On The Road with The ‘Ville 27

Briarstone Building owner Drew Duhn stands in one of his kitchen remodeling projects in Northville.

Local builder creating dreams one project at a time

Drew Duhn likes to think he builds dreams into reality -- one home at a time. Owner of the Northvillebased Briarstone Building, Inc., Duhn has been constructing new homes since founding the company in 1996, not too long after graduating from Purdue University with a construction management degree.

Initially after college, Duhn worked as a project manager for a couple different construction firms, but then decided he wanted to form his own company where he could be free to build homes utilizing his experience, integrity and vision. While Briarstone specializes in constructing new, custom homes, the company’s services also include renovating existing homes, such as finishing basements, and remodeling kitchens and bathrooms. Duhn says what sets Briarstone apart from other builders is his attention to detail, and his ability to guide his clients through the construction process from start to finish. The keys, he says, are communication and honesty, and making sure his clients understand -- and are comfortable -- every step of the way, from design to completion. “We are committed to making the home building process as easy as possible for the homeowner,” Duhn said. “With years of experience, we understand that some homeowners will only build one or two homes in their lifetime and therefore it can be a little overwhelming. Our goal is to learn the client’s needs and make the whole process easy and as stress-free as possible.” Duhn lives in the Northville Hills subdivision -- in a home he built – with his wife Gabriella and son Enzo, who is a senior at Northville High School. His oldest son, Dominic, a NHS grad, is currently attending Michigan State University. Duhn prides himself on being a hometown builder, having done many projects in Northville and surrounding communities including Novi, Plymouth, Canton, and Salem Township – just to name a few. Briarstone also has a realty arm. Duhn, a licensed real estate broker in Michigan, works with preferred realtors to find the perfect property, whether a home for Briarstone to renovate or vacant land where his clients can build their dream home from scratch.

Briarstone has a number of custom home designs that Duhn has developed with local architects, but there are no limits to what the company can do. It’s really up to the imagination and personal needs of his clients.

“Depending on what the BRIARSTONE BUILDING, INC. OWNER: Drew Duhn SERVICES: New home construction; remodeling; additions; bathrooms and kitchens; and finished basements PHONE: (248) 535- 3838 WEBSITE: www.briarstonebuilding.com

client wants, we can make changes to our home plans, or we can start from scratch,” Duhn said. “They’ll sit down with an architect and me to come up with the home of their dreams. It’s really important that the builder is involved in every step of this process, because I’m very conscious of their budget and their needs.” By the end of the process, Duhn says he forms great relationships with his clients that extend far beyond the projects themselves. Some of his best friends, he says, are former clients. And it’s that personal relationship that leads many of his clients to hire him again, whether for remodeling projects or even to build another new home.

“I love what I do, but I think my favorite part is after a project is done and I hear how much people enjoy their home. I love to go back and visit, and see them living in and enjoying what was once just an idea. That’s what it’s all about – making their dreams come true,” Duhn said.

At Sigma, our Midwest heritage has taught us to be well reasoned in our thought process. We want to understand where each client is today and where they want to be tomorrow. Every advisor at Sigma is either a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and/or Certified Financial Planner (CFP)®. This rigorous course work and long experience enables our advisors to find creative solutions that meet each clients’ unique financial goals.

186 E. Main St., Suite 200, Northville, MI 48167 | (248) 223-0122 | fax: (248) 223-0144 | www.sigmainvestments.com

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Wherever You Go, Go With All Your Heart

When I was a teenager I knew the words to all the songs by Herman’s Hermits. It’s February and everyone is thinking about Valentine’s Day – falling in love – being Heart Smart, but I’m thinking about a few oldies but goodies – Connie Francis singing “Stupid Cupid” and Herman’s Hermits 1965 hit “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat?” Honestly, a little nostalgia is great to warm a winter heart and maybe rekindle an old flame.

When I am in a pickle for a gift I always know that our shops in downtown Northville will have something new, something nostalgic or something unique that will speak from my heart. Trust me I have a long list of THE perfect gifts from just about every merchant in town. But soon I will be one shop shy on my list.

Colleen Pozzuoli is retiring from Rock On Main.

