You Get Beauty and Brains in this French Transitional

We have a couple of mantras here at CandysDirt.com. One is if you can purchase the home of a builder, do it. This French transitional is a perfect example of why that is solid advice.

Mike Wilderman owns Double Door Custom Homes. He built this 7,560-square-foot stunner fully intending to move in with his wife and young daughter. He pulled out all the stops with this five-bedroom, six-bathroom, two-powder-bath home with a game room, a home theater, and the most perfect screened porch off the family area. The house is both elevator- and generator-ready. Yep, it has everything!

Once it was finished, Wilderman looked around asked himself, “Do we really need a 7,650-square-foot home?” After all, they were one and done with kiddos so that’s a lot of space for a family of three.

I can’t tell you how many builder’s wives I’ve interviewed that know they will be in a house a year, or never move into the finished product. They call it builder-wife life! And when your finished product is flawless, why not sell and do it all over again? It’s a passion. So, lucky readers, this gorgeous French transitional is on the market!

Wilderman has been building since 2008. He began his career as a mechanical engineer.

“I liked to take things apart and put them back together, and that was the degree path,” he said.

Early on he acquired his real estate license so he knows the ins and outs of marketing and selling. He doesn’t just know how to build a great house, he also knows how to build a great team.

“I believe the more brains that go into a project the better off you are,” Wilderman said. “I like for everyone to have input.”

Interior designer Robyn Menter was involved from the beginning. She did the materials selections and finish-out.

“I bounce all my ideas off her,” Wilderman said.”I’ve.” known her for a long time and trust her. I’m really hands-on helping with design in general.”

One thing that sets this French transitional apart is the natural flow of light throughout the home.

“Most homes have nine- or 10-foot-high ceilings,” Wilderman said. “You just don’t see a lot of houses with windows going up two stories to allow light to enter the home. It was very important for us to have that double volume space in the living and entry areas.”

Wilderman put as much thought into the exterior as he did the interior. I always like to ask builders what they’ve done in a home that they will include in future designs. That enclosed back porch with the fireplace and wet-bar was a must-have in any future home of his. The backyard design, pool, and three-car garage are also high on his list. Wilderman teamed up with Bill Bauer of Garden Design Studio for the landscaping.

Because the Wilderman’s never moved in, staging the house was essential. Compass listing agent Amy Detwiler brought in George Bass of George Bass Stage and Design to add the finishing touch.

“A house is like a large canvas,” Bass said. “It needs furniture to scale and define spaces. and texture and artwork create an impact. The builder wanted to convey the easy flow of the floor plan, so we staged to be respectful of that and to evoke the right ambiance.”

“This whole block is so special,” Detwiler said. ” It really feels like old Highland Park. With a 200-foot-deep lot, Mike had room for a downstairs guest room with an outdoor courtyard. The whole feel of the home is light and fresh. He did a beautiful job.”

Detwiler has this French transitional at 3311 Beverly Drive listed for $5.99 million. Trust me, it’s worth it.