Houzz Tour: Hamptons Style Inspires a New Lakeside Home
A couple build their dream home on Lake Michigan for their retirement and big family gatherings
Becky Harris
17 April 2022
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
Many who watch the movie Something’s Gotta Give dream of the Shingle-style Hamptons, New York, home where much of the movie takes place. That house was a major inspiration for this new lakeside home, which the owners wanted to build for their retirement in northern Michigan. The design team took full advantage of the site’s water views from as many rooms as possible. And the sloped topography allowed for a walk-out basement that includes a TV room, gym, sauna and pingpong room.
Photos by Jacqueline Southby
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A retired couple with a large extended family
Location: Norwood Township, Michigan
Size: 4,200 square feet (390 square meters) plus finished basement
Designer: Stephanie Baldwin of Edgewater Design Group
The lakeside property had been in the family as a vacation spot for years. The couple decided it was where they’d like to spend their retirement full time, and they hired Edgewater Design Group to design their house. Architectural designer Stephanie Baldwin took the reins and studied the homeowners’ wish list carefully.
“The wife had a lot of images of Hamptons- and Nantucket-style homes, including photos from the house in Something’s Gotta Give. She wanted a timeless look and feel,” Baldwin says.
But the designer needed to create the Shingle-style look with durable materials, because this is a harsh climate where the strong winds from Lake Michigan whip sand onto the houses. Baldwin specified composite decking and trim, with vinyl shake shingles for the siding. “This product has a great variation in color,” she says. “They will never have to paint or restain anything, only give it a powerwash.” She added zip sheathing on the north- and west-facing sides of the house for added insulation and waterproofing.
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A retired couple with a large extended family
Location: Norwood Township, Michigan
Size: 4,200 square feet (390 square meters) plus finished basement
Designer: Stephanie Baldwin of Edgewater Design Group
The lakeside property had been in the family as a vacation spot for years. The couple decided it was where they’d like to spend their retirement full time, and they hired Edgewater Design Group to design their house. Architectural designer Stephanie Baldwin took the reins and studied the homeowners’ wish list carefully.
“The wife had a lot of images of Hamptons- and Nantucket-style homes, including photos from the house in Something’s Gotta Give. She wanted a timeless look and feel,” Baldwin says.
But the designer needed to create the Shingle-style look with durable materials, because this is a harsh climate where the strong winds from Lake Michigan whip sand onto the houses. Baldwin specified composite decking and trim, with vinyl shake shingles for the siding. “This product has a great variation in color,” she says. “They will never have to paint or restain anything, only give it a powerwash.” She added zip sheathing on the north- and west-facing sides of the house for added insulation and waterproofing.
Find a local architect on Houzz
The facade includes an arched front door and coordinating arched roofline with a barrel ceiling on the front porch. “This porch element really draws you in,” Baldwin says. Other classic Shingle-style details include columns with bases covered in real stone veneer, corbels under the gable bump-outs and a copper standing-seam roof over the bay on the right. “It’s important to vary colors and textures on an exterior,” Baldwin says. “The metal roof adds an interesting texture and reflects the light. All these elements add dimension to the facade.”
The door on the left provides a more casual entry. A hallway off that entry leads to the mudroom, laundry room, garage and kitchen. This entry is designed to be used when unloading groceries or coming in with wet shoes.
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The door on the left provides a more casual entry. A hallway off that entry leads to the mudroom, laundry room, garage and kitchen. This entry is designed to be used when unloading groceries or coming in with wet shoes.
Shop for outdoor lighting
Inside, the main entry is polished but not too formal. “This was to be their full-time home, so while they wanted it to be somewhat casual, they also wanted to give the foyer some formality,” Baldwin says. One of the homeowner’s biggest wishes was a curved staircase, but it took up too much space and added too much to the budget.
“They knew they absolutely had to have a balcony off their bedroom, which was costly, so just like the title of the movie, when it comes to budget, something’s gotta give,” Baldwin says with a laugh. The newel posts, wood treads and metal spindles give the staircase a lovely look.
“They knew they absolutely had to have a balcony off their bedroom, which was costly, so just like the title of the movie, when it comes to budget, something’s gotta give,” Baldwin says with a laugh. The newel posts, wood treads and metal spindles give the staircase a lovely look.
The spectacular water views are visible from the entry through the great room. The wife chose the finishes and all of the furnishings in the house. “She had great taste and wanted to go with a lot of blue and white, which is perfect for a lake house,” Baldwin says.
“My clients knew they wanted an open plan, but they also wanted to create cottage coziness,” the designer says. Elements like the coffers and V-groove paneling on the ceiling, as well as half walls around the great room, cozied things up. Baldwin incorporated storage in the half walls on the kitchen-facing side for items like platters, linens and books.
“My clients knew they wanted an open plan, but they also wanted to create cottage coziness,” the designer says. Elements like the coffers and V-groove paneling on the ceiling, as well as half walls around the great room, cozied things up. Baldwin incorporated storage in the half walls on the kitchen-facing side for items like platters, linens and books.
