Architectural Resource LLC

When our family had the privilege to build our dream home, we were driven by two core values: environmental sustainability and energy efficiency. We were immediately drawn to Architectural Resource who are recognized as award winning architects and genuine thought leaders on how to build responsibly, creatively, and cost effectively to harness the natural benefits of the earth and to be responsible to our shared planet and natural resources. From solar power generation, to geothermal cooling, to bird safe glass, every step of the process was guided by their expertise in environmental sustainability. The team at AR also took our family on an amazing learning adventure from the importance of “aging in place” design to the importance of new wall structures and interior/exterior insulation technologies to maximize cooling in summer and heating in winter, while also maximizing our financial investment over the long term. From the founding principal, to the entire professional team and interns, that culture of thought leadership and educational collaboration with their clients shines through in every interaction. They are simply brilliant, patient, and kind people to work with and I would highly recommend Architectural Resource as a true partner in any project, whether smaller scale renovations to bring out the true potential of your existing home or pursuing your dream to build from the ground up to reach the sky and fill your soul in new and inspiring ways. Jeff Parness and Sandy Hauser The Sanctuary at Hope Farms Ann Arbor, Michigan

We knew we wanted to work with Michael Klement and his team at Architectural Resource after hearing his philosophy on reimagining smaller homes, and green design. Our experience with them, and the outcome of our home redesign exceeded our expectations. Living in Ann Arbor, we set out to renovate our former rental home in Bellevue, Washington, before making it our retirement retreat. Michael gave us confidence that the project could be done successfully - remotely. Michael and his associate met us at our Bellevue home and spent two days surveying the space, and listening as we shared its pain points, our lifestyle needs, and our vision for entertaining family and friends. They led thoughtful discussions on key aspects of our remodel—sustainable design, healthy living environments, and aging in place—even climbing onto our roof to assess its potential for solar energy. Their meticulous approach helped uncover the home’s possibilities and maximize our use of space—all without expanding its footprint. A few weeks into the design process, COVID hit. The transition from our in-person Ann Arbor meetings to remote sessions was seamless, yet despite the shift, it always felt like we were right there with them. Each week, we witnessed their extraordinary skill as they presented thoughtful design solutions. For example, they replaced a wall separating the living area and kitchen with a freestanding tunnel gas fireplace, creating a visual division while maintaining an open, connected feel. Through their expertise in 3D modeling software, they helped us truly experience the space before it was built, making the design process both engaging and immersive. When it was time to move from final design to construction, Michael helped us identify potential contractors in the Seattle area and collaborated seamlessly as needed with our chosen contractor throughout the build. Seeing their design come to life in our remodeled home was pure joy. Their meticulous planning not only reimagined the space but also infused it with a refined aesthetic and innovative approach, completely transforming how we experience and enjoy living in it. Our experience with Michael Klement and his team at Architectural Resource was nothing short of extraordinary, and we give them our highest recommendation. Their professionalism and collaborative approach made us feel part of the team. We are thrilled with our home's redesign, and wouldn’t hesitate to work with them again.

If you are interested in an award-winning healthy energy efficient home, we would recommend Michael Klement and his Architectural Resource team. We engaged Michael Klement and his team to build a home for us to age in place. Our key requirements were energy efficiency and barrier free for healthy aging. Michael and his team guided us through the choices and listened to our thoughts. The result is a PHIUS Zero 2021 certified house which is the DOE Housing Innovation of the Year home and the winner of the Michigan Energy Efficiency Contractors Association’s Residential House of the Year. Our home has outstanding indoor air quality even during the worst forest fire smoke events, barrier free and energy net positive. We are very pleased.

