Nestled along the shoreline, Water’s Edge residence combines traditional style with casual comfort. Soaring ceilings with timber framed details are balanced with saturated colors and bold patterns to create a cozy, yet spacious retreat. Custom cabinetry and detailed tile work are showcased throughout.
Architecture | Southern Draw
Interiors | Leone Honan Designs
Photography | Ashley Avila Photography
Perched atop a high bluff overlooking beautiful Lake Michigan, this custom-built, shingle style home exudes traditional elegance and casual comfort. The logistics of constructing this seasonal residence posed a unique set of challenges due to its position on top of a critical dune. An existing cottage had to be demoed and removed from the property with an exceptional level of care, working alongside the DEQ the entire way through. Constructing the new structure required the use of steel sheet piling incorporated into the foundation and anchored deep into the ground, and all construction materials had to be lifted to the home site by crane throughout the entire build process, from lumber to cabinetry to masonry materials to appliances. A detached garage was built on the exact location of a previous building on the property, which was demoed down to one wall that was supporting the dune and because of that, had to remain part of the new structure. Specialty elements throughout the home included detailed millwork and custom iron railings on a three story staircase, unique skylight millwork details and custom built cabinetry throughout. A beautiful fireplace mantle was salvaged from the original home that was constructed from materials from The White House, so special attention and care were required to remove it from the original structure, meticulously store it, restore it using modern methods without losing the historical charm and then install it with precision into the new home.
Architecture | Booth Hansen
Interior Design | Bruce Fox Design
Photography | Hall + Merrick
Located on a bluff overlooking the waterfront shoreline of Walloon Lake on a nearly 14-acre historic farm, this two-story retreat is intentional in its landscape and is designed to support an active lifestyle for a family who has a love of downhill skiing and westward travel. “Their vision was really to have a summer home that they could enjoy with their family and they wanted to be able to take advantage of the beauty of the property and also the beauty of the lake,” said Scott Christopher. Part of that vision – and priority from the onset – was to preserve an existing cabin from around the mid-20th-century on-site and keep many of its elements historically accurate, such as the fieldstone fireplace and old barnwood. That along with thoughtful consideration of driveway placement was a big part of the process that determined where the home was placed on the land. “When we are working on properties that have trees on them, it’s part of the process to understand how you can place the house to best utilize the views, but without clear-cutting the land so we are able to work within the trees and natural elements of the property,” noted Christopher. It is a home that was designed with its surrounding environment in mind, where exterior living spaces, wraparound porch, and natural wood in the ceiling speak to the natural landscape beyond. There is also intention in the function of some of those exterior spaces, where heated concrete floor – a snowmelt system – and integrated infrared heaters in the ceiling extend its usability throughout the seasons. From its rich exterior finish, custom over-sized front door, and four-gabled roofline silhouette, the home strikes a bold, albeit harmonious architectural statement within its landscape. Natural elements, such as stone and barnwood, are repeated throughout the home from outdoor landscaping to refabricated beams within the interior in the main family room, living room, fireplace mantle, and in the upstairs area. The main floor boasts open and inviting spaces, offering the kitchen unobstructed views of the living room, dining room and lakefront vistas beyond. The upper level includes two guest bedrooms, a full bathroom and a master suite with a vaulted, beamed ceiling, a modern fireplace and a spa-like master bathroom. Finishing off the upper level is a laundry room and a loft area with built-in bookcases and reading nook.
Architecture | Norman Dodds
Interiors | Villa Decor
Photography | Ashley Avila Photography
Touches of modernism, simplistic lines and a textural palette define the spaces of this restful homestead. Located on a beautiful Northern Michigan lake, special attention was paid to maximizing lake views from every room with large windows and sliding glass doors throughout. Organic building materials on the home’s exterior and extensive millwork on walls and ceilings were utilized throughout the home. The expansive first level has an open flow throughout, including the kitchen, living room, dining room, four-season porch and screened patio, with stained Douglas Fir ceiling details anchoring the design. Custom-built and painted blue kitchen cabinets give a touch of lakefront whimsy. NanaWall folding doors open the four-season porch to the screened patio, which features Bluestone tile floors, lounging space and even a built-in pizza oven, providing the perfect summer evening entertaining space. The bedroom wing of the home includes a spacious master suite, laundry room as well as two bedrooms, a bunk room and two full bathrooms. A partial upper level features an expansive flex room space. A free-standing carriage house with living quarters above complete this stunning lakefront home.
Architecture | J. Visser Design
Interiors | Francesca Owings Interior Design
Photography | Geoff Shirley
Designed with simple elegance in mind, this well-appointed contemporary farmhouse combines a muted color palette with rich textures and artisanal accents.
