frost settled in birmingham, michigan in 1921 and worked with albert kahn. in 1926 he started his own practice and mostly designed homes in the detroit suburbs. frost designed 44 houses in or near birmingham. he is known for midsize cottage houses that are flooded with natural light and that feature woodwork, architectural details and limestone frames around windows and doors. frost created a birmingham house for himself at 579 tooting lane in 1921. people who lived in houses he built often called them "wally" houses. a number of them are near quarton lake and in the holy name neighborhood.