Artisan Custom Homes: Craftsmanship That Shines in North Carolina

For over two decades, Artisan Custom Homes has delivered high-quality craftsmanship and a deeply personalized approach to homebuilding across the Lake Norman and greater Charlotte area. Founded by John Shyrock in 2001, the company has grown to serve a wide range of clients: from those seeking classic neighborhood charm to waterfront elegance on Lake Norman. 

With over 25 years of experience, John began his career supervising 40 to 50 homes annually and quickly became one of Charlotte’s top home builders. Today, he leads sales and estimating, overseeing projects and acting as a connection between the client and construction team.

Design from the Ground Up

Artisan is a full-service construction company with its own in-house design program led by Allie Miles. A trained interior designer with an entrepreneurial business background, Allie joined Artisan with a passion for new construction and built the company’s design department from the ground up. She is currently the sole designer handling all interior selections and aesthetics across 6 to 10 custom homes at any given time. 

Her ability to merge creativity and structure has made her an essential part of Artisan’s team. “Having everything under one roof is a major selling point,” Allie says. “Clients love that they can come into our in-house studio, see all the samples, from flooring to Cambria, and make their selections in one place.” Working closely with project managers and clients from the start, Allie ensures every detail supports both the homeowner’s vision and the overall build timeline.

Cambria Connection

Over the past three years, Cambria quartz surfaces have become a central part of Artisan’s design standard. Allie highlights the brand’s reliability, craftsmanship, and unmatched service.

Today, Artisan consistently builds Cambria into the pricing of every home, making it their standard, not just a preferred upgrade. “We include Cambria in our standard specifications; it’s the quality level we want to represent,” Allie explains.

That alignment in values makes Cambria a natural partner in Artisan’s long-term service approach: both are committed to quality, long-standing client relationships, and standing behind what they build for life. 

Cambria Surfaces That Stand Out

From texture and movement to finishes that elevate any space, Cambria remains a defining element in Allie’s design approach.

Some of her go-to designs include:

• Rose Bay™, which she used in a child’s playful bathroom with pink tiles and a dramatic edge detail.
• Inverness®, a favorite family of designs for their subtle texture and tonal range. Allie explains, “The texture is completely unmatched, and the colors feel so authentic. We used Inverness Cobalt™ in a pool bathroom with blue shower tile, and it pulled everything together beautifully.”

Custom Homes in Action

These standout surfaces come to life in Artisan projects, showcasing the craftsmanship and creativity that define each home:

Pinecrest

A modern build with a natural palette, Pinecrest is one of Allie’s favorite recent projects. The kitchen features Cambria’s Everleigh™. It appears on the island with a waterfall mitered edge and integrated lighting below. The backsplash draws your eye upward with its seamless extension, adding subtle drama.

In the bathroom, MacBeth™ was used on the vanity alongside a fluted wood accent, creating a space that feels minimal yet warm.

Northview Harbor

A waterfront build with effortless lake house charm, Northview Harbor brings a relaxed yet elevated feel to the shoreline. Cambria’s Foggy City* adds a bright, natural elegance to the kitchen island with an Ogee edge, contrasting with the wood ceiling beams that extend into the living room. There, a matching fireplace, also clad in Foggy City*, creates a sense of cohesion across the open-concept space.

Where Design Is Headed for Artisan

With more people relocating to the Lake Norman area, Allie is seeing increased demand for clean lines, natural textures, and easy-to-maintain finishes. “Clients want spaces that are simple, warm, and easy to maintain,” she says.

Larger surfaces and thoughtful applications, like a lighter-weight 1cm Cambria quartz shower wall Allie recently saw on display, are inspiring future designs. As trends evolve, Artisan Custom Homes continues to grow with them, elevating everyday living through thoughtful design.

*Gensler Product Design Consultant