For many residences dotting the Lake Michigan shoreline, the serene, timeless quality of life on the water permeates through its design elements. Views, coastal interiors, and durable materials often define the homes and cottages.
When approaching the remodel of an approximately 6,000-square-foot lakefront home near Charlevoix, Michigan, the homeowners and custom home builder—Miller, Poineau & Naumes, or MPN—determined its façade and interior makeup would remain decidedly bright and beachfront-centric.
“The client wanted to capture the architectural feel of the existing home and area while giving it a new, bright, cottage feel,” said Chris Miller, co-owner and general manager of MPN, in reference to the approach for the renovation.
Refreshing the property—completed in the summer of 2018—involved extensive remodeling down to the interior studs, according to Miller, whose team at MPN—along with co-owner Scott Naumes—comprises Northern Michigan craftspeople providing a diverse range of services from construction management and custom cabinetry, to architecture and interior design.
For the project, MPN provided complete construction management throughout the process, delivering framing, siding, and painting services on the exterior of the three-story home and its lower level walk-out. From the beginning, Miller said the goal was to completely fortify the home against its surrounding elements, which involved correcting many aspects that could have been left untouched for the time being.
“[The owners] were very clear that they wanted to do things right and not cut any corners along the way,” Miller said. “They wanted quality in every aspect from framing to the final finishes.”
The existing home had poor insulation in some areas, contributing to mid-winter drafts, and prompted the team to install all new insulation and a cold roofing system. Sagging beams were corrected and new drywall was installed to reinvigorate the home’s structural integrity, and a new boiler and an in-floor heating and cooling system provided other practical aspects for the multi-seasonal lifestyle. Fresh trim, stone work, and new cedar siding in lake blue tones brightened the façade, while creating an invigorating contrast for the textured copper accents added to the lakeside rooftop.
The tone on the exterior mirrors select furnishings on the interior, for which the MPN crew provided custom furniture and cabinetry for the kitchen and bathroom, and custom built-in features to update and style the relatively open floor plan. The flow of each floor was improved by reconfiguring bedrooms and bathrooms to be more spacious as evidenced by the generous master bedroom, which showcases lake views from an in-room seating area. Besides crafting much of the custom interior features—also including maple wood doors that match the originals—MPN also provided painting services, which largely determined much of the interior’s bright, beach centric personality.
Fresh white paint was layered over a number of textural details on the walls and ceilings, such as MPN’s custom-made, built-in features and intricate board and batten details near the foyer staircase and stone fireplace, which were added to incorporate unique cottage influences, according to Miller. Attention to both detail and quality composed the overall remodel process, which Miller said is a rewarding aspect of renovation work in general.
“We love doing historical restorations and remodels especially when the client is willing to do it right with every last detail,” Miller said. “[It was] a truly one-of-a-kind project for our team.”
Completing projects thoroughly and attentively is a tenet of the MPN firm, whose work can be seen throughout Northern Michigan in contemporary estates and landmarks such as the Mushroom House residence near downtown Charlevoix and the Charlevoix Boat House. Within its variety of architectural and interior design services, MPN also houses a more than 11,000 square-foot woodworking and paint shop to offer clients complete customization ability. Miller said the firm’s full-services capabilities—finished by custom stonework, site evaluation, and estate management services—set it apart from other high-end custom homes builders.
Text: R. Collins / GLBD writer
Photography: Jenna Roland Photography
