59 minute read
LOVE OF THE LAND
Love at First Site
by Greg Tasker
Before you fall in love with a dream-home design, here’s what your builder wants you to know about working with your lot and the landscape.
When it comes to building your dream home amid the lakes and woods of Northern Michigan, there’s much more to consider than just gorgeous views or settings.
Choosing the right property is one of the most important steps in the process of building a new home, says Jeff Collins, CEO and owner of Glennwood Custom Builders, a fullservice design and build team that has offices in downtown Petoskey and Traverse City. The company specializes in new construction and extensive remodeling projects.
Collins recommends the buyer have their team in place— including the builder and real estate agent—before the selection process begins. The builder can identify issues with a property; how things such as topography, soil types, drainage and regulations for setbacks from lakes, rivers and roads may impact the building envelope. Those elements could add costs to the building project or deem a property unsuitable for the client’s vision.
“We typically work with our clients to help them locate the perfect property, assist with pre-purchase due diligence and work through any items that may require interacting with state agencies, township zoning and county permitting,” Collins says, noting the state agencies include the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Natural Resources. “We have long-standing, high-quality relationships with these and other agencies important to the build process.” Glennwood Custom Builders has more than 25 years of experience helping customers build their dream homes in Northern Michigan. The family-owned company’s portfolio includes homes of all sizes, ranging from 3,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet or more. Their service includes coordinating and managing all the people, entities and components required in the complex process of purchasing the ideal property.
“A lot of times people don’t consult with a builder ahead of time and they’ll buy the lot and then discover there are issues they didn’t consider,” Collins says.
One example is the topography of a site. A customer may dream of a walk-out, but to build that on a flat parcel will mean moving and sculpting a lot of dirt. Steep slopes may also mean moving dirt around or constructing a retaining wall. The type of soil could require pilings for a foundation—more expensive than a traditional foundation. Other considerations include local setback requirements from waterways and roads.
“We like to visit the site with our client and their real estate agent,” Collins says. “We try to give advice on the cost, what can be done there, what are the setbacks. All the lakes in Northern Michigan have different regulations on whether you can build a guest house or a storage barn, and how big … there are a lot of things to weigh before purchasing a lot.”
Many properties in Northern Michigan have wetland issues, which dictate how big the building envelope on a property can be. You cannot build on wetlands but there are ways to work around them.
Wetlands were an issue for a client a few years ago. Before choosing Glennwood, the client had been told it was impossible to build his desired home on a 10-acre site on Lake Charlevoix because of setback requirements and wetlands. Glennwood negotiated with state agencies for a year to find workable solutions, reshaping the landscape to make the 10,000-square-foot house work on the property. Part of the solution included re-creating the wetlands elsewhere on the site and building bridges over streams to protect water. “It was extremely complicated and detailed,” Collins recalls. “We got the house in there when everyone said it was impossible. It took us a while, but [the customer] eventually got everything he wanted.” Choosing the right property also impacts the livability of the home, something most prospective clients don’t think about either. The livability of a site includes considering such things as how the sun falls in the afternoon—do you want shade after you’ve been out on the boat all day or do you want to grill in the sun? Others include where is the prevailing wind, and how deep is the water in front of the property?
“There are so many things to think about,” Collins says. “Do you want to be right up against the water or do you want to be able to play yard games? Maybe you want to be 100 feet from the water—is the lot deep enough? You have to understand the pros and cons of different properties and how you plan to live there.”
“Putting that team together and working with a builder who is truly custom and is engaged right from the start, even on the lot selection, can work with you to make sure your vision is going to happen, to make sure it’s going to be feasible,” Collins adds. “At Glennwood we enjoy and appreciate assisting our clients with their lot selection options, whether they are full of opportunities or challenges, to make sure their vision can be carried out. This does take time, so we encourage them to reach out to us as soon as they start the process of searching for the perfect property.”
