Blog

Front of a fieldstone and shingle Westfield, NJ home after a full renovation, with a pedimented entry, black shutters and a bluestone walk across the lawn

01 April, 2025

Renovating versus Building A New Home in Union, Morris and Essex Counties in NJ

Compare a renovation with new construction in New Jersey, looking beyond the initial idea to the property, existing structure, proposed scope and result.

Mike and Ellie Mroz under an arched cased opening in a Westfield, NJ home, with a ring chandelier and steel-framed glass doors behind them

26 February, 2025

What does ‘One-Stop Home Building’ Really Mean?

See how coordinating construction, interiors and furnishings can improve project decisions, with MRC's perspective on scope, timing and design intent.

Portico entry with a deep green front door, brass hardware, gas lanterns and gray stone veneer in Westfield, NJ

11 November, 2024

Why to Use a Builder Who Really Gets Proportions and Symmetry – in Design, Construction and Interiors

Learn why proportion, symmetry and architectural details matter when planning an addition, and how MRC approaches changes to existing New Jersey homes.

Home gym under exposed timber trusses, with a squat rack, rings, a sled track and rubber flooring the length of the room

26 March, 2024

Building a Home Gym: Insider Tips

Mike Mroz shares lessons from planning a home gym with Ellie, including how layout, equipment and everyday use should shape the space before construction.

Rendering of a Summit, NJ colonial seen straight on, with three gabled dormers, a balustraded balcony over the entry and hydrangeas along the brick walk

07 December, 2023

What is cottagecore?

Explore how existing architecture and considered material choices can shape a warm, personal older home, with MRC's renovation and construction perspective.

Family room of a Westfield, NJ custom home under a planked wood ceiling on exposed beams, with arched doorways at both ends and a long sectional on a pale rug

14 June, 2023

Debunking the Timeline for Building A Home

Understand what a New Jersey home project timeline includes, from planning and approvals to construction, and why the starting point changes the schedule.

Two plaster arches down a hallway of a Westfield, NJ new-construction home, each with a glass bell lantern hung beneath it

31 January, 2023

What makes a Michael Robert Construction x Ellie Mroz Design (MRCxEMD) home different?

Explore where construction and interior design decisions meet, from cabinetry and lighting to furnishings, with MRC and Ellie Mroz Design's coordinated approach.

Backyard terrace with a built-in outdoor kitchen, teak seating, planters and an umbrella beside a new construction home in Westfield, NJ

07 July, 2022

Indoor-Outdoor Living at Home

Explore the planning behind indoor-outdoor living in New Jersey, including how a home connects to its property and how outdoor spaces will be used.

Dining area off the kitchen of a Westfield, NJ new home, with dome pendants over the table and French doors open to the garden on two sides

14 April, 2022

Building a Coastal Home

Explore how light, materials, proportion and outdoor connections can bring a coastal sensibility to a New Jersey home without relying on themed details.

Dining area of the Mroz family home in Westfield, NJ, with a stone pedestal table under a beaded chandelier between two steel-framed mirrors

05 January, 2022

Home Design Trends 2022

Consider design choices by how they serve your home over time, with MRC's perspective on architecture, materials and lasting residential construction.