We found the Architectural Resource team about ten years after we’d purchased our historic home. At that point, we’d had small projects done but it was time to tackle our entire (sagging, leaking, beloved) home as a single project. We wanted an architect who was willing to work with both the historic aspects we wanted to maintain and the modern, energy-efficient and comfort-forward changes we wanted. Michael and his team embraced our project with enthusiasm. They visited our house; they talked with us about what we envisioned, from small details (more electrical outlets) to pie-in-the-sky dreams (rooftop patio), and then about our budget, a projected timeline, and what was possible. They assigned us “design homework” to help us be as specific as possible about what we wanted, and the images and the notes we collected for them proved to be such an effective way to communicate with the design team that I carried them with me throughout the project to communicate with our contractor and suppliers. The AR team are excellent communicators. Throughout the project they kept in close contact not only about the home design but about time line and budget. They helped us find contractors who were excited to take on our project and looped them in on the communication, too, making sure we had accurate estimates of building times and material costs. And then once the project began, the AR team checked in regularly and were ready to respond quickly to last-minute design changes. When the renovation was done, we had a home that was more beautiful, more spacious and more inviting. It is warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, with electrical outlets everywhere we could want them and two balconies, and yet when people see it from the outside it looks as if it has always looked this way, and when family and friends and former owners come to see the renovation they can never quite tell which parts of the home are new and which are just the same. Recently we hired the Architectural Resource team again to redesign the other building on our property, a long-neglected carriage house. This project was immediately both more and less complicated—it quickly became clear that the carriage house was not salvageable so it had to be demolished. We had the freedom of designing a new building from the ground up, but also some demanding city building regulations to work within. Once again, the AR team shone. They applied creativity and ingenuity to design us a building that has everything we wanted while complying with city regulations and somehow, yet again, the building looks as if it has always been there. It is beautiful and energy efficient, historic on the outside and modern on the inside. Should we someday have a third building project to tackle we would absolutely hire Architectural Resource again. Michael and his team are fantastic. We highly recommend them.

One of the most difficult, important decisions we ever made was to build our forever home. But who would guide us on this journey? Who would give shape to our ideas? Our daughter was about to be born and we needed confidence that our house would be well-designed, well-built, constructed with safety, health, and sustainability in mind, and of course: all within our budget. We picked Architectural Resource to lead our project and they exceeded our expectations in every way. Through their meticulous and transparent process, we arrived quickly at the core of what was important to us. The AR team applied their decades of experience to ask us the right questions. They listened carefully, offered clear and detailed responses to all our questions, and their amazing designs reflected everything we said. They also helped us choose a fantastic builder who was with us at every step. Now, as we take our first sips of coffee each morning in our dream home, we look around and have to pinch ourselves: we just can't believe we live here. Architectural Resource made it all possible.

Working with Michael and the folks at Architectural Resource was a smooth and enjoyable process. They were very transparent about the steps of the project, and provided us with regular updates. One of the things we appreciated most about working with them was how they consistently thought of ways to make our home work the best for us -- and not just in the present moment, but also for years to come. What's more, when there were hiccups with our builder, Michael valiantly stepped in to help us get back on track and move the project toward completion. Their innovative ideas, and thoughtfulness in design and best practices would give us no hesitation in working with Architectural Resource again!

When we embarked on the ambitious project to connect our Historic 1850 Farmhouse to an already established carriage house, my wife and I braced for the usual renovation roller coaster. Little did we know, "unprecedented" wasn't just a buzzword in 2020; it was our reality. The onset of Covid-19 slammed onto the scene just as planning work began, and what could have been a recipe for disaster became a testament to the incredible tenacity and ingenuity of Architectural Resource. From the get-go, the Architectural Resource team was a dream. They listened intently to our vision: to maintain the farmhouse's historic charm while infusing it with modern functionality, all seamlessly linked to the carriage house by a stunning second-story bridge. They then began translating our collaborative vision into blueprints that crackled with respect for the old and forged forward with a daring innovation. But then, COVID-19 threatened to shut things down. In the hopes of getting a jump on on-site measurements, the team from Architectural Resource suited up in hazmat suites and descended upon our home for a 6-hour, one-and-done measurement extravaganza one day before the official regional quarantine began. The future of our dream home felt fragile and uncertain. Yet, Architectural Resource didn't flinch. They pivoted seamlessly to 100% virtual collaboration, using cutting-edge software to walk us through every design revision. When choosing a builder, they cleverly matched our project to the best contractor we could have requested to work on our historic home project. From then on, the three parties virtually worked on every foreseeable construction hurdle. Best of all, every meeting felt like a collaborative brainstorming session, not a sterile online presentation. Their communication throughout was nothing short of stellar. The team kept us informed, addressed our concerns), and found creative solutions to every unexpected hiccup. The bridge, the cornerstone of the project, posed unique challenges as its design pushed the boundaries of historical preservation and modern engineering. The result? It is a jaw-droppingly beautiful home that exceeds our wildest dreams and stands as a testament to the power of human adaptability and the sheer brilliance of Architectural Resource. The bridge design molded into a vision reminiscent of a historic covered bridge. Walking across and sitting in that covered bridge isn't just traversing physical space; it's a journey through the past, present, and future, seamlessly stitched together by the genius of this incredible team. Architectural Resource is your answer if you want a team that can navigate any literal and metaphorical storm and deliver a masterpiece. They turned a pandemic project into a triumph; we'll be eternally grateful. Thank you for turning our 1850 dream into a 2024 reality. Five stars – and a standing ovation!