Who would have thought the pandemic would have brought the real estate industry such huge growth? Venture Properties witnessed this firsthand, closing $112 million during a time they thought would be a downturn in the market. The fact remains: Buyers continue to flock to Northern Michigan in search of the perfect property. But in a crazy market, it’s the experience of your real estate team that makes the difference. Venture Properties has successfully connected their clients with vacation homes, primary residences and land since 1980, and is known for selling Leelanau County waterfront property. The brokerage had the largest sale on north Lake Leelanau in 2021 at $3.8 million, selling at $300,000 over the list price. Kimberly Bork, broker/owner of Venture Properties, then sold another home after a knock on the door from a neighbor before the listing ink was even dry—and this home also closed over $3 million.
Venture Properties founder and Associate Broker Perry Pentiuk based the values of the brokerage on building relationships, not sales. As a result, Venture Properties is one of the most successful independently owned real estate companies in our region, with many long-time friends that remain clients today. When Kimberly purchased the company from Perry in 2019, she kept those core values intact.
Kimberly now has a team of seven, including Perry, as well as Realtors Nicole White, Hillary Voight, Powell Smith, Marissa Wege and recent addition Mark Hood—her father. “My dad hired me as his admin when I was in college,” she says. “He is responsible for shaping my entrepreneurial spirit. This is going to be an exciting new chapter for us.”
Mark has always been keenly interested in real estate. Since moving to Traverse City in 2001, he and his wife, Karen, have acquired and sold many vacant land parcels and residential homes. They also completely remodeled four homes on Old Mission Peninsula and became well-versed in the do’s and don’ts of home construction. Mark served on the Peninsula Township Board of Review for several years, gaining valuable experience and knowledge on the tax assessment and appeals process. Mark also brings decades of experience in the finance industry to Venture Properties. He has been directly or indirectly involved in more than $3 billion of financing for a wide spectrum of assets including aircraft, ships, barges, railcars, oil wells and computers.
What’s next for Venture Properties? Home staging and property management are a few of the services that will continue to grow in 2022. Team members Kimberly, Marissa, Hillary and Nicole all have years of experience in this department. “We love to work with our clients to get a property ready for the market,” Kimberly says. A recent staging project included a waterfront cottage. The seller called for advice, and the team provided a detailed plan. The client followed the plan to the letter—they cleared the home of personal items, painted the interior, cleaned the house, carpets and windows, and had a pre-home inspection completed. Venture Properties staged the home and listed at a fair price. The result was 68 showings and 10 offers; all wildly above the list price. The property sold in three days for $225,000 over asking price. Sure, it would have sold without the staging plan—but not for nearly a quarter million more.
“It pays to prepare,” Kimberly says. “We have many prequalified financed and all-cash buyers searching for homes in our region and the lowest inventory levels we’ve seen in a long time. If you’re thinking of selling, now is the time. Interest rates will continue to rise, and the market will shift, so don’t wait. And, if you need to find a home, Venture Properties excels at competing in this crazy market. We are here to help.”
When Experience Counts
by Cara McDonald
A crazy real estate market requires more than just a Realtor—you need a team of strategic partners.
Bryant Wilson Call or Text: 231.668.6805
The Coach Approach
by Carly Simpson
Bryant Wilson doesn’t want to sell you insurance; he wants to coach you, so you can make the right choices for your life.
Like so many others when Covid-19 hit, Bryant Wilson was thrown for a loop. Central Michigan University cut its men’s track and field program and Bryant, who was the 2019 Assistant Coach of the Year at CMU and was a four-time national champion pole vaulter at Grand Valley State University, was out of a job. So, with a baby on the way, he and his wife took the opportunity to reset and find the perfect place to raise a family. Their search brought them to the Traverse City area, where they could be a part of the community and Bryant could carry on his passion for coaching with Traverse City Central’s track team.
He brings his passion for coaching to home insurance, too, at his State Farm office in Williamsburg. “Our job is to inform and to ask the right questions,” Bryant says. “We love to have a conversation and coach you on insurance so you can make an informed decision. If you go with another company, that’s fine, no hard feelings, we sleep well at night knowing we did our job informing you.”
