Northern Home & Cottage Dec/Jan 2023-24 by MyNorth

northern home & cottage DECEMBER 2023 / JANUARY 2024

FOR THE WAY YOU L I VE UP NORTH

THE GLORIOUS WORLD OF JEAN STOFFER

MICHIGAN’S CELEBRITY DESIGNER SHARES HER SECRETS A RECLAIMED-BARNWOOD MASTERPIECE MODERN COMES TO MID MICHIGAN

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inside DECEMBER /JANUARY 2023-24

northern home & cottage

26 10 14

features

departments

14 / THE INSPIRATIONAL DESIGN

07 / IN LOVE WITH

OF JEAN STOFFER

Michigan’s celebrity designer and Magnolia Network star Jean Stoffer lets us in on her life and design tips.

26 / UP ON BEAR MOUNTAIN

A talented design-and-build team translates the vision of a bigger-than-life client into a home for the ages.

34 / CAMP INTENTION

Everything has its place in this warm but minimalist home on a gem-like lake in Gaylord.

Pairing the Partyclette with Leelanau Cheese Raclette.

08 / MY FAVORITE SPACE Designer Marty Rhein

10 / TRENDS

Oh, Suzani! See what a dash of colorful embroidery can do for your home.

COVER PHOTO BY JOHN STOFFER

Click on Live Here > Northern Home

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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agency inc. luscious summer and fall: dried mushrooms foraged from the forests that surround my home in Glen Arbor; smoked fish from Lake Michigan down the street; venison bow-shot by my son just weeks ago; jugs of wild-apple cider chilling in my refrigerator. Andus if we should (231) need 271-3623 | www.bonek.com Call today! condiments, or good produce, or gourmet cheeses, Anderson’s Market is Call us today! within sight of my house—a market, like so many of the North’s small-town (231)271-3623 l www.bonek.com grocers, that defies expectation. People who don’t live here year-round often ask me what there is to do Up North in the winter. I am always stumped by the question as there are really no words to describe the depth of wonder that Northern Michigan holds. But I think I may just start summing it up this way: We eat well, we play well (indoors and out) and we sleep well. This after-hours life Up North used to be our best-kept secret. But with the advent of remote work, more and more people are discovering it. In this issue of Northern Home & Cottage, you’ll meet Michael Collins and David Zawicki, and Jim and Elizabeth VanSteenhouse—all folks who began as summer people and then couldn’t kick the Up North habit. Both couples have very different homes, but they share one commonality: their houses are built to blend into all of our beautiful seasons, not contradict them. I think you will love both of these home stories, as you will enjoy getting to know interior designer Jean Stoffer, the star of our third feature. Jean is a genius at turning a house into a home. Not all of us have the opportunity to build our dream homes—or to spend the winter Up North. But we can all find a place to light a candle, snuggle up with a good book, make that recipe we’ve been putting off for years, renew our ties with community, take a long walk outside … find light and wonder in MYNORTHTICKETS.COM the dark season. Cheers to all of you hardy souls who carry the spirit of the 800.836.0717 North in your heart—no matter where you are.

Elizabeth Edwards is senior editor of Northern Home & Cottage. Lissa@traversemagazine.com

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in love with

RACLETTE ON THE GO By E LIZ A BETH E DWAR D S

WHEN we spied the Partyclette at Leelanau Cheese in Suttons Bay we knew it had the power to make us revel in our cold, dark Northern winters. Raclette is the wondrous, nutty-tasting semi-hard cheese created eons ago by Swiss shepherds to melt over a fire and put on potatoes, pieces of crusty baguette and other hand-held conveyances, and it’s been a star in our cheese scene for decades, since Leelanau Cheese came on the foodie scene in the late ’90s. Raclette griddles are the way to go for feeding more than a few, but this portable gem would be perfect on a fall picnic or tailgaiting after a good snowy ski through the woods. Made by Boska, a Dutch company that has been crafting tools to consume cheese since the 19th-century, the petite Partyclette is beautifully simple: three tealights nested in a handsome little base for the tray where slices of raclette cheese are placed to get deliciously melty.