We are building an energy efficient house in Northern Michigan, and to do so we have put together a sizable team of people. I have spoken with many consultants, contractors, builders, architects, and vendors in Michigan and out of state. Michael Klement and his team at Architectural Resource have quickly become our most trusted resources in the project, and I am especially thankful for their aptitude, kindness, attention to detail, and experience in this area. Architectural Resource is *the* expert firm in my life for efficient and low carbon house construction, and I am grateful for their time, effort, and enthusiasm at helping me succeed. I'm also quite delighted with how excellent they are at understanding the people behind the project, and I have to especially commend Michael for his patient and thorough insight and understanding of our project and goals, sometimes in ways better than I had even myself. Construction always has unforeseen circumstances and things go sideways, but I have already lost count of the amount of times Architectural Resource has righted our project with pragmatic, insightful solutions. If anyone asked me what I recommend for home building, I think my top line advice would be to hire Architectural Resource and do what Michael and team say. Thank you, Architectural Resource!

About the house - When our neighbor visited our new home for the first time he said, ‘I’ve been looking around & every sight line, every angle, is engaging to the eye. There’s nothing boring here!’ Having lived in our home now for nearly 2 years, we agree! Our house is a marvel of energy efficient technology, it’s the entertaining space we dreamt of & it’s also a very large piece of art, which delights the senses. About the design process - The whole team is great at listening to their clients’ needs, responding to communications in a timely manner & following through with solutions to any complications. We started working with AR while living overseas, which they handled respectfully - scheduling face to face online meetings in our time zone & making sure all presentations were digitally comprehensive. During the building stage, AR was readily available to answer any questions or visit the site to lend a guiding hand. A dream team to build our dream house.

My wife and I first worked with Michael Klement and the outstanding team at Architectural Resource several years ago for a total remodel of our 1920s home on the west side of Ann Arbor. The project was very ambitious. We couldn’t have been happier with the AR team in guiding us through the entire process. From the first day we met Michael and his team, we knew from their professional presentation and sincerity that they were the folks to work with. They are extremely customer oriented, and were willing to carefully guide us through the entire process from design to finished build. We were both novices with respect to a remodel of this magnitude. Michael and his team were fantastic at making us feel comfortable, and they assured us that no questions were silly. They went to extraordinary lengths to fulfill our dreams. From the start, they took great care to listen and understand our goals. Because they spent so much time truly understanding our aesthetic (including our idiosyncrasies) and personalities, they presented numerous suggestions in areas where it was difficult for us to be specific about our desires. The project was a complete success. Three years after our initial remodel, we embarked on Phase 2 by repurposing the front entryway to our house, both inside and out. It was an area that was unaddressed during Phase 1 for budgetary reasons. We never considered working with anyone other than Michael and Architectural Resource for this phase. Like the first phase, they treated our second phase as if we were family, and we continued to feel like it was important to Michael and the AR team to treat our project as if it was their own home. Between these two phases, I decided to have a deteriorating 60-year-old stone wall on our property rebuilt. While the wall had needed repair for years, it stood out as a sore thumb after Phase 1. When Michael got wind of this effort, he generously provided advice to the stone mason on how to properly incorporate proper water remediation into the redesign of the wall. Because of his advice, the wall should last for another century without encountering the same type of deterioration. In summary, Michael and the team at Architectural Resource are absolutely amazing! We wouldn’t hesitate to hire them a third time!

We discovered Michael and his Architectural Resource team at a local home renovation tour. The house they designed blew away the other seven houses on the tour. We knew immediately we wanted (needed!) to work with Michael and his team. We were looking to add on to our 1960s house while staying true to the neighborhood style. We didn't want the addition to look like an alien spaceship beamed down to earth! Designing the house with Michael and his team was fun and engaging. We appreciated the user-centered design phases of the process. At each phase, Michael asked great questions to understand our needs and gave us lots of opportunities to provide feedback. Michael and his team added several features to the home we hadn't thought about on our own. For instance, they added a skylight to the stairway landing that is now a focal point of the home; this was one of many features only an experienced architect like Michael would think to add, which we hadn't considered on our own. We're thrilled by our remodeled home and have Michael and his team to thank for the design and planning. We knew we were in good hands throughout the process, especially with how thorough and detail-oriented Michael is. We've recommended Michael and his team to several friends and neighbors since working with him, and we'd be happy to recommend him to you, too!

