Found near Torch Lake along the Rapid River in Kalkaska County, this nearly 5,500-square-foot family retreat is an authentic portrait of Adirondack Style architecture set on nearly 400 acres of natural landscape. Inspired by the vernacular of the Lake Placid Lodge and the National Historic Landmarked Great Camps in New York, this secluded residential home is similarly designed as a gathering place and an escape for family and friends. It is a style characterized by its use of natural elements, such as whole, split, or peeled logs, roots, and burls, complemented by native granite fieldstone and massive fireplaces, and displays of Swiss Chalet, Shingle Style, and Arts and Crafts elements.…
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Mountain inn
Text: Kyle Gandy Crystal Mountain, a nationally recognized four-season resort located about 28 miles southwest of Traverse City in Thompsonville, Michigan, has recently undergone an $11 million, 31,200-square-foot expansion—The Inn at the Mountain—that comprises 25 suites, a specialty market, a rooftop terrace, and coffee and wine bar. “One of the demands, in terms of our guests, is that we needed more hotel space; particularly, we host plenty of meetings and conferences, so the 25 suites help with that,” said Brian Lawson, director of public relations at Crystal Mountain. “Another thing we needed was an additional bar space, and more specifically, a place where you could get a cup of coffee.…
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Bright farmhouse
With its intentional use of natural, light materials, this farmhouse shines with timeless style. Text: R. Collins Familiar with modern design trends and imbuing a sense of timeless style, Visbeen Architects and full-service interior design firm Vision Interiors by Visbeen reworked midcentury design concepts blended with the equally classic residential style often known for its use of raw wood and natural materials: the country farmhouse. Perched amid Kalamazoo, Michigan’s shaded woodlands, the Holloway House—finished in 2017—overlooks a ribbon-like stream and bountiful natural beauty that is complemented by the home’s refined, rustic-inspired appearance. “While the exterior is more of that contemporary farmhouse, [the homeowners] had a midcentury theme that they wanted,…
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Design for Sale: East Jordan, Michigan
Upon elevated, rolling, and Colorado-like terrain, there is an East Jordan, Michigan tract of land, residential structure, and other on-site features that has been listed with Pat O’Brien and Associates Real Estate. The Boyne City- and Charlevoix-based firm is a northern Michigan real estate brokerage dedicated to providing both home buyers and sellers with the resources needed to make informed real estate decisions. The firm specializes in north and northwest Michigan properties such as that in East Jordan, which is an almost entirely wooded, 718-acre tract of natural landscape with mature hardwood groves and two hunting cabins for year-to-year rental. Shading the property are a bounty of native Michigan tree…
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Experiential luxury
By: R.J. Weick Buick, the international modern luxury brand of Detroit-based General Motors Co., partnered with Van Dam Custom Boats, a designer and builder of fine wooden boats in Boyne City, Michigan to deliver an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience and lakeside excursion to Boyne City and Walloon Lake on July 17, 2018 through July 19, 2018. The event, which embodied Buick’s Avenir sub-brand’s definition of experiential luxury, not only highlighted the artistry and advanced technology in the design process behind making the Buick Avenir vehicle line, but also featured the craftsmanship in molding functionality, performance, and beauty in each handcrafted vessel throughout Van Dam Custom Boats’ more than 40-year-legacy. Set against…
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Profile: Angela Goodall
Text: R.Collins Since 2003, Angela and Mike Goodall have been transforming Traverse City-area home and retail spaces into strategically and aesthetically designed environments through their remodeling and interior design firm, Kitchen Choreography. Though the firm has completed more than 800 projects and has established strong relationships with architects, building firms, and many home owners throughout Michigan, Kitchen Choreography was originally established at a time of uncertainty. “I actually studied mathematics in college but I’ve always had a strong culinary and entertainment background,” said Angela Goodall, designer and co-founder of Kitchen Choreography. When the couple bought a house built in the 1890s in Traverse City, Michigan she found her passion for…
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Outdoor oasis
By Kyle Gandy The summer heat is an old acquaintance with residents of the Midwest; the abundance of lakes restores a balance, yet not everyone is fortunate enough to live directly near a body of water. Retractable Solutions Inc., located in Lansing Michigan, however, believes their customers can feel as if they are on vacation in their own backyard. “From my experience, customers want their outdoor living space to seamlessly extenuate the back of their home. Our slogan is ‘blending indoors now’ so you can flow out your patio doors or your glass wall and get to your porch,” said Jeff Nash, owner of Retractable Solutions. “I think more people…
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Regal renaissance
By R.J. Weick The Hilton Chicago’s storied corridors have echoed with the footsteps of the most influential since the day the luxury hotel first opened its doors in 1927 as the Stevens Hotel. It is a historical and architectural marvel that has preserved its early 20th Century grandeur for more than 90 years. When Hilton Chicago launched an extensive renovation project, it looked to restore nearly 21,000 square-feet of lobby, gathering space, and dining area on the main floor—blending its classic architecture with a casual elegance and modern amenities—which is when Hilton Chicago brought Aria Group Architects to the table based on their expertise in restaurant, hospitality, and entertainment markets. The…
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Naturally planned
Text: R.Collins Since the Midwest has been thrown into another fierce winter, the need to thoroughly plan landscapes for the spring and summer seasons is greater than ever. Great Lakes By Design had a conversation with Paul Burd, owner and founder of the landscape design and build company known as Alfresco Landscapes LLC; and Scott Philp of Landscape Logic, a design and build landscape firm, about planning for an ideal, low-hassle season of outdoor utilization and entertainment. Both firms serve the greater Grand Rapids and northern Michigan regions providing friendly and high-quality outdoor architectural, building, and consultation services. No strangers to the ups and downs of making natural landscapes convenient…