Bryant’s process involves three key questions you need to be aware of before committing to an insurance purchase or working with an agent:
3 QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR INSURANCE AGENT 1) Am I overinsured or underinsured?
“Real estate is a big investment, especially in our area. When it comes to home insurance, a lot of people have an escrow account and so their insurance is tied up in their mortgage payment and they don’t really think about it. Let’s say they buy a million-dollar home on Old Mission Peninsula or Torch Lake and they insure it for that price, but it’s a 1,200-square-foot ranch that would ‘only’ cost $250,000 to rebuild. You had to pay for the view, though, and the land, which is what adds up to that million dollars. We’re not going to rebuild the view if your house burns down, we’re only going to rebuild a structure of like kind and quality. A lot of people don’t know they’re overpaying for home insurance because their bank loan is for $1 million so the bank says, ‘Hey, we need to insure this for $1 million,’ and that’s not the case. In reality, if the structure is only worth $200,000, that’s the amount you need to insure.”
2) Do I have enough liability insurance?
“Liability is what people should really be concerned about. Many people retire up here, and they over-insure their home because they think that’s the biggest risk exposure. On the flip side of that, a lot of people carry very low liability limits, and that’s the scary part. If something happens on your premises and you get sued, you may have to dip into your retirement accounts, or use up your nest egg—that’s a big risk. Also, liability exposures are much more significant on lakes. You might have a boat, or some kids are over who aren’t used to using a jet ski … It’s all your property; it’s your exposure. Having a conversation is worth it, to make sure you’re protected in the right way.”
3) I have a secondary home I want to rent out. Do I need to tell my agent?
“It’s common for people to rent out their second or third homes as vacation rentals, but some people don’t tell their insurance company the house is being used as a rental. In the event of a loss, if it’s not documented and somebody sues or somebody accidentally burns it down, and your insurance company finds out that it was a rental, they’re not going to pay your claim. It’s not that those houses aren’t insurable as rentals, you just have to note that you’re using the house in a different capacity.”
Why local? If you don’t have a personal relationship with your insurance agent, give Bryant a call or text at 231.668.6805 or stop by the office (5756 US-31 N., Williamsburg next to Chase Bank). His local team is happy to answer insurance questions, or recommend their favorite coffee shop, breweries and trails. “We don’t mind telling people, ‘We can’t beat that price,’” Bryant says. “But if price is all that matters, everyone would still have flip phones.”
Beat the Competition
by Allison Jarrell
Shawn Schmidt Smith, a fourth-generation Traverse City Realtor with Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors, shares five tips for making the most competitive offer in today’s market.
1. As a buyer, you should make sure your Realtor is calling the listing agent to start a dialogue and find out what is important to the seller before submitting your offer. Having the strongest overall offer is about so much more than just having the highest price—your other terms have to appeal to the seller as well. Your Realtor should be picking up the phone, making that call and finding out what the seller is looking for besides just price.
2. Minimize your contingencies! The fewer contingencies your offer has, the better. In a seller’s eyes, every contingency is just a possible way that the deal may fall apart, so you need to minimize that in order to give the seller confidence that the deal will make it to the closing table. For example, as a buyer, you shouldn’t be asking for more than a three- to four-day inspection period in this market. In 2015, you could ask for a two-week-long inspection period. Not anymore. Shorten/ minimize that inspection contingency to remain competitive.
3. Convey your enthusiasm about the home to the seller. Your Realtor should be filling out glowing feedback after the showing, telling the seller how much you love it. Sellers will feel more confident about you as a buyer if they know how badly you want the house—it conveys a willingness to do what it takes to make sure the deal will get to closing.
4. There are diamonds in the rough out there. If there’s an area you like but you can’t find the perfect home, consider a rehab loan that allows you to wrap the costs into your loan. Coast One Mortgage does a nice job with these loans.
5. Look for the hidden gems. Kingsley, for example, is a scenic, less crowded, more under-the-radar area to consider— perfect for families, professionals and retirees. It’s not as discovered, but give it a few years; choosing to live in an area on the front end of a trending location is valuable. Alden is tucked into a scenic area with water and rolling landscapes all around. These are great areas to buy real estate, knowing that your property values will grow nicely.
Millwork Style Statements
TIP: START WITH ONE SMALL FOCUS.
Unless you have a finalized idea book tabbed out room by room, you’re starting with a blank slate. Don’t let product selection bog you down. Start with one thing—this could be the doors, the baseboard or the crown—and key in on that. “All other decisions can be made once you pick one thing,” Strawderdam says.
