Journal
The MRC Journal
What I look for before we build, the decisions that shape a renovation, and the details that make a home work. Practical guidance from Mike Mroz and the MRC team on significant renovations, additions and custom homes in New Jersey.
6 articles in Renovations & Additions
Renovations & AdditionsRenovating an Older Home Without Losing What Makes It Special
Renovating a historic home is a unique challenge that requires a balance between preserving its character and modernizing it for today’s living. No matter if you own a charming Victorian in Westfield or a century-old home in…
Renovations & AdditionsBefore You Renovate a Barn or Carriage House, Decide What It Needs to Become
In the charming neighborhoods of Westfield, Summit, and Short Hills, many homeowners are transforming their historic barns and carriage houses into luxurious spaces.
Renovations & AdditionsA Kitchen, Pantry, and Coffee Bar Should Be Planned as One System
If you’re dreaming of a high-end kitchen renovation that balances timeless style with tailored function, it’s all about the details. At Michael Robert Construction , we specialize in crafting fully customized kitchens through a…
Renovations & AdditionsIndoor-Outdoor Living in New Jersey: What Makes It Work Beyond the Photos
What is indoor-outdoor living? Indoor-outdoor living is building and designing to create a bridge between the home and the natural world. This design trend (which we – Ellie Mroz Design and I – think is less of a trend and more…
Renovations & AdditionsAn Exterior Renovation Should Start with the House's Architecture
It’s the first glimpse of home you see after a long day out, the first impression that greets your guests. Home exteriors not only are highly functional, protecting us against the wide ranging Northeast weather, but they also…
Renovations & AdditionsRenovate, Add On, or Build New? Here's How I Evaluate the Decision
How to weigh renovating, adding on, or building new — what the existing house can realistically give you, and when moving is the better answer.
Details
What a well-built house looks like up close
Most of what the Journal is about happens at this scale: a brick arch laid to match the original, cabinetry built by our own carpenters, a ceiling of poles scribed one to the next. The decisions are small and the house is the sum of them.
Built by MRC's own carpenters: white oak doors over a soapstone feeding station, with a pot filler plumbed to it. Mendham whole-home renovation 
A soldier course turned over the window head, laid and painted to match the original brick. Mountainside exterior renovation 
Eucalyptus poles laid tight across the ceiling, each one scribed to its neighbor. Westfield pool cabana