Our Mission
At Northwood Tiny Homes, we specialize in ADUs for Northern Michigan and Grand Rapids. Our custom designs blend luxury with best building practices, focusing on quality craftsmanship to meet your unique housing needs. We believe that everyone deserves to live with grace, in a space that enhances their everyday lives. Good design belongs to everyone.
Meet the Team
Adam Earle
Owner
As a licensed residential builder, entrepreneur, and proud girl dad, Adam is dedicated to delivering a world-class customer experience to the communities Northwood Tiny Homes serves. Raised in Cheboygan, MI, and a graduate of the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University, he is passionate about expanding affordable housing options across Northern Michigan and the Grand Rapids area. As a founder of Northwood Tiny Homes, Adam is also a strong advocate for new zoning laws around Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), working to create more opportunities for sustainable and flexible housing solutions. His commitment to quality craftsmanship and innovative housing policies drives our mission to make homeownership more accessible.
Nichole Panik Earle
Owner & Design Manager
With 17 years of graphic design experience for Fortune 500 companies, broadcast media, design agencies, and as a freelancer, Nichole brings a unique mix of creativity and business sense to her role as a founder of Northwood Tiny Homes. Her BFA in Graphic Design from Alma College sparked a passion for interior design, leading her into tiny home construction. As an entrepreneur, and business owner, Nichole is on a mission to help solve the housing crisis by designing beautiful, accessible spaces for everyone. Her goal is to create adventure-inspired homes that blend function and artistry, helping clients embrace minimalist living with style.
Adam Schafer
ADU specialist
Committed professional with over a decade of experience in heavy equipment rental operations. Dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service and driving operational excellence . A proud 20-year U.S. Army veteran focused on building lasting professional connections.
Steve Lambert
Head of Construction
Steve Lambert is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the construction industry. His expertise spans residential, commercial, and industrial projects, giving him a broad understanding of electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and building construction and design. Specializing in new home construction, remodels, and additions, Steve has managed projects for more than a decade and successfully owns and operates his own business. His comprehensive knowledge, hands-on approach, and commitment to excellence have earned him a reputation as a trusted leader in the field.
Michelle Panik
Pre-Construction Manager
With over 40 years of entrepreneurial experience, Michelle has successfully owned and operated multiple businesses alongside her husband. Her expertise spans project management, scheduling, vendor coordination, and customer service, making her an integral part of the Northwood Tiny Homes team. As a QuickBooks-certified professional, she excels in budgeting and financial oversight while ensuring seamless job site scheduling and installations with trusted subcontractors. Highly organized and detail-oriented, Michelle brings a wealth of knowledge and efficiency to every project, helping to deliver exceptional results for our clients.
GET YOUR FREE MODEL CATALOG!
Explore our most popular floorplans and models all in one easy place. This guide breaks down everything that we include with our tiny homes, renderings of each standard floorplan, and more!
Request Your FREE Property Analysis & Estimate Today!
What We Do
At Northwood Tiny Homes, we specialize in creating the perfect tiny home for your needs. Whether you need extra space for aging parents, a rental property, or a private retreat, our streamlined process ensures a seamless experience from start to finish.
DETACHED ADUs
& TINY HOMES
Our popular stand-alone structures offer extra living space while maintaining privacy, separate from your main home. They’re versatile and can be used as guest houses, or rental units. Designed to complement your property, our detached ADUs are built with high-quality materials and come with manufacturer warranties. Choose from several standard floorplans and designs, or opt for a fully custom option to suit your needs.
ATTACHED ADUs
Enhance your property with a high-quality attached ADU, ideal for creating extra space as an office, guest room, or cozy retreat. ADUs are also a smart option for generating additional rental income. Choose an experienced builder to guide you through the process and ensure a seamless home addition. Experts at Northwood Tiny Homes offer the solutions and expertise needed to make your project a success.
GARAGES
Investing in a custom detached garage from Northwood Tiny Homes is a great way to enhance both the functionality and visual appeal of your property. This versatile structure provides secure storage for your vehicles and personal belongings while adding convenience to your daily life. Learn more about our detached garage construction services today!
POOL HOUSES
A pool house is the perfect way to infuse enjoyment and practicality into your outdoor space. If you’re considering taking your pool to the next level, learn more about the benefits of building a pool house, brought to you by your expert pool house builders.
OFFICES
We understand the importance of creating a comfortable and productive workspace within your home, and our commitment to quality and affordability ensures that our ADU offices are the ideal choice for those seeking a convenient and private office solution.
SHELL ADUs
Areas We Love & Serve
Currently, Northwood Tiny Homes serves most of Northern Michigan, Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas.
Our Models
At Northwood Tiny Homes, we specialize in creating the perfect tiny home for your needs. Whether you need extra space for aging parents, a rental property, or a private retreat, our streamlined process ensures a seamless experience from start to finish.
STUDIO & LOFT
1 BEDROOM
2 BEDROOM
3 BEDROOM
Check out our 3-bedroom model, with attached 2 car garage. This home feature smart layouts and high-quality finishes that make this the perfect option for small families.
GARAGE UNITS
2 STORY
Frequently Asked Questions
WHERE CAN I PLACE A NORTHWOOD TINY HOME?
According to state laws, any property zoned as single or multi-family can build a tiny home, regardless of location, HOAs, or any other local regulations, as long as you have the space. The most common placement is in the backyard, but tiny homes can also be placed in the side yard or even the front of your house, given there is enough room when considering setbacks, local regulations, and any unique easements on your property.
WHAT CAN I CUSTOMIZE AND DESIGN?
Because our tiny homes are stick-built on-site, you have many options to customize our base models or create a custom tiny home from scratch. From floor plans, room sizes, kitchen fixtures, and cosmetic changes, we can help you create the exact space you’ve always imagined.
Some of the key elements you can customize include:
- External color
- External finish materials (including options to match your primary home)
- Internal finishes from floors to tile to countertops to appliances and more!
- Internal wall colors
- Shower features (metal shower, porcelain shower, glass door, and more)
- Kitchen features (sink style, countertop style, cabinets color, and more)
You can customize everything on this list and so much more for your new tiny home.
WHAT FEATURES COME WITH A NORTHWOOD TINY HOME?
Our Northwood Tiny Homes come fully finished with a full kitchen, bathroom, living space, and bedrooms if desired. Some of the specific features include:
- LP siding (board & batten/LAP)
- Lifetime Dimensional Composition Shingles
- Windows and door (based on plan)
- LVP Flooring (several color options)
- Shaker cabinets
- Subway tile backsplash
- 3 options for fixtures
- Tiled shower
- Drywall 30″
- Stainless steel fridge 30″
- Stainless steel range
- Stackable washer/dryer
- Interior and exterior paint
- Can lights
- Decor plugs and switches
- Water heater
- Mini Split unit
And there are dozens of upgrades available.
WHAT FINANCING IS AVAILABLE?
There are many financing options available for tiny homes, and our in-house financing department can help you find the best loans for your desired terms and current qualifications. The most common type of financing for a tiny home project right now is either a cash-out refinance or a Home Equity Line Of Credit (HELOC), but several other options are available, including renovation and personal loans.
Feel free to reach out to us today to learn more about financing and get connected with our financing team!
DO YOU OFFER SHELL OPTIONS?
Yes, we offer shell or unfinished versions of our tiny homes. With our shell model tiny homes, we handle the entire process for you and finish everything except for the interior. For the interior of a shell model tiny home, we complete rough plumbing, rough electrical, and framing, leaving the rest for you to complete on your own or using your subcontractors.