photo by Dave Weidner

Partyclette, $24 Raclette wedge, approximately $8 leelanaucheese.com

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my favorite space

ABOUT A TABLE Rustic and modern elements blend together to create an airy, inviting interior in this home designed by Marty Rhein. edited by ELIZABETH EDWAR D S

photo by Kate Bruinsma

AS WITH most lake house clients, our goal was to design the home in such a way as to capture as many panoramic views, from as many rooms as possible, so that at any moment one could appreciate the beauty of the water views. I love the interplay of modern expansiveness with cozy and comfortable corners. Multiple textures, artistic expression and clean lines play well together in this home as do the black stained wood, metal, natural walnut, stone and white painted trim and cabinets. These homeowners came with a sevenfoot-plus round knotty pine table with a tree trunk base that they wanted to repurpose in a more modern way. Utilizing the talents of our BAC wood shop we textured and finished it to complement the solid walnut island nearby. Comfortable modern leather dining chairs round out the look, as do the reverse tray ceiling and exquisite cascading chandelier above it. It’s capped off with a coordinating round lazy susan made of Belvedere quartzite stone in the center for practical distribution of food items. So fun! This home is truly a celebration of collabora-

tion from the client to the trades. Many talents came together to create one extraordinary home. And that is always my goal—to help people identify their home’s unique style and its desired meaning, then collaborate with many talented people to create a space that is cohesive and reflects that goal for clients to live, enjoy and share that space with family and friends.

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Senior Designer at BAC Design Group, Marty Rhein is a graduate of Kendall College of Art & Design and a former art and design instructor at Northwestern Michigan College. Rhein is a National Kitchen & Bath Association Certified Kitchen & Bath Designer. He enjoys sailing, painting as a watercolorist and spending quality time with family and friends.

NHC • MYNORTH.COM

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trends

THE JOY OF SUZANI Treat your home to a vibrant shot of color with this ancient embroidery technique. by E L IZA BET H E DWA R D S

ALTHOUGH Suzani textiles have never gone

out of style, the current craving for all things authentic, eclectic and tribal is putting them into contemporary design focus. Suzanis are colorful and intricate designs of the sun and moon, flowers, fruits and occasionally fish and birds embroidered on a fabric base and used for everything from wall hangings and tablecloths to bedding and pillows. Traditionally made for their dowries by brides in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan as early as the 15th century, the vibrant textiles’ colors cover the wheel, from hot oranges, reds and yellows to cool greens and blues. “I love Suzani fabrics!’’ says Wendy Buhr, owner and lead designer of Ella’s Interiors in Traverse City. “They can be a springboard for an entire project.” Designs can be printed on fabric and wallpaper, but Buhr particularly loves working with original, one-of-a-kind antique and contemporary pieces. “They give your home a touch of ‘can’t be copied,’” she says. “The originals are amazing to use on your bed as a coverlet, or made as pillows to throw interest anywhere in your home. I have also framed antique Suzani pieces in shadow boxes on a linen background to use as wall art.” Ella’s Interiors and other designers can help you source authentic Suzanis, or you can find vintage textile curators on Etsy. Mainstream retailers like Pottery Barn always seem to have Suzani-inspired pieces in the mix, and we also love the Suzani accessories from St. Frank (stfrank.com), an online boutique focused on ethical sourcing.

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Suzani tablecloth by Pottery Barn. Above left: Vintage Suzani Christmas stocking by St. Frank. NHC • MYNORTH.COM

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THE PERFECT GIFT is right in front of you!

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THE INSPIRATIONAL DESIGN OF JEAN STOFFER 14 N O R T H E R N H O M E & C O T T A G E D E C E M B E R / J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 - 2 4

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MICHIGAN’S CELEBRITY DESIGNER AND MAGNOLIA NETWORK STAR JEAN STOFFER LETS US IN ON HER LIFE AND DESIGN TIPS. By J E A N STO F F E R Photos by JOHN STOFFER

nchored firmly in her Midwestern roots, family and faith, Jean Stoffer has quietly and carefully risen from self-taught interior designer to the star of Magnolia Network’s reality design show “The Established Home.” The show’s pilot in 2020 featured her renovation of The Madison, a last-century Grand Rapids mansion that became home for Jean and her husband Dale, office headquarters of Jean Stoffer Design and gathering spot for the Stoffer’s four children and many grandchildren. The accompanying photos of The Madison— taken by John Stoffer, one of the couple’s three children who work for Jean Stoffer Designs— illustrate Jean’s genius for creating timeless, relaxed spaces that are graced with subtle drama and rich detail. In the following excerpt from her memoir, Establishing Home, Stoffer describes watching the first episode of her new show on New Year’s Eve 2021 with her family and friends in the sophisticated comfort of The Madison. –E.E.

