Nestled in the green woodland of Lake Orion, MI, this Pinery Home captures Vitale Real Estate’s start-to-finish custom build story. From getting to know our homeowners, John and Jennie, and early design concepts to construction and finishing touches, we love turning dreams into realities. 

What starts as a concept on paper becomes a custom home truly unique to you and your lifestyle. Join us as we take you behind the scenes of Vitale’s homebuilding journey. Plus, hear what the homeowners of this beautiful Pinery home had to say about the process!

The Vision & First Steps

For John and Jennie, our homeowners-to-be, the dream of building began with a simple search for the right fit. While exploring options in Shelby Township, they were instantly drawn to Vitale Real Estate’s signature design style and craftsmanship.

When prebuilt homes didn’t work out, they reached out to our Sales Manager, Leah Lafata, to see what else was possible and discovered something even better: the chance to build a fully customized home of their own.

PRE-BUILD / INITIAL STAGE

On a picturesque 2.5-acre lot in Lake Orion, their 2,800 sq. ft. custom ranch began to take shape. Designed with both functionality and personality in mind, this home checked all the boxes on their wish list:

• A spacious open-concept kitchen and living area, perfect for hosting and relaxing
• 4 total rooms (including not one but two home offices for peak productivity)
• 3 full bathrooms (no lineups necessary!)
• A cozy covered patio to soak in those Michigan views
• A brick-and-stone exterior that blends classic charm with modern chic

In Their Own Words

What made you decide it was time to build your own home? What drew you to choose Vitale over other builders?

“We were shopping around for our home and noticed Vitale had built homes in Shelby Township and fell in love with the design.

We couldn’t buy a house there as it was all sold, so we reached out to Leah to see what other options we have. Leah provided some options we wanted to know, and that’s how it all got started!”

Designing the Dream

This Pinery Home beautifully demonstrates how Vitale Real Estate’s building process creates living spaces tailored to your lifestyle.

We love drawing from natural elements like warm wood tones, textured stones, and abundant natural light throughout the house. John and Jennie’s home inspiration phase focused on connecting their home to the lush forest surrounding the property.

We brought together expansive windows and a natural colour palette. With finishing touches like light wood flooring, sleek black accents, and layered neutral textures, their home combines contemporary warmth with timeless design.

Architectural render by Rosalinda, PR Design Studio

One of our favorite parts of the process is taking clients through a 3D walkthrough of their future home, before building. Families can experience each room, ensuring that every detail is on point. Whether it’s the large kitchen island for entertaining or an expansive walk-in closet, every part of this experience aligns with John and Jennie’s vision and lifestyle.

Customization is at the heart of what we do. Layouts, materials, and furnishings are not only chosen with aesthetics in mind, but also how our homes mould with daily routines, family gatherings, and entertaining – whatever you need. 

The result is a beautiful custom home that feels deeply personal to your family, balancing form and function while making every space truly livable.

Breaking Ground: Laying the Foundation 

This Pinery home began with a custom blueprint designed to meet John and Jennie’s needs to a tee, from the basement up, setting the stage for a truly unique build.

Our groundbreaking celebrations are always joyful moments shared with families, as they finally see their vision come to life. As site preparation began, their dream started to take shape from the ground up. With the basement coming together as the first tangible part of the home, this early stage was filled with excitement and anticipation for the beautiful space ahead.

The Build Process

As construction kept moving, major milestones in our building process brought their Pinery Home vision to life. Framing revealed the house’s shape, while windows and doors welcomed in forest views and tons of natural light. 

Once the modern exterior siding and bricks were laid, we began insulating and adding walls to the interior and setting up the necessities like electricity and plumbing. The installation of finishing touches, from cabinetry to flooring to painting the walls, added personality and warmth to the home. Throughout the Vitale Real Estate process, we prioritize communication and collaboration with homebuilders and families.

We use a secure client portal to give families weekly progress reports, key milestones, and direct access to our team, to give you peace of mind. Transparency throughout every stage of our process ensures we turn a set of plans into your dream home.

Learn more about our Home Building Process and how we keep families connected every step of the way.

The Big Reveal: The Finished Home

Walking through John and Jennie’s Pinery Home for the first time was a moment of pure excitement! The vision that had been years in the making finally paid off for this family. Our homeowners are so involved with their home’s design that every detail feels intentional and personal. Among many highlights, they were especially impressed with the quality of construction, from solid, squeak-free floors to the thoughtful, comforting details of their new Vitale home. And while the home is filled with standout features, the screen door leading to the patio was a simple favourite. We know this connection to the outdoors will help them appreciate their surroundings for years to come.

In Their Own Words

What was your reaction the first time you walked through the finished home? What are your favorite features of your new home?

“Obviously awesome? lol. I mean, we designed it so it’s hard to not like it!!! My favorite part was how sturdy everything was built. No squeaky noises when walking on the floor, everything just seems like it’s built well! I also love our screen door on our patio :).”

Tour John & Jennie’s finished custom-built dream home

Living The Dream

Settling into 3 Pinery Home has given the homeowners time to appreciate their involvement in the building process and reflect on how every decision shapes their everyday living. And the result has been both functional and fulfilling. From favourite cozy space to details catered to making their lives easier, the home truly lends itself to comfort and peace of mind.

OVERALL EXPERIENCE / REFLECTIONS

Would you recommend Vitale Real Estate & New Homes to others? Why? What advice would you give them?

“If anyone asked me about a builder, I would definitely recommend Vitale Real Estate & New Homes.

Make sure you pay much attention to the interior design portion & keep a record of everything mentioned during the meeting and check everything before it gets installed/built.”

We love this advice! Staying on top of the details is one of the best ways future homeowners can feel empowered and ensure the process reflects their vision. 

We also complete several quality-control walkthroughs with clients to support them along the way. Being organized and accountable makes the journey that much smoother.

Our Closing Thoughts

Looking back, John and Jennie’s Pinery home journey reflects not only the creation of beautiful living spaces but also the joy and fulfillment of bringing a family’s dream to life.

From blueprints to the big reveal, every step of the process is an opportunity to shape visions and values into a home, and that’s our favorite part of the job ❤️.

If you’ve been dreaming of a home that’s uniquely yours, Vitale Real Estate & New Homes is here to make it happen. Connect with Leah today to start your home journey.