TREND: CONJURE AN ERA.
Thomas & Milliken welcomes loads of requests to replicate trim, interior doors and hardware from every architectural era. Step back in time, adding a Victorian vibe to your project with curated millwork and door packages. Trends are capturing looks from mid-century modern to contemporary farmhouse, and Thomas & Milliken pride themselves on accurate representations of period millwork.
TIP: EMBRACE THE CHALLENGE. ASK FOR HELP.
“When someone comes into the showroom looking to pick out millwork, the basic premise is that they have a problem that they want to solve. It’s our job to help find the solution,” Strawderdam says.
The pros thrive on helping homeowners, architects and designers wade through products and services and lend projects that “uniquely you” touch.
TREND: WELCOME UP NORTH COTTAGE NOSTALGIA.
by Lisa Blake
Pro tips and trends for homeowners seeking outstanding design.
Walking into a millwork showroom can be a little daunting. Doors, window trims, molding, baseboards and panels in so many textures, styles and hues—“overwhelm” can creep in. And that’s ok. That’s when the experts stroll up, take your hand and help you articulate your vision.“It can be a pretty long and painful process to get to the first selection, but once that is made, it tends to be pretty smooth sailing,” says Thomas & Milliken sales associate Kent Strawderdam.With showrooms in Petoskey and Traverse City, the retailer specializes in doors, windows and stair parts and has notched its pedestal as the number one millshop in Northern Michigan. Andy Thomas launched Thomas & Milliken Millwork in 1977 with his wife, Gloria. When he was just six years old, Andy’s parents gifted him a small red steel toolbox labeled “Handy Andy,” jumpstarting a basement woodworking shop and continuing the family tradition of woodworking, dating back to his great-great-grandfather who built Northport homes in the 1850s.
Today, designers and DIY-ers appreciate Thomas & Milliken’s boundless custom millwork and hands-on approach. Here, Strawderdam helps homeowners break down tips and trends for 2022.
Since millwork in general and trims, doors and cabinetry in particular are a reflection of a home’s geographical location and regional tastes, it’s no surprise the “Up North Cottage” is Thomas & Milliken’s top-selling millwork package. The lakeside-inspired design is clean-lined and linear with detailed baseboards and casing and a crown that follows the same line. It’s not uncommon to see beadboard paneling and nickel-slot ceilings and accenting in various patterns and widths, Strawderdam says. Nature-inspired textures and customized light and airy nooks round out the Up North feel.
TIP: DON’T BE AFRAID TO GO MODERN.
On another front, Strawderdam says, Northern Michigan design is starting to lean more toward modern, contemporary aesthetics. It’s increasingly common to have stylish drywall returns on windows and doors with minimal baseboards and to see doors with contemporary flair.
An entrance sets the tone for a home’s interior and enhances the overall appeal of a space. In the past, modern homes called on flush solid-core birch and other species of durable wood. To make a fairly simple yet bold style statement, Strawderdam points to TruStile’s modern door collection and its stacked rail designs and sleek plank styles.
READY TO GET STARTED
You’ve got Thomas & Milliken’s creative and dedicated employees and longstanding reputation on your millwork team.
HonorBuildingSupply 10635US31 HonorMI, 49640 231-325-4551 800-444-6396
Onekama Building Supply 4847Main St. MI, Onekama 49675 231-889-3456
Living Your Best Lake Life with PVC Decking
by Lisa Blake
Add value and longevity to your favorite outdoor living spaces.
In Northern Michigan, a beautiful, comfortable outdoor living space is just as important as interior aesthetics. Decks are the new dining room; patios step in as family dens and game rooms. When winter temperatures dip below zero and summer mercury soars to 90 degrees, durable building materials and solid construction are paramount to keeping these al fresco commons safe and enjoyable.
Earl and Shirley Soderquist recognized these facts of Up North life when the local building material and hardware purveyors opened Honor & Onekama Building Supply. The trusted Northern Michigan lumber and building supplies source launched in 1963 with steadfast dedication to helping contractors and DIYers shop and build locally. As Honor & Onekama Building Supply has evolved from one generation of owners to another, so have the products they offer, adding to traditional wood-based products a wide range of long-lasting, low-maintenance items in a variety of materials.