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SARAH

from Magnolia Network called a few days after the pilot launched. “Congratulations!” she said. “Your pilot is a huge hit.” “Thanks!” I said. “I have truly enjoyed this little experiment, and I’ve been surprised and encouraged by people’s responses.” “And people want more,” she said. “Listen, we’re launching Magnolia Network later this year, and we’re creating a whole lineup of inspiring shows that will focus on ‘home and design’ and ‘food and garden.’ Joanna wants you to have your own show that will take viewers behind the scenes on your designs and help them get to know you and the way you’ve built your family business. She wants her viewers to get more of your seasoned confidence.” I stared at my phone, trying to take it all in. “She feels your designs are next level—mind-blowing was the term she used. Are you up for shooting a six-episode series of your own?”

“Wow!” I said. “I’d be honored to.” After a few more conversations, I signed on for two sixepisode seasons, and we started filming season one in January 2021. One thing that surprised me about shooting for television is how many hours of filming it takes to capture just one hour of usable footage. For the six-week series, which would consist of six one-hour episodes, we shot for 60 days. That’s 10 days of shooting per one-hour episode! The good news is that it was fun. I worked with a group of gifted people, largely in my own home, on our interior design projects. As a bonus, my family got to be part of it, too. The crew was kind, positive, patient, encouraging and talented. I was also grateful the filming didn’t require much travel. For the most part we were in homes I was working on in Grand Rapids. The Michigan-based production team would drive over from the eastern part of the state, spend a day or two filming different aspects of the projects I was working

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Previous spread: “Placing a symmetrical garden in this space augmented the architecture of the classic 1905 Greek Revival home. The garden features shaped boxwood hedges, juniper trees, several varieties of hydrangea and many native perennials. The geometric paths are made of crushed stone. The center bed is highlighted with an antique cast iron planting urn. Garden design and installation by Harder & Warner.” Left: “The North Porch off the back of the home was once a service porch for laundry and receiving. It was in very rough condition. The original windows were restored, and all the millwork was either restored or replaced. I wanted the room and its finishes to look like it was original to the home. The colors of the non-skid tile floor from Fireclay Tile were inspired by a combination of the colors used in the rest of the home’s interior and a decorative border tile from Fireclay’s Metropolitan Series called “Chicago.” With the addition of a glazed partition wall, it is now a garden room on the far side and a boot room near the backdoor on the near side. I chose antique framed art and furniture along with framed botanical prints to decorate the room, allowing the exceptional architecture of the space to have the loudest voice.” Below: “The garden room area of the North Porch is surrounded by original casement windows that were restored, using their original wavy glass. I chose industrial-inspired light fixtures and found a gray blue for the majority of the millwork. I used our customformulated Bradbury Green paint for the window sashes.”

on, and then go home and start planning the next filming. Meanwhile, a post-production crew in California edited what we shot. The production team and director shared my passion for older homes whose heyday had come and gone and were now sitting neglected. They focused on six old-house projects, including the porch on the north side of the Madison, the one room I’d left completely untouched during our big project. I loved the mystery involved in remodeling those homes to their former glory and updating them for a new era. You never knew what you’d find as crews dug into walls to replace outdated systems. Every house has a story to tell, and our film crew joined me in telling some of those stories. Inevitably a remodel brings challenges, whether it’s a post that can’t be moved or

a beam that cuts into the kitchen but is essential because it supports the roof. I look at these challenges as guardrails. I can’t go beyond them or change them, so I need to get creative. I need to find a way to keep that guardrail in place while maximizing the home’s beauty and function. NHC • MYNORTH.COM