We are proud clients of Michael Klement and his Architectural Resource (AR) Team. Happily, we wish to report that we received the United States Department of Energy's ENERGY STAR Certification for our new home. We commend and congratulate Michael and his team at Architectural Resource for their splendid efforts on our behalf! Who would guess, just by looking at it, that our newly constructed Victorian Carpenter Gothic style home would qualify as "Green"? We confess that we had labored under the misconception that to be "Green", one had to have solar panels for walls and/or be very contemporary in design. How wrong we were! Through Architectural Resource's thorough, meticulous, and methodical attention to every specification necessary to reach the goal of this coveted award, in the initial design we incorporated energy efficient products and construction throughout our home. We, like the team of AR, also embraced the Not So Big philosophy of architect and author, Sarah Susanka. Our home also features architectural details and specifications based on Architectural Resource's experience and knowledge in Aging in Place compatible design. We feel truly blessed to have had such a qualified and competent team for our once-in-a-lifetime project. The beneficial knowledge and expertise of Michael and his AR Team was further enhanced by their skill in guiding us through the necessary hoops one must jump through from digging the hole in the ground to crowning the cap on the chimney. All of this was so impressive that, if we didn't love our newly constructed home so much, we would be ready to take this journey again with AR at the helm. Thank you, Michael, for a job well done! Sincerely, David and Mary Robb

Here we are, living out our new life, one that has been made so much better because of where we are. We are in our dream home, our vacation home, and our haven all rolled into one beautiful, contemporary home imagined by you and your team. Through your exploration process, you brought out our wishes for our forever home, our home “For The Journey”. Nearly every room in our house provides us with spectacular views. We sometimes find it difficult to work at the desk in the loft because we find ourselves gazing out the window, lost in thought as the clouds drift by. Hardly a day passes without one of us saying “I love our house!” Even though it took a year to design and almost 18 months to build, it was well worth the wait. Every feature of the house was well thought out and executed flawlessly. From the coffee nook where we can watch the sunrise, to the pool room where we can exercise in the Endless Pool, to the Butler’s Pantry where everything has a place, to the bright and spacious quilting studio, to the perfectly placed window in the Master Bath, and to the sleeping porch where we can watch the sunset: you designed the perfect house. As you know, our home is rather unique in that it has no basement and no attic. In fact, you and the AR Team designed our house using the first “Warm Form, Frost Protected” slab in Michigan – a system that has been in use in Sweden for many years. This means that the infrastructure for the water and wiring systems had to be in place before the 8” concrete slab was poured. This required precise planning and calculation to ensure that the various conduits emerged from the slab in just the right places so that the framing could enclose them. Many of the features of our house are invisible to the casual viewer. I would venture to guess that no one gives a second thought to the complexities of the SIPs roofing system that you and your team worked so hard to perfect. And yet the resulting 18” thick low-slope roof, which replaces the towering peaked roofs of many of today’s “BNO” homes, provides the necessary support for the ceiling of the 28’ X 19’ kitchen/living room area. It appears to be so simple and yet I’m guessing it was extremely difficult to perfect. Then there is the geo-thermally heated, polished concrete floor, which, well, what can I say. All-in-all, we are extremely pleased with our home and would do it all over again without changing a thing. Thanks for all you and the team at Architectural Resource did,