Natural seasonal elements and construction trends have had their way with wood and aluminum over the years. Now it’s PVC’s turn to take the decking spotlight, says Honor & Onekama Building Supply Manager Kevin Ingleston.
PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, deck boards are made from recycled plastic and can be shaped, colored and textured or embossed to appear like a grained or wood surface. Ingleston points to PVC as a superior product picking up speed in the Northern Michigan construction market.
WHY CHOOSE PVC?
With more manufacturers producing it and more homeowners and contractors using it, the premium pricing per board has become more reasonable in recent years. Honor & Onekama Building Supply sells the high-style, low-stress Wolf Serenity Decking line. Here’s what consumers are loving about PVC decking:
FLEXIBILITY IN DESIGN
PVC boards have the authentic color streaks and natural wood grain texture of real stained hardwoods. You can pick from rich on-trend hues that are updated every year. Current popular colors include driftwood gray, rosewood and sand castle. Solid and grooved boards provide more options and the classic matte finish never goes out of style.
SUSTAINABILITY
Wolf decking is made of 94 percent recycled material and features a strong core, taking durability to a whole new level. When wood is used, Ingleston says, approximately 15 percent of the wood purchased isn’t usable because of knots, wanes and chatter marks, so there’s a lot more waste and cost.
DURABILITY
Northern Michigan’s shoreline comes with its own unique climate—long winters where snow and ice sit on decks for months on end are followed by summers of intense sunshine and humidity. PVC decking is moisture resistant so there’s no rotting or mildew. The product doesn’t warp, crack or split and retains its color without fading from years of sun. Feet are safe from splinters and insects don’t care for the material.
REDUCED MAINTENANCE
The premium decking product is basically maintenance free, so you can enjoy your deck and not spend off-seasons cleaning, sanding and staining. Low-maintenance engineered decking means a quick spray with the hose once in a while and an annual clean with soapy water and a soft-bristle brush. PVC decking comes with a 50-year warranty while composite decking typically comes with a 25-year warranty.
HEAT SHEDDING
Unlike wood or composite materials that are dense and retain heat longer, UV-protected PVC is lightweight and easily sheds heat. Bring on the barefoot summers.
Honor & Onekama Building Supply offers free project estimates and a $15 local delivery fee from their yard to your home or jobsite. No contractor’s license required.
William Kaupas The Swiss Army Knife of Brokers, always has the right tools on hand William Kaupas William Kaupas The Swiss Army Knife of Brokers, always has the right tools on hand The Swiss Army Knife of Brokers, always has the right tools on hand
William Kaupas helped us find our lake dream
We had a dream of living on Lake Front in Traverse City, but never thought it would be a reality. William William Kaupas helped us find our lake dream went above and beyond. He had a creative solution We had a dream of living on Lake Front in Traverse to everyone of our concerns. His vision is outstanding. William Kaupas helped us find our lake dream City, but never thought it would be a reality. William
William left no stone unturned. Once he found the We had a dream of living on Lake Front in Traverse went above and beyond. He had a creative solution perfect property for us, his relationships gave us the City, but never thought it would be a reality. William to everyone of our concerns. His vision is outstanding. edge we needed to ensure our offer was accepted. went above and beyond. He had a creative solution William left no stone unturned. Once he found the
Thanks to William, we are now in our forever home to everyone of our concerns. His vision is outstanding. perfect property for us, his relationships gave us the
William left no stone unturned. Once he found the edge we needed to ensure our offer was accepted.
Nancy G. perfect property for us, his relationships gave us the Thanks to William, we are now in our forever home edge we needed to ensure our offer was accepted.
Thanks to William, we are now in our forever home Nancy G. Nancy G.
William helped us discover Traverse City
The knowledge we gained during our first meeting with William was priceless. William grew up and graduated from Traverse City, well before it was on the map. He couldn't have been more gracious in sharing those lifelong relationships with us. We fell in love with the area over many vacations. However, it was the community that William and his staff were able to provide us with that we are most grateful for. Tom E.
