relationships we build with our clients. Designing a home is an intimate process—one that requires understanding our clients' dreams, values, and lifestyles to create spaces that are as personal as they are inspiring.