From the outset Michael was effusive, warm, kind and not pushy at all. He came to meet us at our house and immediately started looking around and listening to what we wanted. Even more so he was extremely enthusiastic, and his excitement was contagious. Prior to his visit my wife and I had said that no matter what was said we shouldn’t agree to anything that night. Michael’s disarming honesty, charm and forthrightness changed our mind and we said that we would love to work with him that night. In hindsight not only was it the right decision, but we feel very lucky that we got to work with Architectural Resource and never for a moment have we second guessed ourselves. Michael’s team shares many of his traits and as a group they are approachable, knowledgeable and wonderful listeners. AR prioritizes matching the renovation with the personalities of the people living in each house. We were asked to describe what we desired in a house; they turned our nebulous and sometimes vague ideas of “warmth” and “comfort” into concrete ideas – be it much more sunshine or a roof design that evokes the good cheer of a cottage. Their ability to turn the ideas people have in their heads into tangible design is amazing. They synthesize this information further and offer a multitude of ideas that we didn’t even know we wanted until they came up with them. Our side entryway – a modest space we never envisioned– has become an invaluable area and a boon when managing strollers, umbrellas and the various implements of modern life. None of this would matter if they also didn’t have a completely thorough understanding of the planning process. They know the weather, they know the nuances of the city codes, they know the pitfalls to avoid. In short, they are ideal architects for home design, and we couldn’t have been any happier with the entire process nor could we imagine using another firm. AR gave us a quote with a price range, and we fell inside that range when all was said and done – although it was at the upper part of that range. Billing was straightforward and we never had an issue or complaint. With regards to the cost to build/renovate, at various steps in the process different design options – all thought out in great detail- were presented to us which could increase or decrease the price of our build. Having those options was important to us and allowed us to appropriate money to the design elements we weighed as most important. Ultimately, we ended up with a house that fit us perfectly in a neighborhood that we love for much less than a similar house would have cost us. Both my wife and I feel very fortunate that we were able to partner with Michael and his team at Architectural Resource. Michael is in incredible listener and is able to distill what you want in a house even if you aren’t able to adequately describe it yourself.

The green design wonders of Michael Klement and Architectural Resource Clearly, Architectural Resource’s clients have already given many glowing evaluations for you to read—and we concur with all the positive comments. For us however, Michael’s incomparable vision and leadership in the world of sustainable design has proven to be the supreme value in our design project. Michael and A/R designed a home for us that constitutes an entirely new art form. A new gestalt, far greater than the sum of its parts… •A home verified through a year-long performance audit to be one of the greenest homes on the entire planet. •A sublime and simple home design where form follows functions. For example, net-positive energy, human-safe building materials, 100% sustainably forested or repurposed wood, and net-positive water. •A real work of architectural art both inside and out, founded on timeless patterns of good architectural design, making it an attractive home for centuries to come serving many generations. We are grateful to have this as the marvelous place in which to live out our days. Michael and his team at A/R established the foundation for a project to design and build the second residence in the world that satisfies the requirements of the Living Building Challenge of the International Living Future Institute (www.living-future.org). As our design phase got underway, Michael assembled a team of sustainable building experts from across the US to ensure success for our LBC project team. Michael led the team throughout the design phase, leveraging essential input from these professionals to augment the work of A/R. Michael continued an important leadership role on the team through the construction phase, working closely with the general contractor and us to ensure compliance with design details and LBC requirements. After construction was complete, Michael transitioned quickly to ongoing education and inspiration for design and building professionals, homeowners and the sustainably-minded, using our project as a showcase. As of today, Michael has led tours for more than 4,000 visitors through our home, including virtual tours during the Covid pandemic. And on top of all that, Michael is just a great guy to work with—an excellent communicator, personable, attentive, dedicated, and passionate about helping us A/R clients achieve our dreams and aspirations. In fact, what started as a professional relationship for us has blossomed into a close friendship. For Michael and his colleagues at A/R, we offer our highest recommendation. Tom & Marti Burbeck Beacon Springs Farm Ann Arbor, Michigan www.beaconsprings.org

We worked with Michael Klement and his team at Architectural Resource over the course of several years. The task was to create a large addition to our 1870’s era Victorian style home and the goal was to make the addition look original, as though it had always been there. The outcome exceeded our dreams and imaginations. The result was a seamless blend of old and new, a home for a modern family but with great respect & reverence for the history of the house. With much thoughtful planning and an unmatched attention to detail, Michael brought our vision to reality. The process was a joy for us and Michael was a careful listener, always respectful of our thoughts and input. The new space was so well planned that there is not one thing we would have done differently even after several years of living in our home. Ours was a large and complicated project and it could not have gone more smoothly. Michael and his team are the ultimate professionals with a gift for what they do. We would highly recommend Michael and his team at Architectural Resource for any project, but in particular for one where the details, thoughtful planning and clear communication are crucial."