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“The kitchen space was established by gathering several back service areas in the original home. I wanted a central spot for this key room. I loved the idea of centering the kitchen sink on the window wall, which overlooks the garden. Thirty-inch-wide refrigerator and freezer columns clad in white oak anchor each end of the cabinet wall. The 15-foot island, painted our signature Cotswold Green, serves as the kitchen’s second wall and houses significant storage, counter space and an induction cooktop with downdraft ventilation. The island pendants have milk glass globes and are set in oil-rubbed bronze frames. Small flush-mount ceiling fixtures were chosen over recessed can lights. The cabinetry hardware is unlacquered brass and the faucet is polished nickel. The counterops are durable two-centimeter-thick quartzite.”

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We all have guardrails we can’t change in our lives, whether it’s past tragedies, emotional scars or current circumstances. Do we complain about these guardrails and wish they weren’t there? Do we just grind against them? Or do we choose to accept that they’re part of our story and incorporate them into our lives? The challenge is to create beauty and function in our lives within the boundaries of our guardrails. It took us 10 months to film the sixweek series, which would be called “The Established Home.” We began in January 2021 and wrapped in November 2021. The production schedule was complicated, and I marvel at the organizational skill it took to conceptualize, plan and film each episode. It was an honor to be part of a project of this caliber, and we Stoffers were eager to see how it would turn out. The show was set to premiere on the Magnolia Network on New Year’s Eve, so we’d have to wait another six weeks before it came out. Throughout that time, I prayed that the finished product would reach a new generation of designers, homeowners, family businesses and women—especially mothers—who might be inspired to create things of lasting beauty in their careers and in their homes.

MAGNOLIA HOME PREMIERE I awoke at 5:15 a.m. on December 31, the day our show would launch. Immediately my mind filled with myriad details that needed attention before guests began arriving for the New Year’s Eve party/television premiere of “The Established Home.” Then it hit me: our show was probably live right now! I grabbed my phone from my nightstand and pulled up the Magnolia app. Sure enough, “The Established Home” episodes 1 and 2 popped up as ready for viewing. I elbowed my drowsy husband. “Dale! The show is uploaded! It’s right here!” I pushed my phone in front of his face. “Let’s watch it!” he said, perking up. “But should we wait? The premiere isn’t until tonight . . .” “We’ll call it a sneak preview.” “I’m in!” We propped ourselves up with pillows. Then I hit play, and we watched our family’s story unfold on the screen of my phone. We were mesmerized by

“The twin to the North Porch is the sunroom. It too has views of the garden through its original casement windows. For the floor, I used black and white marble with chiseled edges. Many people assume it is original to the house. I added tongue and groove paneling to the ceiling and painted the entire room Bradbury Green in High Gloss. The architecture of the room is so exceptional; it needs almost nothing to embellish it.” the skill of the Big Table Media production team and the way they’d shot and edited the footage. The episodes felt true to life. Seeing our story told onscreen was a fascinating experience. I was excited, to be sure, but I also felt humbled by all the little backstories that had led up to this season of my life—the many times I’d wrestled over decisions, made mistakes or struggled with people I hold dear. I recalled times I’d been hurt—or worse, times I’d hurt others—by sharp or unfiltered words. Through it all, we’d built something I’m proud of—not just the business, but a family that works well together professionally and still enjoys each other’s company. How many times had God guided situations in my life? How often had he mitigated mistakes I’d made, circumvented parenting failures or blessed my feeble attempts to be faithful? With my phone’s tiny screen illuminating the darkness, I felt God’s grace wash over me—and our family. What struck me most wasn’t the design aspects of the show, it was the interactions with my kids. I couldn’t help but notice how far we’d come as a team, and I was one proud mother. I will never regret the career opportunities I turned down when the kids were young. Investing in my family back

