Alphonso Van Deusen (1860-1927) was a Detroit architect who helped establish the upscale reputation of esteemed suburbs like Indian Village, where you can find two gorgeous Van Deusen-designed homes: He was one of many talented architects who worked out of Detroit at the peak of its residential expansion period in the early 1900s. This was […]

Beckett & Akitt was a respected Detroit residential architecture firm that was active from the 1910s through to the 1920s, one of many whose work defined the city’s most prestigious and dignified neighborhoods.  Their work featured balanced façades, stately masonry, and heavy revival influences—features that perfectly suited historic districts like Indian Village, where you’ll find […]

Wallace Frost (1892–1962) was a domestic architect during Detroit’s post-World War I boom period. Utilizing the engineering background he gained while serving with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he quickly established himself as a key player when it came to securing stunning residential commissions. Upon returning home, he took a job at the influential […]

W. C. Morris was one of the architects who helped define the identity of some of Detroit’s most prestigious historic neighborhoods during its early twentieth-century ascent period. For proof of his mastery, see the William C. Morris House at 19395 Cumberland Way in the Palmer Woods Historic District, which was designed and built by W. […]

Walter S. Russel was an architect in Detroit during its early development period. As far as his design aesthetic, think: gorgeous façades, solid masonry, sturdy massing, an avoidance of unnecessary, gaudy ornamentation, and tasteful revival influences that would go on to define some of the city’s most beloved boulevards. Though not a widely recognized name […]

Tuller & Van Husan came into existence during Detroit’s northward residential expansion period – one of many that emerged after the city’s rise as an industrial great. This was a time period that saw the duo design many iconic residences, one of which is the Charles Warren Pickell House, which can still be found standing […]

Thomas B. Coughlan was a revival-style architect who worked out of Detroit during its early developmental period. Although not as widely known as some of his contemporaries, his architecture defines some of Detroit’s most prestigious neighborhoods, with the Edward Bland House at 1049 Seminole one of the best living examples of his distinguished architectural character. […]

Together, the early Detroit architectural duo Stahl & Kinsey helped define the architectural pedigree of some of the city’s most enduring and architecturally cohesive historic districts. Best known for their stately masonry designs, balanced proportions, and high-quality brick and trim work, the firm quickly caught the attention of early elite residents in neighborhoods like Indian […]

Stratton & Baldwin’s claim to fame was the Belle Isle’s Bathhouse, which stood from 1913 until 1973. That said, their work also helped establish the curbside appeal of some of Detroit’s most beloved enclaves, leaning heavily into revival-styling featuring sensible massing, distinguished façades, and quality craftsmanship meant to convey abundance and long-term prosperity. Within the […]

A product of the early 1900s, Stratton & Snyder came into existence just as Detroit was beginning to define its architectural identity and was relying heavily on visionaries like Dalton J. V. Snyder and William B. Stratton, the firm’s founders, to help lead the way. By then, Stratton & Snyder had each honed years of […]

The Harry W. Fauver House at 19471 Lowell Drive, Detroit, MI 48203 is one of the Palmer Woods Historic District’s oldest surviving homes – a district known for its striking Colonial, Mediterranean, Tudor, and Revival-style homes. Commissioned for Harry W. Fauver, the Verner, Wilhelm & Molby-designed Fauver house is one of a handful of upscale […]

Palmer Woods’ Louis Miller House at 1460 Wellesley Drive, Detroit, MI 48203 was designed by the architect J. Ivan Dise during Detroit’s early development period – a time that saw the city eventually gain international recognition as an automotive giant. One of the most striking properties on Wellesley Drive, the 1460 Wellesley Drive property features […]

Verner, Wilhelm & Molby was an early 20th-century Detroit architectural firm best known for constructing schools (including Monnier, George Washington, and the addition to Redford High School) as well as upscale residences during the city’s residential boom and industrial expansion period. One such commission is the Harry W. Fauver House at 19471 Lowell Drive in […]

William F. Goodrich (August 6, 1886 – October 1946) may not be as well-known as some of his contemporaries, yet that does not mean he did not make an impact on Detroit’s early residential landscape. Quite the contrary, his impressive body of work reveals a gifted designer who was loved by Detroit’s early influential families, […]

William Mann (January 22, 1888 – January 5, 1930) was a revival-style architect who practiced in Detroit. Although not as well-known as some of his contemporaries, Mann’s work is centered around sophisticated revival design, proportion, structural solidity, and tasteful detailing, all of which went a long way in attracting upscale clients seeking homes that conveyed […]