Architecture & Interior Design | Via Design
Photography | Via Design & Ashley Avila Photography
Traditional in style, modern in layout, the Oak Park exudes elegance in every space. The earth-tone fiber cement siding and natural stone accents blend perfectly with its wooded location. Beautiful, copper roofing adorns the curved entry and transom window accent of the home’s main entrance. Special attention was paid to the custom-built, mahogany front door and its surrounding side lights and curved transom. The white kitchen cabinetry was custom built to perfectly fit the space and flow effortlessly into the open living room, complete with cedar beam details on the ceiling. A beautiful, walnut butler’s pantry flanks the kitchen and was built with care to incorporate a special mosaic tile backsplash that was a sentimental piece of history for the homeowners. The south wing of the home includes a guest bedroom and full bathroom, as well as a screened porch and laundry room. The master suite of the home boasts a cozy reading nook surrounded by bookshelves and a light palette in the bedroom and bathroom. A home office with custom-built desk and storage completes the main level. The lower level of the home incorporates more guest bedrooms as well as a comfortable recreation room with a large, wood-burning stone fireplace to anchor the space. The rear exterior of the home is centered around the courtyard, where the outdoors can be enjoyed in front of the large, gas fireplace or for dinners al fresco from the outdoor dining space adjacent to a built-in outdoor kitchen.
Architecture | AMDG Architects
Interiors | Via Design
Photography | Ashley Avila Photography
The luxurious design of this master bedroom suite remodel and addition showcases how texture can make all the difference in a room with a monochromatic palette. Dark and moody, the subtle changes in textiles add dimension and drama to the bedroom. A special automotive-finish paint technique was utilized on the walls to achieve a two-tone look. The trimwork detailing oozes a luxurious feel while glittery accents in the carpet and tile add glamour. A custom-designed and built, granite, floating vanity is perfectly placed amidst custom designed, tiger mosaic tile in the bathroom. The spacious shower features custom-built niches, frameless glass doors and a peek-a-boo window into the bedroom with etched glass. Other special details of this renovation, like smoked glass shelving and tone-on-tone custom built-ins in the closet are what set this addition apart and make it as unique as the clients for which it was created.
Interiors | Fuchsia Design
Photography | MBuck Studio
Sleek lines, subtle palettes and rich wood tones define the spaces of this contemporary home renovation. The addition of an expansive library with custom-built cabinetry and a teak clad ceiling anchors the back side of the home, while built-in shelving, custom wood accents and sleek furniture lines define the main living spaces. The L-shaped kitchen divides prep space from cooking space and home management areas of the back entry hallway.
Architecture | Mathison | Mathison Architects
Interiors | Mathison | Mathison Architects & Linda Fritschy Interior Design
Photography | James Haefner
Perched on a steep bluff with a survey of the lake, this Lake Michigan home was designed and built with an awareness of the water, capturing both clean functionality and a calm flow within its extensively remodeled walls. The modern-inspired exterior of contrasting dark metal and neutral facade greet those from the drive with a blend of simple lines and forms, and light touches of added warmth.
Shades of white and black, tempered by soothing wooden tones, are woven throughout the home. Sightlines flow effortlessly within the main level spaces, from the expansive living room to the reoriented kitchen with crisp, clean lines and minimalistic cabinetry. The design of all main level spaces is anchored by the views of the lake beyond the sliding glass doors leading to the raised deck. With a reconfigured layout, the master suite is both comfortable and updated with a soothing palette. Custom metal railings adorn the rejuvenated staircase leading to the home’s addition of an upper level, which includes two bedroom suites. The lower level includes an expansive rec room, theater room, lakeside bathroom and exercise room, complete with sauna.
Architecture | Sears Architects
Interior Design | Riopelle Design Group
Photography | Ashley Avila Photography
Located minutes from the center of one of Lake Michigan’s quaint, coastal towns and just steps from the pristine shoreline of Lake Michigan, this modern lake residence was designed with the spectacular views in mind.
The expansive living, dining and kitchen areas of the home are open to one another, creating the perfect space for entertaining. The custom cement fireplace, flanked with built-in, stained shelving, anchors the soaring ceiling, sliding glass doors and transom windows that surround. The mixture of muted paint tones and rich, stained cabinetry give the kitchen added dimension. The adjacent dining space brings the outdoors in through the use of floor to ceiling windows. Accessible by hallway off the kitchen are a powder room, laundry and mudroom with access to the attached three stall garage.
The South wing of the home boasts a spacious master suite. The master bedroom takes full advantage of lake views and accesses the expansive outdoor deck by french door. A sliding barn door leads to the luxurious master bathroom, complete with glass shower, double vanity and soaking tub. A roomy walk-in closet completes the owner’s suite.
The sleek lines and easy flow of the home continues into the lower level. The family room can comfortably entertain guests with sectional seating and refreshments from the wet bar. Two bedrooms and a built-in-bunk room provide comfortable sleeping quarters, while an exercise room and lake toy storage room give space for the active lifestyle of the homeowners. Completing the lower level is a second laundry room and full bathroom.
The home’s waterfront exterior provides a variety of spaces from which to enjoy everything lakefront living has to offer. With a spacious upper level deck, lower level covered patio as well as nearly 1,500 square feet of open air patio space with built-in firepit, there isn’t a bad seat from which to enjoy stunning sunsets, the pristine sands of the beach merely steps away, or the endless views of Lake Michigan’s crystal clear waters beyond.
Architecture | Brad Douglas Design
Interior Design | Via Design Inc.
Photography | MBuck Studio