then—not just focusing on their academic or athletic accomplishments, but investing in their souls, skills and interests as human beings—had led to such fulfillment. As Dale and I watched pieces of our story unfold, I thanked God to be receiving such dividends on investments made long ago. As soon as the credits rolled on episode 2, I tossed back the covers, headed to the kitchen to start the coffee and dove into the day. My friend Rosa, who was a professional caterer before she came to work for us at Stoffer Home, had most of the details for the party under control. “Let me just run with this,” she’d told me a couple of months ago when I asked her to help me plan the event. “This kind of party is right in my wheelhouse.” That afternoon Rosa took command of the Madison, placing a carving station for beef tenderloin at one end of the kitchen island, wine and beverages at the other, and side dishes, salads and breads displayed artfully in between. She’d ordered a gorgeous cake, and she and her husband had strung twinkle lights everywhere. The place looked and smelled magical. A swarm of Stoffer grandkids arrived early with their parents and were swiftly tucked into their beds upstairs. At eight o’clock, the doorbell rang with our first NHC • MYNORTH.COM

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“The symmetry of the Greek Revival style can be seen in the living room. The fireplace with elaborate millwork is centered in the room and flanked by two windows. The furnishings reflect the symmetry. I chose clean lined sofas and designed a modern coffee table for the space. The alabaster light fixture is such a dramatic element, giving the room a chic vibe. I picked a light taupe paint color that feels warm and soft while still bright. The interior windows on the left separate the living room from the family room. It differentiates the space while allowing the light to pass through each room.”

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Left: “This sweet attic bedroom is where my grandchildren stay when they visit. It has the best view of the garden, and with its sloping roof lines feels like a treehouse room, but with all the comforts of inside. I furnished the space with an antique bed I found when my children were young. The velvet lumbar pillow gives the room a touch of class.” Below: “I loved thinking about this bathroom as the one the grandchildren would use when they visit. It has a tub/shower combination on the left and a three-faucet trough sink on the right. I put a floor mirror sideways on the wall above the sink, clad the walls in tile and finished off the space with three single wall sconces centered above each faucet and enameled stools so the kids can reach everything. The floor tile is one-inch hexagon mosaic tile with a custom decorative element I made using black and white one-inch tiles.” guests, and the grownup time began. As the Madison filled with beloved friends and family, I was thrilled to see how well the space we’d designed absorbed the crowd. Many guests hadn’t been to the Madison yet, and the hidden powder room and coat closet in the hallway were favorites, along with the sunroom, which—even in a Michigan December—was warm and welcoming. This is exactly how I envisioned this space, I thought. My heart practically glowed. At nine o’clock, I made an announcement: “Hey friends, thanks for being here! The viewing will start in half an hour, so load up your plates, fill your glasses and find a seat in the family room downstairs!” While everyone made their way to the kitchen for refills, I headed downstairs to cue the show on our TV screen. When I clicked on the Magnolia Network,

I saw that The Established Home was the first show featured. I scrolled down, and under “Trending,” our show was number one! Woohoo! One by one, people made their way to the family room. At 9:30, Dale dimmed the lights, and I hit play. As each scene unfolded, I listened to people’s reactions. I took their oohs and occasional laughter as encouraging signs. When the credits rolled, Dale turned on the lights. Looking at each face in the room, I was struck by the power of this moment. I was filled with gratitude for these people—my husband, our kids, and these dear friends, clients and coworkers who had come to celebrate this event with us. I rose and stepped in front of the TV. “Friends, I am not exaggerating when I say we would not be here watching this show without each of you. Every person in this room has played a part, either as clients NHC • MYNORTH.COM

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Left: “The house has a third floor with room for a full suite of spaces. Altogether it has two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a living space and a kitchenette with a dining space. The living space is in the front of the house. It has interesting roof lines we accentuated by cladding the beams in white oak. The rest of the ceiling and all the gable walls are clad in tongue and groove boards and painted white. This is a comfortable space for guests when they stay with us. “ Below: “The third-floor kitchenette also enjoys drama from the roof lines and pitches. The original oval window had been broken and removed years ago. We replaced the plexiglass with a replica of the original design found in old photographs. The Eden Green Cabinetry is further accentuated by the green backsplash tile.”

