Sears Architects

What Sears Architects does

Sears Architects is a boutique residential architecture and planning firm founded in 1994 by Julie and Rob Sears and headquartered at 16 Ionia SW, Suite One, Grand Rapids, Michigan. The firm provides full-service custom residential architecture including site analysis, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration for primary residences, vacation homes, lakefront estates, beach houses, cottages, lodges, farmhouses, and historic preservation projects. Its design vocabulary spans traditional American and East Coast precedents including Shingle Style, Cape Cod, New England, French Country, Tudor, and Modern Farmhouse styles.

The firm serves three customer segments: private individuals and families seeking custom residential design; historic residential associations requiring architecture that respects neighborhood character and historical precedence; and private developers working on residential developments such as waterfront properties and cottage communities. Sears Architects acquires clients through a direct sales and referral-driven go-to-market motion, supported by a portfolio website and earned media in publications such as Better Homes & Gardens, Midwest Living, Great Lakes By Design, Detroit Home Magazine, and New View Midwest. It maintains social presence on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Despite a headcount of 1-10 employees, the firm operates a national project footprint spanning Michigan, Washington State, Florida, New Jersey, and Montana. Its business model is professional services-based with project fees negotiated on a quote basis tied to scope and complexity, and it executes each project through a curated network of builder, interior design, structural engineering, and photography partners. Notable multi-asset programs include the Bay Street Cottages waterfront development in Harbor Springs and the 40-acre Gentleman's Farm estate in Rockford. No external investors, funding events, or parent company are evidenced; the firm remains privately held by the founding principals.

Name

Sears Architects

Legal name

Sears Architects

Website

https://searsarchitects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sears Architects is a boutique residential architecture firm founded in 1994 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, by Julie and Rob Sears, serving private individuals, historic residential associations, and private developers nationally with custom home design in traditional American styles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Architecture Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Residential architecture services
• Custom home design
• Architectural planning
• Historic home restoration
• Estate architecture design

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Full-service residential architecture firm providing design, planning, and project guidance from concept to completion. Services include site analysis, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration for custom residential projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sears Architects is a boutique residential architecture and planning firm providing full-service design for private clients. Its work spans site analysis, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration, delivered across project typologies that include lakefront estates, beach houses, cottages, lodges, farmhouses, modern residences, and historic renovations in traditional American architectural styles such as Shingle Style, Cape Cod, New England, French Country, Tudor, and Modern Farmhouse.

Product overview

Sears Architects is a boutique residential architecture and planning firm based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The company operates as a single unified service offering rather than a platform or modular product. Their core offering encompasses full-service residential architecture and planning, including site analysis, design development, and project guidance from concept to completion. The portfolio includes a diverse range of residential typologies such as lakefront estates, beach houses, cottages, modern residences, historic renovations, mountain lodges, and farmhouses. Projects are located primarily across Michigan (Grand Rapids area, Harbor Springs, Glen Arbor, Holland, Saugatuck, St. Joseph, East Grand Rapids, Birmingham) with national projects in Montana, Washington, and New Jersey. Notable project types include The Summit Lodge (Beartooth Mountain Range), The Bay Street Cottages (Harbor Springs), The Gentleman's Farm (Rockford), The Tunnel House (Holland), and various contemporary and traditional residential designs. The firm is founded by Julie and Rob Sears and collaborates with various builders, interior designers, and photographers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Residential Architecture and Planning Services End-to-end residential architecture and planning for private individuals and families, covering site analysis, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration. Projects span lakefront estates, beach houses, cottages, lodges, farmhouses, modern residences, and other custom homes rendered in traditional American and East Coast architectural precedents such as Shingle Style, Cape Cod, New England, French Country, Tudor, and Modern Farmhouse.
• Historic Preservation and Contextual Residential Design Architecture services for historic residential associations and heritage property owners, focused on designs that respect and reinforce neighborhood character, historical precedents, and association guidelines. Engagements include heritage renovations and contextual new designs that maintain compatibility with established architecture.
• Residential Development Architecture Architectural services for private developers of residential projects, including waterfront properties and cottage communities. The firm produces coordinated site plans and market-appropriate designs that preserve views, support walkability, and respond to natural site character, exemplified by developments such as the Bay Street Cottages in Harbor Springs.