William Kaupas Listens to his clients needs
Our family has some specific challenges, that require a specific home. William didn't just ask what we needed. He came to our old home several William helped us discover Traverse City times to view first hand how we used the home. William The knowledge we gained during our first meeting with William was priceless. William grew up and graduated from Traverse City, well before it was on the map. He couldn't have been more gracious in sharing those lifelong relationships with us. understood our needs. William used that intimate knowledge, to not only find our new home. William also helped us coordinate all the specialized improvements we needed to make, so our family would be comfortable. We fell in love with the area over many vacations. However, it was the community that William and his staff were able to provide Paul H. us with that we are most grateful for. Tom E.
William helped us discover Traverse City
The knowledge we gained during our first meeting with
William was priceless. William grew up and graduated from William Kaupas Listens to his clients needs
Traverse City, well before it was on the map. He couldn't have Our family has some specific challenges, that been more gracious in sharing those lifelong relationships with us. require a specific home. William didn't just ask
We fell in love with the area over many vacations. However, it what we needed. He came to our old home several was the community that William and his staff were able to provide times to view first hand how we used the home. William us with that we are most grateful for. understood our needs. William used that intimate knowledge, to not only find our new home. William Tom E. also helped us coordinate all the specialized improvements we needed to make, so our family would be comfortable. Paul H.
William Kaupas Listens to his clients needs Our family has some specific challenges, that require a specific home. William didn't just ask what we needed. He came to our old home several times to view first hand how we used the home. William understood our needs. William used that intimate knowledge, to not only find our new home. William also helped us coordinate all the specialized improvements we needed to make, so our family would be comfortable. Paul H.
william@socialrealty.com william@socialrealty.com 231-392-9445 william@socialrealty.com 231-392-9445 231-392-9445
The Lifestyle Question
by Greg Tasker
Before you ask yourself what (and where) to buy, first ask, “How do I love to live?”
When it comes to buying a new home in Northern Michigan, there’s much more to consider than bricks and mortar or a prized parcel of land.
Your lifestyle plays an important role in your decision, and can ultimately determine how well you adapt to—or even like—your new home, says William Kaupas, owner of Social Realty in Traverse City. Kaupas, who has been in the real estate business 15 years, is adept at helping his clients figure their lifestyle needs into their home-buying decisions.
For Kaupas, the interview process is not a formal survey. Instead, he tends to ask less about the house a client is dreaming about, and more about their family, their interests, and what they do. He doesn’t have a ready set of questions in mind; he considers himself naturally curious and social (hence the name of his real estate company).
Here are a few of the lifestyle scenarios Kaupas has encountered in recent months, and how his talents helped steer clients to more suitable options.
Active, social: A Houston couple relocating to Traverse City had their eyes on Old Mission Peninsula. But as Kaupas learned about their lifestyle, he realized they loved biking, being out in the community, spending time at restaurants and happy hour on Traverse City’s Front Street. They preferred to bike or Uber rather than drive. He redirected them to a downtown Victorianera home, with easy access to the city’s amenities and no worries about getting around.
Family: A young couple in their thirties with four young children were looking for a second home. They wanted a small cottage on the water for swimming and to use as a source of rental income. Instead, Kaupas steered them toward selling their suburban home and adding those funds to their cottage budget so they could live on the water. They ended up on south Long Lake, with a 120-foot beach they can enjoy every day. “I told them, ‘You are never going to use the cottage the way you think you will,’” he recalls, pointing out a host of kid-related issues on their horizon, everything from sports and activities to something as simple as a child not feeling well. “Our children are only little once, the memories of them growing up in this special place are priceless,” he says.
Aging, active: A man in his early sixties was looking to buy a house on Old Mission Peninsula; a bay view was his only non-negotiable. During conversation, the man joked, “I’m only one fall away from never mountain biking again.” With that in mind, and a 1 million-dollar budget to work with, Kaupas ended up finding this client a 1970s ranch home for just over $600,000. Kaupas is now coordinating extensive renovations that include panoramic bay views, as well as a spacious first floor guest suite with a large barrier-free bathroom, just in case it’s ever needed in the future.