who have entrusted us with your homes, or as coworkers who have given your very best to every project we’ve tackled together, or as family members who have learned the art of working together professionally while still loving each other. “This is the power of community. We are here for each other. We need each other, and when times are hard or things don’t go as planned, we have each other’s backs. When we allow people to see us for who we really are—not the Pinterest version, but the version with wrinkles and challenges—we discover we’re not alone.” One by one, I thanked each person for their unique contributions. It was long after midnight before the last guest headed for home. As I climbed the staircase for bed, I thought with fondness of how those very stairs had given Cory and me fits as we struggled to create a natural flow in the

home. Tonight’s gathering had proven it was worth the effort. By the time I slipped beneath the covers, Dale was asleep. I laid my head on the pillow, but my mind was still whirring. I was blown away by the day—and, to be honest, by so many things in my life. I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude to God, who has brought me so much joy, wholeness and fulfillment. I am simply a designer who remodels houses, which are nothing more than containers for the humans who live there. I do my best to create designs that help those houses become homes, but design has never been the main thing for me. The main thing has always been the people. Building a business has given me opportunities and brought me many dear friends over the years, but nothing compares to the gift of family. Having my life so intertwined with the lives of

my grown kids feels like an unwarranted treasure from God, and I count myself rich every day on account of the friends and family God has placed in my life. As I closed my eyes, I thought back to the first time our family gathered at the Madison, for my birthday party the previous August. Our grandkids had lined up along the patio steps to sing my favorite hymn. The final line of that hymn has become a crescendo for me: And give him the glory; great things he has done. I still have far to go in this life. I have much to learn, and I hope I’ll never stop growing and becoming the person God dreamed me to be. No doubt there will be new challenges to tackle and new joys to embrace. But no matter what the future holds, I’ll give God the glory, each step of the way. NHC • MYNORTH.COM

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Your home is more than a building. You need more than a builder. First thing we build...

TRUST.

New Homes Remodeling Property Management Cleaning Services

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231-348-2749 11/6/23 9:46 AM

Total Commitment to Quality

resources Contractor Kenowa Builders Designers Jean Stoffer and Grace Start, Jean Stoffer Designs Cabinetry Stoffer Home Cabinetry

More than 25 years of experience in building distinctive homes while exceeding the expectations of discriminating clients. jim@cooleycontracting.com

Landscape Harder & Warner

es NHC • MYNORTH.COM

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house and home

UP ON BEAR MOUNTAIN A DESIGN-AND-BUILD TEAM DIGS DEEP INTO THEIR RESPECTIVE SKILL SETS TO CREATE A HOMEOWNER’S VISION. By E L I Z A B E T H E DWA R D S Photos by JACQUELINE SOUTHBY

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ometimes it takes a near-catastrophe to

help us reorient to our dreams. In 2015, James H. VanSteenhouse survived a grizzly bear attack while bow hunting for moose in the wilds of Canada. That neardeath experience caused him to reassess his life: He retired as the CEO of a mortgage company and turned his attention toward more spiritual pursuits, creating Bear Man Ministries. Not long after, he and his wife, Elizabeth, began searching for property to build a home they could eventually retire in and share with family. With this newfound lease on life, they were determined it would be nothing less than spectacular. “We were looking for either a water or mountain sunset,” VanSteenhouse says. With the help of a Realtor friend, he and Elizabeth sleuthed properties across the lower 48, including Michigan—VanSteenhouse’s home state. He remembers the day his Realtor called and excitedly told him about a piece of property for sale on

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Opening spread: The family of grizzly bears in the front yard of Bear Mountain Estates are sculptures by Agius Studio. This page: The view from the foyer stretches to Lake Michigan. The wroughtiron railing on the bifurcated staircase, by Black Rock Forge, tells a pictorial story of the flora and fauna of Bear Mountain Estate. Below: The custom bunk room makes for memorable slumber parties.

