Senior Developer.
Direct Communication.
No Middlemen.
I've been building digital products for over 25 years - professional, custom WordPress sites, iOS apps, complex integrations, everything you can think off. I work with a small team of design and strategy specialists, which means you get senior-level expertise without agency overhead.
My name is Michiel van Harten, and when you work with me, you're working with the person actually writing your code. No project managers, no outsourcing, no communication layers. Direct collaboration from discovery through deployment.
I focus on doing fewer projects, better. If you value craft, professional development practices, and direct access to your developer, let's talk.
WordPress Done Right
WordPress has a reputation problem. It's seen as "easy", and it is. That's why it powers 40% of the web. But "easy to start" isn't the same as "professional."
Out of the box, WordPress with a default theme is fine for a small business or personal blog. But it's not suitable for professional company sites without proper development. The low barrier to entry that makes WordPress popular is also what creates the technical debt, slow performance, and maintenance nightmares that give it a bad name.
Here's what most people miss: WordPress is absolutely suitable for professional sites - when built correctly. I build custom WordPress solutions using modern development practices: the kind that scale, perform, and don't turn into technical debt.
Modern Custom-Built Themes
Built on modern PHP with Sage by Roots, using the Block Editor, not page builders. Fast, flexible, and built specifically for your content and brand.
Professional Infrastructure
Staging environments, automated deployment, version control, automated tests, Bedrock. Make changes confidently without breaking production.
Maintainable & Scalable
Clean architecture means your site grows with you. No technical debt, no rebuild in 2 years. Add features when you need them, not when you can afford to start over.
Recent Work
Some examples of recent projects. All hand-coded, fully customised WordPress builds using Roots/Sage/Bedrock with Tailwind CSS and (usually) Alpine.js
All sites are produced for and designed by Fogarty+Patchett.
SBR Consulting
A refresh for SBR Consulting, a consultancy specialising in improving sales teams. Hundreds of pages and case studies. Custom built calculator and utilising SearchWP for comprehensive search results.
MPR Underwriting
Full rebuild of an already succesful B2B WordPress install (also built by me). Included the migration of 100+ pages of content and creation of Custom Blocks for bespoke sections in the Editor.
The Consultancy Growth Company
Customised, hand-coded WordPress build on Roots Sage 10 with Tailwind & Alpine. Includes an extensive, tiered membership area, backend account management functionality and integrations with third parties like ScoreApp.
Enterprise-grade hosting with continuous deployment from version control and automated quality assurance.
Journey4
New website for Journey4, a consultancy that works with a wide variety of service organisations. Features an interactive historical timeline.
Ivy House
Complete site overhaul for coaching company Ivy House. Built together with an accompanying student portal featuring gated content.
Compare Credit Insurance
New website for this Insurance Comparison site, a trading style of Bartlett Group. Straightforward, clean, clear.
i-nexus
Strategy execution platform with multi-level product navigation, interactive framework showcases, and HubSpot integration for lead tracking. Features performance-optimized image delivery and fluid responsive typography.
Enterprise-grade hosting with continuous deployment from version control and automated quality assurance.
Arborisk
Specialist insurance broker platform with integrated online quote system and gated customer resources area.
Bartlett Group
A refresh for Lloyd's and London Broker of the Year. Multi-audience service architecture featuring a clean design.
And many, many more. The list includes iOS apps with payment gateway, React apps with Firebase as a backend and large Flash sites (remember those?). I have completed 150+ projects for clients including American Express, Metlife, Genworth, Incentro, LV=, Jordans, NatWest, QBE, Reader's Digest and The Balvenie.
Built Right From Day One
Discovery & Strategy
We understand your needs, content structure, and long-term goals. Technical architecture that serves your business.
Modern Development
Custom themes built with Roots/Sage. Block editor configured for your content team. Professional workflows from the start.
Staging & Testing
Your site launches on proper infrastructure with staging environment, deployment pipelines, and version control.
Launch & Beyond
Your team can make changes independently. When you need development, we're here, but you're not blocked waiting for us.
You Need This If...
- ✓ You're outgrowing your current site and need something professional
- ✓ Your content team shouldn't need a developer for every small change
- ✓ You've experienced the pain of page builders, plugin conflicts, or technical debt
- ✓ You need a site that performs well and can scale with your business
- ✓ You value clean code and professional development practices
- ✓ You're working with a design agency and need technical execution
Let's Talk
Ready to build something professional?
Get in touch and let's discuss your project.