But the biggest cozy factor comes from the lovely stone fireplace, another must-have on the homeowners’ list. “We made the hearth flush with the floor for better space utilization,” Baldwin says. She designed built-ins around it for their favorite things. “They love boating and wanted to have all kinds of boats around,” Baldwin says. The fireplace is gas — the stacks of logs are there to add a natural element.
Baldwin also made room for media. When the evening will revolve around a movie or a game, the homeowners head to the lower level, where there’s a big TV. They went with a smaller TV in here, which swings out on an arm.
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Baldwin also made room for media. When the evening will revolve around a movie or a game, the homeowners head to the lower level, where there’s a big TV. They went with a smaller TV in here, which swings out on an arm.
Find a local fireplace contractor
The dining area is in between the great room and kitchen. “It was very important to my clients to have the ability to seat a lot of family,” Baldwin says. “The seating at the island and on the sun porch are close to the dining table for big groups.”
At the back of the dining area is a window seat. “My client showed me a specific photo from Something’s Gotta Give with a window seat and knew she wanted cozy spots to read and enjoy the view around the house,” Baldwin says. “Window seats add to the cozy atmosphere and uniqueness of the house.”
At the back of the dining area is a window seat. “My client showed me a specific photo from Something’s Gotta Give with a window seat and knew she wanted cozy spots to read and enjoy the view around the house,” Baldwin says. “Window seats add to the cozy atmosphere and uniqueness of the house.”
Large sliding glass doors open up the sunroom to the dining area. This is a three-season room that’s not heated. Casement windows with transoms open up the space to the views. All the porches on the house have stained alder beadboard on the ceilings to delineate them as outdoor spaces.
Browse ceiling fans in the Houzz Shop
Browse ceiling fans in the Houzz Shop
“We made the kitchen very efficient with a work triangle, and it gets lots of light,” Baldwin says. “It’s not a big, oversized space and it works great for them.” A pretty blue accent tile behind the range picks up on the bold blue of the island.
There’s a large pantry on the wall behind the counter stools. The casual front entry’s hallway can be seen past the fridge on the left side of this photo.
There’s a large pantry on the wall behind the counter stools. The casual front entry’s hallway can be seen past the fridge on the left side of this photo.
A patterned tile serves as a decorative runner down the casual entry’s hallway. The mudroom is located behind pocket doors on the right, and the laundry room is past it. The door at the back leads to the garage.
The mudroom is located off the garage in the breezeway. Shiplap, cubbies and a wood bench provide a place to take off snowy or mucky footwear. Cute hooks provide an easy spot to hang up coats and bags. The door on the right leads to a grilling deck.
The house has two primary suites. “My clients wanted their bedroom to have a big view and balcony on the second floor. But they knew this would be their forever home, so they wanted a main-level bedroom to have as an option if they needed it for mobility reasons in the future,” Baldwin says. While it was designed for better mobility, it is not completely ADA-compliant.
It’s hard to believe that this beautiful bedroom came in second place. The large bay provides a cozy spot for a reading area. A cased opening and chandelier make the bay feel extra special. Two cushy swivel chairs allow the couple to enjoy the view or swing around to talk to each other when one’s in a chair and the other is on the bed.
This is the main floor’s primary bathroom. “The bathtub is one of the best seats in the house,” Baldwin says. The homeowners chose a porcelain tile with a limestone look for the floor and walls.
Looking at the lake-facing side of the house, on the main level the primary bay is on the left, the great room is in the center and the sunporch is on the right. The topography of the property was a great asset. The slope of the land allowed for a large walk-out basement with direct access to the beach.
Upstairs, clerestory windows bathe the staircase and hallway in natural light. The large double doors open to the upstairs primary suite.
The doors let in light from the clerestory windows.
“The balcony off the bedroom is incredible,” Baldwin says. Double glass doors and glass railings allow for an unobstructed view out to the lake.
Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your home project
Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your home project
The walk-out lower level is all about fun and activities, both for the couple and their extended family. “This space also has a beach entry, so that they can come right in, shake off the sand and hop in the shower,” Baldwin says. The area also includes a sauna. The vibe down here is more casual and great for all ages — the couple, their children and their grandchildren. The floor is polished concrete.
“My clients didn’t want a big basement bar, but they did want a spot where they could grab drinks down here when they were watching movies or playing cards,” the designer says. The bar includes an ice maker and beverage fridge. A shiplap accent wall with open shelving adds another spot for displaying favorite boat-related decor, as well as glassware.
“My clients didn’t want a big basement bar, but they did want a spot where they could grab drinks down here when they were watching movies or playing cards,” the designer says. The bar includes an ice maker and beverage fridge. A shiplap accent wall with open shelving adds another spot for displaying favorite boat-related decor, as well as glassware.
A large overstuffed sectional sofa provides a casual spot for watching TV.
The basement also has a pingpong table with lake views.
These homeowners are very active, and because they prioritize working out, they wanted a home gym. It has a rubber floor, which cushions the joints. And just around the corner, they can enjoy a post-workout steam in the sauna.
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