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MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY WANTED

IT TO FEEL RUSTIC, LIKE A WESTERN HUNTING LODGE, AND TO BE CONSTRUCTED

SOLELY OF STONE AND 100 PERCENT RECLAIMED BARNWOOD—A NOD TO JIM’S CHILDHOOD AS A FARM BOY IN MICHIGAN’S THUMB.

a bluff some 250 feet over Lake Michigan, facing due west, and located just south of the village of Leland. VanSteenhouse went up alone to see it, and as the sun was setting, called Elizabeth from the northwest corner to tell her they’d found something very special. Jim and Elizabeth had a pretty good idea of what the family retirement home would look and feel like. Jim sketched out the first floor on the inside flap of a Bible study guidebook and the second floor on the same inside back cover. The plan centered around a sweeping bifurcated staircase in the foyer and views of the lake throughout the home. But most important, they wanted it to feel rustic, like a Western hunting lodge, and to be constructed solely of stone and reclaimed barnwood— a nod to Jim’s childhood as a farm boy in Michigan’s thumb.

Through friends, the VanSteenhouses heard about architect Nick White and the firm, White & Liebler Architects, whose rich portfolio dates to the late 1970s and includes some of the most architecturally beautiful homes in Northern Michigan. Firm partners Nick White and Nick Liebler, along with architect Drew Mittig, turned VanSteenhouse’s plan into a blueprint, refining it so that it took in maximum lake views, fit into the narrow bluff site and incorporated inspirational details from great hunting lodges of the West. They went on to design a home that would be constructed of authentic Montana stone and nearly entirely of reclaimed barnwood. The White & Liebler team went on to recommend and introduce the VanSteenhouses to a full team of professionals capable of bringing everything together. Enlisting landNHC • MYNORTH.COM

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“WE KNEW WHEN WE STARTED THAT THE HOUSE WAS GOING TO BE A PRETTY

INCREDIBLE ARCHITECTURAL PIECE,

BUT I DON’T THINK ANY OF US HAD ANY IDEA THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO FINISH

AT THIS LEVEL.”

This page: In the primary bedroom, the bowed wooden beam mimics the stone arch it connects to, both being examples of the extraordinary craftsmanship in the home. Opposite: Interior designer Lawrence Boeder worked with the Easling team to turn the VanSteenhouses’ vision for their kitchen into reality. Private chef Markus Ford consulted on the placement of appliances and other elements.

scape architect Anita Silverman, interior designer Larry Boeder and contractor Marty Easling of Easling Construction and his in-house team of 84 skilled craftspeople, including rough and finish carpenters, stone masons, block masons, painters, dry-wallers, trim carpenters and cabinet builders. For many members of that team, Bear Mountain Estate became the project of a lifetime—something that could both challenge their skills and offer the opportunity for them to shine. The challenges began from the get-go: “It was the rainy season when we started. Of course, everybody knows a bluff is all clay and rock, so it was just a very difficult process, but we met all those challenges head-on and made it work,” says Jason Klingelsmith, CEO of Easling Construction. But far and away the biggest challenge was sourcing enough reclaimed barnwood to construct every nook and cranny of the home including the flooring, as well as the massive hand-hewn timber structural trusses and beams. The Easling team, working with JC Woodworking,

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Above: The primary bathroom. Below: The in-home movie theater.

a reclaimed wood business out of Pennsylvania, sourced beams from six Pennsylvania barns, two barns in New York State and one barn in Maryland. The flooring came from some 25 18th- and 19thcentury log homes in Pennsylvania. Needless to say, none of that wealth of reclaimed wood came in standard modern dimensions, so it was up to the Easling team to cut it into jigsaw-piece precision to fit the blueprint. Finished now, the home is a source of pride for everyone who worked on it. Says Liebler: “We knew when we started the design process that the house was going to be a pretty incredible architectural piece, but I don’t think any of us had any idea that it was actually going to finish at this level.” As for the VanSteenhouse family, they love the home so much they’ve turned it from a vacation spot into a year-round residence. Perhaps that’s because Bear Mountain Estates achieved the VanSteenhouses’ primary goal: “To create an environment within and surrounding a home that no one wants to leave.”