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

41 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Eastmark ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilder partner for The Up North Summer Estate project in Glen Arbor, MI. Eastmark Construction works with Sears Architects on residential construction projects.
• Jean Stoffer DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior designer partner for The Up North Summer Estate project. Jean Stoffer Design collaborates on interior design for luxury residential projects.
• Stoffer PhotographyminorOthersPhotography partner documenting completed projects for portfolio and marketing purposes.
• Cottage Company of Harbor SpringscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilder partner for Bay Street Cottages development - a coordinated waterfront cottage project along Harbor Springs shoreline with numerous residences organized under a coordinated site plan.
• Cottage Company InteriorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design partner for Bay Street Cottages project in Harbor Springs, MI.
• Timlin Building & DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilder partner for French Country Cottage project in Birmingham, MI.
• Scott Christopher HomescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilder partner for Gentleman's Farm project in Rockford, MI - a 40-acre estate with main residence, guest house, barn, and pool house.
• Francesca OwingsminorOthersDesign partner for Gentleman's Farm project.
• Tippet PhotographyminorOthersPhotography partner for Gentleman's Farm project documentation.
• Cannarsa Structure & DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStructural design partner for Kirby Residence project in Holland, MI.
• Donna Cohen InteriorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design partner for Darby Residence project.
• Zahn Builders, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilder partner for East Grand Rapids Tudor project. Also partnered on South Haven Estate project.
• Zahn Builders, InccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilder partner for South Haven Estate project in South Haven, MI.
• Slendebroek BuilderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilder partner for Polk Road Residence project in Stanwood, MI - an 80-acre working cattle farm residence.
• Insignia HomescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilder partner for Pinecrest Estate project in East Grand Rapids, MI.
• Kathryn ChaplowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior designer for Pinecrest Estate project. Also partnered on Shingle Style Lake House project.
• DC InteriorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design partner for Lake Drive Residence project in East Grand Rapids, MI.
• Stringer Design PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partner for Reeds Lake House project in East Grand Rapids, MI.
• J. Peterson HomescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilder partner for Wealthy Street Residence project in East Grand Rapids, MI.
• Julie HolmescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design partner for Wealthy Street Residence project.
• M-Buck StudiominorOthersPhotography partner for Wealthy Street Residence project.
• Patsy Burnham DesignscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partner for Tunnel House project in Holland, MI - featuring 100-foot tunnel through natural dune to Lake Michigan waterfront.
• Bouwkamp BuilderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilder partner for Saugatuck Cottage project in Saugatuck, MI.
• TWB ContractorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilder partner for The Sip & Ski project in Harbor Springs, MI - restoration of historic fur-trading cabin.
• Ella Wynsma DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design partner for The Sip & Ski project.
• Matrix Construction, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilder partner for Fennville Cottage project in Fennville, MI.
• James Thomas InteriorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design partner for Fennville Cottage project.
• Werner StraubeminorOthersPhotography partner for Fennville Cottage project.
• Jane Smith DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design partner for The St. Joe Shingle Style project in St. Joseph, MI.
• Tysen KayminorOthersPhotography partner for The St. Joe Shingle Style project.
• Newbury HomescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilder partner for Weque Cottage project in Harbor Springs, MI.
• Tres Belle Interior DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design partner for Weque Cottage project.
• Villa DecorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design partner for Glen Lake Cottage project in Glen Arbor, MI.
• Skyview MediaminorOthersPhotography partner for The Woodland Modern project.
• John Cannarsa DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partner for Lake Macatawa Contemporary project in Holland, MI - mid-century inspired modern retreat.
• Skyview Media and Diana PaulsonminorOthersPhotography partners for Lake Macatawa Contemporary project.
• Whitmore Custom HomescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilder partner for The East Grand Rapids Estate project.
• Dionel PhotographyminorOthersPhotography partner for East Grand Rapids Estate project.
• Haefner PhotominorOthersPhotography partner for Fennville Beach House project.
• Cannarsa DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partner for The Westwind project.
• Ashley Avila PhotographyminorOthersPhotography partner for The Westwind project.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Blackburn Architects: Boutique residential architecture firm with a strong practice in custom country and waterfront homes drawing on traditional American precedents. Comparable boutique scale, project typology (lake/country houses), and affluent private clientele.
• Steven Gambrel: Boutique architecture and design firm with a strong residential practice focused on high-end custom homes blending traditional and contemporary elements for private clients. Comparable boutique scale, client profile, and traditional-modern style range to Sears Architects.
• Ike Kligerman Barkley: New York- and San Francisco-based residential architecture firm specializing in traditional and historically inspired custom homes for private clients. Directly comparable in style range, project typology (estates, country houses), and affluent private clientele.
• Shope Reno Wharton Associates: Boutique architecture firm specializing in traditional American residential design, including Shingle Style and country houses, for private clients. Comparable boutique scale and style alignment to Sears Architects' traditional practice.
• Historical Concepts: Atlanta-based residential architecture firm focused on custom homes in traditional American vernacular styles, serving private individuals and developers across the Southeast and nationally. Highly comparable in design language, project typology, and client segment.
• G.P. Schafer Architect: New York-based boutique firm focused on classical and traditional residential architecture, including townhouses, country houses, and historic preservation. Comparable boutique model serving high-net-worth private clients in traditional vernacular styles.
• Peter Pennoyer Architects: Boutique New York firm specializing in classical and traditional residential architecture for affluent private clients, with extensive work in historic preservation and period-appropriate design. Highly comparable in service model and client base to Sears Architects' traditional-style residential practice.

Regional players

• Visbeen Architects: Grand Rapids, Michigan-based residential architecture firm with a custom-home practice. Same city and regional design market as Sears Architects, with comparable residential focus, though a slightly different style range.
• Mottin Lahti + Associates: Regional Midwest residential architecture firm with a custom-home practice serving affluent private clients. Comparable in geographic focus and project typology, though based in the Twin Cities rather than Michigan.

Broad incumbents

• Robert A.M. Stern Architects: New York-based firm with a prominent residential practice spanning traditional and contextual architecture, including many of the same vernacular styles (Shingle, Colonial, Tudor) that Sears Architects works in, and serving a similar high-net-worth clientele. Operates at a much larger scale and broader portfolio, making it a broad incumbent rather than a direct peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SearsArchitectsMI
• Instagraminstagram.com/searsarchitects
• Pinterestpinterest.ca/searsarchitects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sears Architects