After 35 years, Colleen Pozzuoli has decided to retire, which means Rock on Main is closing soon. I

stopped by to let her know I would miss her and we briefly talked about her decision – I might add, while there were several shoppers on hand. She told me it was a long time coming. “There was a lot of thought…but once I decided, I felt great. It’s the right thing to do,” she said.

I’m not sure where I will get that clever T-shirt when I need it, but honestly I thought Colleen looked pretty darn happy – and that made me leave with a smile.

I walked across the street with hopes Northville Gallery was still going to offer clever gifts since Dan Ferrara turned over the keys to the new owner, Derek Blair. Derek was born and raised in Canada, but now lives here in Northville, in the Cabbagetown neighborhood. He is already a pretty active guy in town – renovating a few historic homes, involved in Rotary and he is generous donor to many of the local nonprofits. Derek has a broadcast background. He worked for WDIV, Fox Sports and he was a producer for Red Wings Weekly. He taught media classes, ranging from digital to cinema, at the high school level and at Madonna University. He’s looking forward to working with local elementary schools and groups, like Living & Learning, to foster the importance of art in our community. Northville Gallery is more than an art gallery. The framing is wildly unique. But I love the innuendos on the assortment of prints, gifts and cards. If you haven’t, I suggest windowshopping anytime.

Blair is thrilled to be working in the heart of downtown. “I was looking to find a successful downtown business with real potential. I’m excited to try my hand at marketing and social media in an effort to grow the business even more.” He also told me he only agreed to buy the shop if Tracy Lampman stayed on as manager. She is. Christine Shelters opened up her heart and her business well beyond the holidays. She is the owner of Edwards Café and Caterer on Main Street in downtown Northville. In December she put a little tree up in the corner of her eatery and asked people to bring warm clothes, toiletries and such for women and children in need. After Derek Blair is the new owner of Northville Gallery.

the holidays, Christine and her daughter Allison dropped off nearly $2,500 worth of donations to Lighthouse of Oakland County in Pontiac. Christine was touched. “I am so proud to be a part of a community that shows up for those in need. The generous people of Northville, the Northville Central Business Association, and my loving team at Edwards really came through to show their support during these cold winter months.” Many people expect this kind of outreach at the area churches, and the big retailers, but not necessarily at the local lunch counter. I brought in a supply of toothpaste and toothbrushes and was overwhelmed by the true generosity of so many. The collection area was overflowing. It warmed my heart and honestly brought a tear to my eye. Kudos to Christine for giving life to a simple idea, to Lori Ward at the DDA for supporting the effort, and to all the folks who gave from their heart.

Who cares about all the royals of the day, check out YouTube for the adorable British boy named Herman and know here in Northville you can hear our hearts beat! Christine Shelters and Allison Vyn

FAUSONE BOHN, LLP ATTORNEYS AT LAW

Introducing Katherine A. Krysak

Katherine A. Krysak is a Partner at Fausone Bohn, LLP, heading the family law division. Katherine has focused her entire career on family law because she appreciates not only the tremendous responsibility associated with handling complex legal issues, but also the emotional components that accompany family law litigation as well. She is dedicated to educating, supporting, and passionately advocating for her clients through difficult situations. 2019 has been a big year of recognitions and awards for Katherine. She has recently been recognized as a 2019 Michigan Rising Star by Super Lawyers. This accomplishment is attained by demonstrating excellence in the practice of law and is limited to no more than 2.5% of attorneys within Michigan. Super Lawyers recognizes attorneys who have distinguished themselves in their legal practice. Katherine has also been named as one of the Top 10 Family Law Attorneys Under 40 in Michigan by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys. She received a recognition of excellence in Family and Divorce Law from Lawyers of Distinction. She gives back to the community by providing free legal advice at the Women’s Resource Center at Schoolcraft College in Livonia. Katherine and her fiancé, Geoffrey (“Geoff”) P. Frampton, Jr., recently purchased their first home in Commerce Township. Her fiancé, Geoff, grew up in Northville and his parents are longtime Northville residents. Katherine and Geoff are the proud parents to their fur child, a cat named Maggie. The couple often spend their weekends with family in Northville attending many of the local events, when they are not enduring the adventures that come with home ownership. Please contact Fausone Bohn, LLP to schedule a confidential consultation with Katherine to discuss any of your family law needs. In addition to regular business hours, evening and weekend appointments are available upon request.

Photo Credit: Mishelle Lamarand Photography

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