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resources Architect White & Liebler Architects General Contractor Easling Construction Co. Interior Designer Lawrence Boeder Interior Design Landscape Architect Anita Silverman, Silverman & Company Traverse Outdoor

Bradley J. Butcher, AIA 989.705.8400 sidockgroup.com Novi • Wyandotte • Lansing Muskegon • Gaylord Sault Ste. Marie • Tampa Williamsport, PA

Read informative articles about us at MyNorth.com: search Sidock Group

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house and home

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CAMP INTENTION

A COUPLE UNLEASHES THEIR INNER DESIGN SENSE IN THIS PERFECTLY EXECUTED NEW BUILD ON A TUCKED-AWAY LAKE NEAR GAYLORD. By E L I Z A B E T H E DWA R D S Photos by JACQUELINE SOUTHBY

he shallow waters of gem-sized Opal Lake near Gaylord run deep in Michael Collins’ life. During high school and college, he was a lifeguard for a private club on the lake. Later, when he brought his then-partner (now husband) David Zawicki there, David told him: “Someday I want to live on this lake.” A decade or so later, the couple purchased a small log cabin, using it as a place to unwind from their busy lives for the next 13 years. By 2020 the couple knew they wanted the lake to be their forever home. But the little cabin was too snug for year-round occupancy and, at the very least, they’d need an addition to make it livable. After meeting with builder Bill Raymond of B & B Construction—a company widely respected in the Gaylord area—Collins and Zawicki decided if they were really going to get the home they wanted, they’d need to tear down the cabin and start again. And what they had always dreamed of was a midcentury modern, minimalist

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home—one that would blend into Opal Lake’s lovely wooded shores. The couple sketched out a simple plan consisting of two wings and took it to Gaylord-based architect Todd Seidell, who refined their ideas. The finished floor plan includes the primary bedroom suite and office in one wing and the living area and guest quarters in the other. The wings are connected by a breezeway that the couple refers to as an atrium because of its two glass doorwalls. A bounty of other perfectly thought-out details all work together to make this home sing. “We called the home Camp Intention from the get-go because everything in this house is intentional, from the furnishings to the floor to the cabinets,” Collins says. That intention begins on the exterior, with black vertical steel cladding on the two-shed roof–topped wings and horizontal steel cladding on the breezeway. Not only is the steel siding the aesthetic the couple was looking for but, as Zawicki points out, it’s very low maintenance. “It will never need painting, just a quick rinse down here and there,” he says. The handsome steel exterior is echoed by a custom black steel-and-glass door to the primary residence. The effect of all of the glass, steel, light and big views of the natural world is indeed very atrium-like. The couple loves the space so much that they decided to turn it into their dining room—a spot to enjoy long

The living room is set above ground level to give the impression of floating on the lake beyond the windows; The kitchen bar stools are custommade—with walnut backs, moss-green steel frames and purple tweed seats—from Grand Rapids Chair Co. Collins and Zawicki found the working 1958 Grundig tube record player at Wilson’s Antiques in Traverse City. The hooks on the wall to the right of the record player were designed by Charles Eames. The pegs on the wall in the forefront are vintage balloon molds.

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wonderful evenings of food and conversation with the wind off Opal Lake blowing softly through the open doors. The couple’s thoughtful curation of elements continues in the kitchen, where Amish-built custom walnut cabinetry (with carved pulls in lieu of hardware) sets the stage for a waterfall-edge island countertop fabricated from a carefully selected slab of quartzite called Everest. Eclectic furnishings and art round out the home. “We opted to be our own interior designers,” Collins says. “David and I have always been collectors, and we’ve always loved midcentury. We rarely buy anything just to have it; we knew where we were going to put things right from the blueprints.” The effect of all that purposeful design is not lost on the couple’s guests. As Collins describes those lucky enough to snag a stay at Camp Intention: “They are just in awe.”

The wallpaper in the primary bedroom is by Wallphoto. The bed is MCM Currey & Company and the bedding in both bedrooms is by Under the Borough; The midcentury chair was a score from the Petoskey Antiques Show and the lamp is by Adrian Pearsall; The midcentury couch in the office was made by the now defunct Detroit Sofa Company. Both the couch and chair above were re-upholstered by TC Upholstery Alternative. The vintage office wall unit is from Denmark. NHC • MYNORTH.COM

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resources Architect Seidell Architects Builder B & B Construction Interior Design Michael Collins & David Zawicki Landscape Johnston’s Landscaping Windows Andersen Window, Preston Feather Appliances Thermador, Advance Electric Flooring Southwind Authentic Plank Flooring, Builders FirstSource

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