Built to Last
The American family house has undergone some pretty extraordinary changes in the past few decades. Gone are the days of the typical center-hall colonial with its standard arrangement of tightly programmed rooms. Like life itself, impacted by gigantic leaps in technology and the relaxing of longstanding social mores, everything today is so much more fluid. The traditional living room has become passé; kitchens are now required to be multifunctional and have grown to proportions that typically include what used to be called the family room; and baths have evolved into the realm of spa-like luxury.
Stainless steel, granite, artisanal stone, ceramic and glass are now commonplace, and a soaring entrance hall is de rigueur, even in what used to be referred to as “starter house” neighborhoods, where practically every house is exactly the same as the one next door.
However, for those with the means for a truly bespoke family house, an entirely new concept has emerged: the imposing but lyrical structure, one with an exterior that appears as though it could have been built decades ago but with an interior that could not be more of-the-moment. This is such a house, employing traditional materials and the highest levels of craftsmanship, all delicately and sensitively tailored to ensure balance and harmony, especially important given the location—a distinguished row of grand historic houses on stately properties hugging the shore of Lake Michigan.
An imposing projection is centered on the central structure, allowing for a broad and gracious front porch. Enclosed breezeways extend from each side, connecting to completely stone-clad twin wings.
Within, the house unfolds, revealing alluring vistas that are almost universally warmed by the southern sun. Arched openings are a unifying theme, detailed in simple but perfectly articulated millwork. Ceiling heights, while certainly not cramped, were intentionally kept more traditionally scaled for both comfort and ambience. Rooms flow into each other—big where they needed to be big, such as the combined kitchen and family room, but also with intimate spaces for quiet conversation. Old-fashioned elements like pocket doors and gentle barrel-vaulted ceilings were employed for charm. The site, which originally featured an unbroken gentle slope, was excavated to allow for a completely functional, light-filled lower level overlooking a stony ravine, finished with an in-ground hot tub, weather permitting, while also serving as a buffer against cold winter winds.
While this is indeed a house of considerable size with plenty of room for large gatherings of family and friends, it remains cozy and comfortable, warm and inviting—the perfect place to bring up a brood.
The floor plan of the house echoes the balance of the mature trees that surround the structure.
Above and below: Generously extended archways provide the ease of a contemporary open plan while maintaining a decidedly traditional feel.
An artfully vaulted ceiling in the kitchen repeats the theme of gentle curves that runs throughout the house.
Large, ganged, double-hung windows maintain the charming farmhouse feel of a bedroom, even when the view outside is spectacular.
Staircases, too, are treated simply to support the essential aura of humility.
The master bath and adjoining dressing room feature the warmth of wide-plank wooden floors, also providing needed softness against the generous use of marble.
The lake-front dining porch is embellished with a chunky stone fireplace and extended hearth, along with a built-in barbecue station for substantial alfresco meals.