Meet Milan: The Man Behind the Designs
Meet Milan Muhlestein: Founder and Principal Architectural Designer of Cedar + Steel. Every good designer has a story that keys us into who they are; in Milan’s case, Cedar + Steel is the manifestation of a childhood dream, with his roots in architecture first taking hold during boyhood.
A Designer in the Making
Architecture piqued Milan’s interest for the first time as a sixth grader when his school counselor mentioned the trade as a potential career path. Around the same time, Milan had the opportunity to help build a cabin alongside his family. That’s when he knew—he’d found his life’s passion. Becoming a participant in architecture has been his mission ever since. When he was 16 years old, Milan’s mom found a job for him framing houses and sent him on his way to learn the trade and earn some money. Working as a framer further solidified his passion for building houses, laying the foundation for a successful career in the construction industry. While Milan did well in construction, he still continued to carry the dream of being the one who designed the homes.
As a boy, Milan was inspired to design homes after helping his family build this cabin.
Engineer by Day, Architectural Designer by Night
During Milan’s construction career, his talent was noticed by a manager who encouraged him to pursue engineering. He eventually became a successful staff engineer in home building, and while he always loved the process of creating homes, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. Milan faced burnout in his engineering career, which prompted him to make a change. He’d always loved drawing, and seeing the designs of the architects around him was inspiring—he decided to try his hand at architectural design. In pursuit of his childhood dream, Milan began moonlighting as an architectural designer until he got a good reference, and his new business started to take off.
Experience and Passion Become Beautiful Custom Homes
Cedar + Steel originally began as Harbor Design Company, Milan’s first architectural design venture. As the business evolved, Harbor Design Company was rebranded to become Cedar + Steel. Now, Milan is putting together his years of experience, engineering skills, and artistic talents to design upscale custom homes in Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas.
Milan’s keen eye for design, paired with his background in structural engineering and building, come together to form his deep understanding of how to create a quality home. With his innate passion, natural talent, and years of experience, he provides incredible custom designs for his clients at Cedar + Steel.