Busy, social and concerned about resale value: A thirtysomething tech guy wanted to relocate from his Traverse City condo to lakefront property. This client didn’t like fixing things around the house, didn’t want to deal with cutting the lawn and was very social; his main impetus for a lake property was to entertain. After looking at several lakefront properties, Kaupas found him a modern home in Traverse City, where he could entertain and not worry about the lawn; the back yard had all native plants. What’s more, he is close to downtown and popular hangouts, and the house will be easy to resell.
Elderly widow: The children of a 78-year-old widow wanted to sell her spacious Williamsburg home and move her into a Traverse City condo. The woman was spry and active but couldn’t maintain the property on her own. “When her children left the room, I asked her point-blank, ‘What do you want?’” Kaupas recalls. Although she realized she couldn’t live there anymore, she didn’t want to sell the house; it contained many of her late husband’s artifacts—he was a paleontologist. Kaupas came up with an alternative: the family is keeping the house, housing the artifacts in a locked basement and renting the rest of the house as an Airbnb, providing enough income for the client to live in Cordia at Grand Traverse Commons, an all-inclusive senior residential community.
“Everybody is different and if you’re willing to take the time to listen to them, to let them speak, you’ll find out what they really want,” Kaupas says.
before after
Never Paint Again?
by Greg Tasker
How ceramic-based paint can battle mildew, moisture, cracking and peeling, and keep your house looking beautiful for years to come.
Sun and water are synonymous with Michigan summers, but these elements mean wear and tear on the exterior of traditionally painted homes along the state’s lakes and rivers.
The biggest problems Michigan waterfront homeowners face are mold and mildew because of moisture, which causes paint to crack, peel and chip. The intensity of the summer sun wreaks havoc on painted structures, too—ultraviolet rays cause paint to break down, prompting cracking, peeling and fading.
More homeowners are turning away from regular latex paint to a longer-lasting alternative: ceramic-based paint, a product offered by Timeless Coatings, LLC in Brighton, Michigan. Already a popular option in the Ann Arbor area, ceramic paint is gaining traction with homeowners in the northern Lower Peninsula and along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
“We’ve been doing a lot of work on houses on the west side of the state, along Lake Michigan,” says Sheryl Mercier, part of the husband-wife team behind the company. “People don’t want to return to their summer home and have to paint every year. That’s a lot of work. Ceramic-based paint lasts a lot longer.”
Sheryl and her husband, Marc Mercier, are licensed dealers for Rhino Shield, a brand of ceramic paint. They’ve been selling the brand since they opened their business 15 years ago.
Ceramic paint, Sheryl Mercier explains, is thicker than regular latex paint and lasts years longer. Ceramic paint contains far less water than latex paint and includes ceramic microspheres instead of the inexpensive fillers found in most exterior house paints. Packed tightly together, the ceramic microspheres have pockets of air that form a protective insulation barrier, which helps insulate walls against heat, UV rays and coating breakdowns.
In addition, ceramic paint also includes mildicide, which prevents mold and mildew. It’s an additive not found in many paints, Mercier says. What’s more, the paint comes with a 25-year warranty against cracking, chipping and peeling.
While more expensive than traditional latex paint, ceramic paint costs about the same as vinyl siding, and using ceramicbased paint allows homeowners to maintain the natural look of their homes. In fact, Timeless Coatings has painted the exterior of historic homes for several customers in Traverse City, Mercier says.
The benefits of ceramic-based paints are many, including: • Longer lasting than regular exterior paint • Creates a waterproof barrier • No chipping or flaking • Can reduce energy costs • Reduces noise • Offers UV protection • Allows for good moisture management
Ceramic-based paint is flexible, she adds, pointing out that as a house naturally expands and contracts, latex paint cracks and peels. Because of its elasticity, ceramic paint expands and contracts with the house so there is no cracking or peeling.
Before putting the ceramic paint on a home, the company’s crew uses primer on the surface. One or two coats of paint are added. The primer needs about four to six hours to dry; the paint takes longer to cure because it’s a softer, more elastic product.
