If you are shopping for a custom home in Southeast Michigan right now, the design decisions you face go far beyond picking cabinet colors. Buyer preferences have shifted meaningfully over the past two years, and the homes being built today look different from what most families were asking for as recently as 2023. At Oaks of Tyrone in Tyrone Township, Big Sky Development is seeing these trends play out in real time — buyers walking through floor plans with specific requests that reflect how they actually live, work, and unwind.
Whether you are starting from scratch or customizing one of the signature floor plans at Oaks of Tyrone, here is what is shaping the custom home market in Livingston County, Genesee County, and across Southeast Michigan in 2026.
Flexible workspaces are no longer optional
The home office has evolved. Buyers are no longer asking for a "den" or a spare bedroom with a desk. They want a dedicated, purpose-built workspace with natural light, built-in storage, and enough square footage to function as a proper office — not a corner of the kitchen island. In Southeast Michigan, where remote and hybrid work remains common for professionals commuting into Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Flint, the home office has become one of the most requested features in new construction.
At Oaks of Tyrone, Big Sky Development works with buyers to position home offices away from high-traffic areas while keeping them accessible. Some buyers opt for a front-facing study with French doors. Others dedicate a wing of the first floor. Because every home at Oaks of Tyrone is custom, the office can be sized and placed exactly where it fits your work style — not where a production builder's template puts it.
Intentional zoning replaces the wide-open floor plan
For years, the prevailing trend in new construction was the enormous great room where kitchen, dining, and living spaces merged into one uninterrupted volume. Buyers are now asking for something different: intentional zoning. Open concept is not going away, but homeowners want defined zones within that openness — a kitchen that feels like a kitchen, a living area with a distinct identity, and a dining space that does not overlap with the front hallway.
Big Sky Development's floor plans at Oaks of Tyrone are designed with this in mind. The Timber Creek split-bedroom ranch, the Firethorn ranch, and the Oakview 1.5-story plan all use architectural details like ceiling height changes, partial walls, and sightline planning to create distinct zones within an open volume. The result is a home that feels spacious without feeling cavernous, and where every zone has a purpose.
Spa-inspired primary bathrooms are the new standard
The primary bathroom has become a sanctuary in custom homes across Southeast Michigan. Buyers are investing in freestanding soaking tubs, oversized walk-in showers with multiple showerheads, heated floors, and double vanities with generous counter space. The trend leans toward clean lines, natural stone, and finishes that feel more like a high-end spa than a standard builder-grade bathroom.
Big Sky Development's design showroom gives Oaks of Tyrone buyers direct access to premium tile, fixture, and countertop selections. Because the home is custom, you are not limited to a menu of three bathroom packages. Your primary bath is designed around your preferences, your space, and the style of your home.
Multi-generational living and guest suites
More buyers in the Fenton, Tyrone Township, and Livingston County area are asking for homes that accommodate extended family — aging parents, adult children, or frequent long-term guests. A first-floor suite with a private entrance, a separate wing with its own bathroom, or a basement apartment with a kitchenette are among the most requested customizations in 2026.
The one-acre wooded homesites at Oaks of Tyrone provide enough space for these configurations without feeling cramped. Buyers can build a home that keeps family close while preserving privacy — something that is difficult to achieve in a subdivision with smaller lots and no customization options.
The kitchen as a gathering hub
The kitchen has always been the heart of the home, but today's buyers want it to function as a true gathering hub — not just a cooking space. Walk-in pantries with custom organizers, oversized islands with seating for four or more, beverage centers, and appliance garages are appearing in more custom home plans than ever. Buyers want a kitchen where multiple people can cook, chat, eat, and work without stepping over each other.
Big Sky Development's in-house design team helps buyers plan kitchens around how they actually entertain and cook. At Oaks of Tyrone, every kitchen is laid out individually, not pulled from a production builder's standard plan. The result is a kitchen that fits your family's habits, not the other way around.
Wellness-driven spaces throughout the home
Wellness is shaping home design in ways that go beyond a home gym. Buyers are asking for dedicated yoga or meditation rooms, mudrooms designed to keep outdoor contaminants separated from living spaces, improved air filtration systems, and homes with abundant natural light in every room. In a custom home, these features are integrated into the initial design, not retrofitted later.
Big Sky Development builds with more than 96% American-made materials and labor, which contributes to better indoor air quality through stricter material sourcing standards. Combined with the tree preservation approach at Oaks of Tyrone — where mature oaks shade the property and filter the air naturally — the community offers a living environment that production subdivisions on clear-cut land simply cannot match.
Why 2026 is a smart time to build custom
Interest rates for custom home construction loans in early 2026 are competitive, with programs available from experienced lenders that Big Sky Development vets and partners with. More than half of homeowners nationally are choosing to build or renovate rather than move, according to recent surveys, because existing-home inventory remains tight in desirable markets like Livingston County and Genesee County.
Building custom at Oaks of Tyrone gives you a home designed for how you actually live — not a resale home that someone else's taste shaped. With home packages starting in the low $600s including the wooded one-acre lot, the value proposition is strong compared to both resale homes in the Fenton area and production new construction on smaller lots.
The 2026 Parade of Homes of Southeastern Michigan features 37 model homes showcasing the latest design trends. At Oaks of Tyrone, you can tour the completed model home at 5483 Championship Dr, Fenton, MI and see how Big Sky Development brings these trends to life on a wooded one-acre homesite.
Frequently asked questions about custom home design trends
What are the top custom home design trends in Michigan for 2026?
The top trends include flexible dedicated home offices, intentional zoning within open-concept layouts, spa-inspired primary bathrooms, multi-generational living suites, kitchen gathering hubs with oversized islands, and wellness-driven spaces like meditation rooms and advanced air filtration systems. Buyers in Southeast Michigan are prioritizing design personalization and spaces that adapt to how they actually live.
Are open floor plans still popular in new construction?
Open floor plans remain popular, but the trend has shifted toward intentional zoning within open spaces. Buyers want defined areas for cooking, dining, and living that feel connected but distinct, using ceiling height changes, partial walls, and strategic sightlines rather than one uninterrupted volume. The result is a home that feels spacious without sacrificing character.
What should I look for in a custom home builder in Michigan?
Look for a builder with a long track record in Michigan, a direct in-house warranty (at least 10 years), the ability to customize floor plans rather than offering limited options, transparency about pricing and materials, and completed communities you can visit. Big Sky Development has been building custom homes in Michigan since 1994 and offers a 10-year in-house structural warranty on every home.
Is 2026 a good time to build a custom home in Livingston County?
Yes. Interest rates on construction loans are competitive, existing-home inventory remains tight in desirable markets like Livingston County and Genesee County, and buyers who build custom can lock in a home designed for their lifestyle while avoiding bidding wars on resale properties. At Oaks of Tyrone, home packages start in the low $600s with the wooded one-acre lot included.
Can I customize the floor plan at Oaks of Tyrone?
Yes. Every home at Oaks of Tyrone is fully customizable. Buyers work directly with Big Sky Development's in-house design team to modify floor plans, select finishes, and design a home that fits their specific needs. Signature plans like the Timber Creek, Firethorn, and Oakview serve as starting points, but no plan is final until you approve it.
Tour the model home and see the trends in person
The Oaks of Tyrone model home at 5483 Championship Dr, Fenton, MI is open for private tours. Walk the wooded one-acre homesites, step inside the floor plans, and talk through your custom design ideas with Rob Moen and the Big Sky Development team. Schedule your tour today.