The Architectural Resource team brought our dreams and reality together exceeding expectations at every turn in the realization of our new home: the Garden Bungalow Passive House- northern Indiana’s first PHIUS Certified Passive House. We initially had some reservations about how the project would be managed given that we were in Indiana and AR was in Michigan. However, the effectiveness and ease of doing business from a distance with Michael and his team was second to none in their highly competent, efficient, and gracious manner. The depth and execution of knowledge for a very technically demanding project, while translated in easily understandable lay terms, led to a successful outcome in meeting our design goals. The open transparency between us, our builders, and AR created a collaborative team spirit furthering this success. We highly recommend Michael Klement and the team at Architectural Resource, and would partner with them on future projects if the opportunity should arise. However we don’t think that will likely ever occur as we now looking forward to enjoying the rest of our lives in this amazing home that the AR Team has created for us. Just can’t express how much we love living here. Alan and Barbara S.

Michael Klement, and his dedicated and talented team at Architectural Resource, were trusted partners in our dream to build our home. It was our first time building a custom home, and they skillfully led us through the process and listened to what we wanted. With over 30 years of experience, Michael’s passion for energy efficient homes completely aligned with our goals. We’re now excited to be living in the first PHIUS+2015 certified Passive House in Michigan. Michael and the AR Team gave us the space to make what we envisioned into a reality, and we now truly enjoy living and working in our home- our dream come true!

Michael Klement, and his dedicated and talented team at Architectural Resource, were trusted partners in our dream to build our home. It was our first time building a custom home, and they skillfully led us through the process and listened to what we wanted. With over 30 years of experience, Michael’s passion for energy efficient homes completely aligned with our goals. We’re now excited to be living in the first PHIUS+2015 certified Passive House in Michigan. Michael and the AR Team gave us the space to make what we envisioned into a reality, and we now truly enjoy living and working in our home- our dream come true!

Michael Klement and his highly talented team at Architectural Resource are second to none. While I pride myself on being highly detail-oriented, Michael's phenomenal attention to detail puts me to shame, and puts him in a class of his own. The depth and breadth of knowledge and experience that he and his team bring to bear, along with the time they took to thoroughly understand my needs and preferences, resulted in stunning plans for a full renovation of my 1919 bungalow, about 15 years ago. The plans covered not only a full gut renovation of the house, but also equally gorgeous designs for an outdoor living space with a water feature. Last year, after purchasing another older home in need of (unexpected) mold remediation, I immediately reached out to Architectural Resource for help, and they once again exceeded my expectations. I needed help with repairs after major mold remediation that resulted in taking several walls down to the studs. I could not determine how to properly and effectively close up that walls to prevent further water infiltration in order to prevent recurrence of the mold. He immediately provided the perfect solution that I was able to implement without issue. Michael and his team at AR are an absolute joy to work with, and I would jump at the opportunity to work with them again. They are absolute professionals. I am not one to readily give a recommendation, but I can give no higher recommendation than for Michael Klement and Architectural Resource.

When my wife and I first decided to completely remodel our home several years ago, we planned to interview three architects. Michael was the first on our schedule, and as soon as he left our house, I told my wife there was no need to interview anyone else, so we cancelled the other two interviews. Michael’s presentation was not only professional, but also extremely customer-oriented, and his sincere desire to make our dreams come true was obvious within the first five minutes of our meeting, even though we had never undertaken anything of this scope before. I knew immediately that we could do no better than Architectural Resource, and we never regretted choosing Michael’s team to make our dreams come true. His approach is unsurpassed as he takes great care to understand what his customers want and then makes it his highest priority to achieve the goals along every step of the process. His adherence to selection of a builder early in the process as a “partner” (and not an afterthought) is also instrumental in the overall success of his projects. Three years after our remodel, we have decided to undertake a smaller remodel to our home, and there was never a question of working with anyone other than Michael again to continue the next stage of our project. His enthusiasm and understanding of our aesthetics and idiosyncrasies are very apparent, and we get the feeling that he treats our project as if we are family. He is absolutely amazing !!

When working with the team at Architectural Resource we found it to be comforting to be able to direct our preferences for the general vibe of the type of home & amenities that we desired. Actually, the pre-design discussions involved all sorts of things that we had never even considered that would enhance the final plans, such as site placement, view lines, privacy aspects regarding outdoor spaces & sunlight travel within the building envelope. It was a very enlightening process. The value of going through these planning discussions are extremely beneficial when considering building a home. With the AR team’s approach to the pre-design discovery process you'll have a distinct advantage over others who trudge ahead without consideration of the final aesthetic as well as practical features that endure through time. We’d also note the impressive portfolio of interesting energy-efficient and "passive energy" homes that have been featured in showings through trade organization tours over the years. This really shows the firms dedication, leadership and passion for high-performance homes.

Who knew that without increasing the square footage we could transform our small 1950s Cape Cod house into contemporary, exciting home! We chose Michael Klement and his team at Architectural Resource to create a design for the remodel of the first floor of our home that included the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, dining room, living room, hallway, plus converting the unfinished basement into a functional living space, multimedia room, storage, and laundry room. In our first meetings Michael and his Project Designer did a systematic job of finding out what we were trying to accomplish with the project. Before we began looking at the first design options Michael suggested that we include our builder in all of our meetings so he could offer thoughts from the builder’s perspective. Michael and his associates at Architectural Resource measured every inch of the areas our house for the remodel and came up with detailed drawings. As the design evolved we were encouraged to make as many suggestions as we wanted. The design phase included extremely helpful computer generated three dimensional views of the various rooms after the walls were removed or moved so that we could have an idea of how the house would feel when it was finished. It was a pleasure for us to be able to contribute to the overall plan at each stage. With the help of the builder's team we were able to make Architectural Resource's wonderful vision and our builder's excellent construction into a terrific living space. The results have amazed us, going far beyond what we had originally imagined! We were hoping for an open and modern feel and Michael and Architectural Resource gave us that along with an artistic, exciting design that is a pleasure to wake up to every day!

There are not words strong enough in the English language to express how fortunate we were to work with Ann Arborite Michael Klement and the Architectural Resource Team in designing an accessory building (1000 square feet, one-room brick structure, heated and air-conditioned) at our residence. His former associate, retired architect Lorri Sipes, highly recommended Michael Klement, due to his emphasis on sustainable energy efficient buildings. During our initial idea session, Michael explained his "three-legged stool" approach to his projects - the customer, the building contractor and the architect. In his almost 30 years of practice, this method provided the stablest environment in which the most rewarding conclusions resulted. We couldn't agree more. After a thorough analysis of our needs and desires, we were presented with three design concepts that would fit our parameters. At this point we were encouraged to select a building contractor to add that third leg to our stool. This contractor was involved in all meetings and discussions from then on. Through the design development process, the construction documents, the project manual, and all the way to the final inspection, Michael had his hand on the tiller. He successfully navigated everybody on board safely into port. Any time we called on Michael, he was immediately responsive in the first degree and expeditiously resolved the issue at hand. Michael Klement and his team were extremely informative, professional and patient. They turned our vision into reality. They guided us through the sometimes overwhelming options and they went the extra mile to thoroughly research some "out of the box" alternatives. When we encountered occasional choppy waters ("bumps in the road"), Caption Michael Klement was undaunted. His diplomacy and focus made us feel like we were his only client. Besides the obvious architectural expertise, this may be Michael's strongest suit. Michael spoke with pride that never in his career had lawyers been required to sort out any issues. This speaks to Michael's ability to seize the day and smooth out any rough spots to everyone's satisfaction. Us, the builder, the sub-contractors, our Captain and his Crew, the structural engineer, the building inspectors and yes, some of our extended family members, all had some "learning opportunities" throughout this nine month process. The proof is in the pudding - we couldn't be happier with our building. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! You could put this missive in all CAPITAL LETTERS, shout it from the roof tops and fly a banner over Michigan Stadium during a football game and it still wouldn't adequately convey our positive thoughts regarding our experience with a hand-tied, crisp, bow tie. In case you missed it, we would highly recommend Michael Klement and Architectural Resource for your architectural needs.

I've worked with Michael and AR twice on two major projects, separated by about 5 years. In the first project, we worked with Michael to transform a badly neglected 1928 Craftsman style bungalow. This first phase involved replacing a rotted front porch and adding interior details such as built in book cases, a fire place, window seats and extensive wood wainscoting. It involved working on the front porch, entry way, living room, study and dining room as well as remediation on the exterior of the house to repair window casings ruined when aluminum siding was put on in the sixties. The goal was to make the house back into it's arts and crafts roots (though probably more than the house had originally) -- inside and out. NOTE: Cost was total cost with design and construction. Estimate of the architectural fees was approximately 10% of that. From the first meeting, we really immediately felt he was focused on learning what we wanted from this project. A week later he showed sketches that demonstrated his understanding of what we wanted -- they were amazing! Michael was always professional, enthusiastic and understanding. He never argued, but instead immediately got behind our new thoughts and integrated them into the design. It was a more like working on a team than him simply being someone providing a professional service. His design sense is amazing. His design details and thoughts helped us see our house in an entirely new way. He has an easy comfort with designing for the dramatic and for the simple. When done, he presented a set of design documents that were more detailed than most house plans -- nothing was left to chance. When a question or problem came up during the project, he was always there for us, often showing up within minutes of the call. We could not have been happier with the outcome.

Architectural Resources turned out to be the perfect company to partner with us on the remodel of our 1920 Craftsman bungalow in Plymouth, MI. Michael Klement and his team brought creativity, professional experience and, perhaps most importantly, a sympathy for the period details of the original house. We wanted a new kitchen, complete revamp of the back of the house that leads into the garden, a new family room, and a new visual and physical flow through the first floor. Klement's team combined their expertise and the latest CAD/CAE tools with their understanding of why people like us love original Craftsman/Arts & Crafts living spaces. They also got rave reviews from our general contractor, Old School Construction, regarding the precision and clarity of their blueprints. The result was an award-winning remodel (in Fine Homebuilding Magazine's special issue) that was also featured in The Detroit News! We'd hire Architectural Resources again in a nanosecond--great firm!

I hired Michael Klement and his team at Architectural Resource LLC to design a major remodel of my house and could not be happier with the results. Michael designed a beautiful and energy efficient home for me. Michael listened carefully to all my objectives and in fact, used a detailed questionnaire to probe those objectives further. One objective was to "bring the outdoors inside." The result of his design is an uninterrupted view of the outdoors and house that is filled with light and easy access to the outdoors. While incorporating large windows and sliding doors into the design, Michael and his team were still able to make sure that my house is warm and tight against the winter wind. Michael also brought the "downstairs upstairs," another of my objectives, by relocating and opening a beautiful staircase connecting both spaces. I use the lower level of my home more than I ever did before. Michael met all deadlines. He and his team were a pleasure to work with. His communication skills in explaining architectural objectives are excellent. In addition, Michael was right on budget. Another important quality I found in Architectural Resource was the ability to work with my contractor and decorator with efficiency and collegiality. How many home owners can say that a major remodel of their homes was actually an enjoyable experience? My experience was,in fact, enjoyable, due in the main to Michael's professionalism, superb architectural talent and excellent communication skills. I would recommend him for any design project and would hire him again if the occasion arose.

Michael at Architectual Resources designed or sun porch. He originally designed our custom home is 2001 and we had him back to help us with our porch. He listens to your ideas and works to include them in the design. Help you to see pros and cons of design details so you can chose what is right for you. He is very knowledgeable especially in the area of energy efficiency, materials and design. He truly loves what he does and his attention to detail is off the scale. I would hire him again without hesitation. Oh ya, I guess we already did.

As a custom home builder and remodeler, I have worked with many architects. I find Michael and his talented staff to be both very thorough and thoughtful in their process of designing living spaces that incorporate their clients needs as well as finding creative solutions to the challenges of home renovation. Their collaborative approach to the building process rare combination of and a serious commitment state of the art building science, incorporating energy efficiency, functionality and great design. I highly recommend Architectural Resource.

My husband and I have followed Michael Klement, the Principal at Architectural Resource, at the Ann Arbor home shows and remodeling tours for years. His passion for the work he does is evident in everything he does, and is delightful to listen to during his tours. We've visited every home that has been open for tours and no two are alike. His talent is so broad - from respecting a classic Italianate design, to creating a found-art energy efficient modern masterpiece. He excels at listening to what the customer is looking for and delivering perfection. He blends brilliant design with smart, efficient, architectural engineering. After years of dreaming of what Michael could do for us, we were finally in a position to consider hiring him. He met us at our home and talked with us about our "ultimate vision of living". We can see how this approach could lead to the perfect personalized homes that we had toured. He walked us through the design process and laid out an estimate for pricing. After the meeting I was so energized and excited that it took 2 hours to fall asleep (it was way past my bedtime!). Ultimately, we couldn't find a piece of empty property with the location / features we wanted for a price that would allow us to build new with Michael. So we purchased a home with "potential" and are saving up for the chance to do a remodel/rebuild with him on this property. We wouldn't dream of working with anyone else.