Customers in West Michigan and beyond have been very happy with the change from latex to ceramic paint, she says. Some have tapped Timeless Coating to boost their home’s curb appeal before a sale or to save money by not having to paint every year. One customer, she says, was tired of being in the constant loop of painting every five years and reached out to Timeless Coatings.
“The homeowners were very satisfied with the ceramic coating and are looking forward to never painting their home again,” she says.
Delight is in the Details
by Cara McDonald
Architect Nick Liebler weighs in on how to create warm and welcoming spaces rich with detail and authenticity.
Most prospective custom-home clients are eager to hire an architect for the big-picture plans—it’s the surest way to a oneof-a-kind dwelling that speaks to your distinct lifestyle and honors the setting and site.
But beyond building envelopes and interior floor plans, an architect brings to life the design inspiration and feel of the home by uniting period details, focal points and materials that make a home feel cohesive, welcoming and contextually beautiful.
White & Liebler Architects in Petoskey is known for classic and period-inspired designs rich with historic details and embellishments. “We help clients focus on features of the home that really bring the custom-design aspect of it to life,” explains Nick Liebler, LEED AP and partner at White & Liebler.
Here, he shares seven guiding principles that will help elevate the look and feel of any Up North home.
1. Focus on the fireplace. Liebler treats fireplaces as the central feature of the house, one that everyone gravitates toward. “Fireplaces are the focal piece of the room, the showstopper,” he explains. “When you step in the front door, you want to have a visual to that—put the featured element where you can celebrate it; when you step in, your eye lands on it.
2. Draw people through the spaces. According to Liebler, this is critical: “When someone enters the home, you want to pull them through with long sight lines in a way that is very clear, very orderly,” he explains. For example, good design can create an instant visual connection to the water, or draw people through the home to key focal points.
3. Build in beauty and function with millwork. This is where you can create a sense of authenticity in detailing. “We’re known for capturing period style,” Liebler explains. “We’re not chasing trends, but working through traditional forms.” He helps clients capture this sense of history and utility by creating beautiful built-ins and striking molding, trim, doors and more.
4. Consider the staircase a piece of art. If you’ve only ever thought of stairs as a way to get you from A to B, you’re missing an opportunity to create a moment. “Staircase design can make or break that part of the house,” Liebler says. “Stairs are beautiful; a feature that’s celebrated. The beauty of the handrail, the continuous curve of the form … these elements are critical.”
5. Make room for a four-season porch. Not only is the porch a traditional part of a lake home, but for contemporary homeowners, porches have become almost year-round extensions of the living space and a connection to the outdoors. To add more draw to the porch, Liebler often adds a fireplace and big folding doors that lead out to those spaces.
6. Choose materials with authenticity. For one, don’t shy away from wood. “Homes have been built out of wood for hundreds of years,” Liebler says. So cedar shingles, siding and trim are natural products that “add a ton of authenticity.” A cedar roof gives a house a timeless appearance, too. He also likes working with copper flashings and trim which, although expensive, “add so much visual interest and can elevate the look.”
7. Utilize an extensive amount of glass. From an investment standpoint, windows can be one of the biggest-ticket items, but Liebler reminds, “What you are paying for is the view of the lake, the experience of living on the water. That interaction through the windows is worth the investment.”
8881 ALVINAS TRL, LAKE ANN
4 Beds | 3 Baths | 2,800 Sq Ft
How sweet it is at this one of a kind Sweet Lake waterfront estate. Custom finishes you don’t see every day. Stone fireplace that is a work of art. Full log home that has been loved and cared for over the years and stands the test of time. Stunning wrap around porch with covered area overlooking the lake for enjoying sunsets or the summer rain. Many recent updates including a newer Geothermal heat system, kitchen counters, appliances, roof, chinking and stain. Rare opportunity to have peace, tranquility and privacy with this legacy, one of a kind waterfront property. Situated on 5 acres with 300’ of private frontage on Sweet Lake which is a private lake. Many happy memories made here, ready for the next owner to enjoy. 15 Minutes to Downtown TC, 15 minutes to Crystal Mountain! Custom built by Maple Island Log homes, windows, interior, floors, everything feels better than new! Over the years the owners added extensive gardens with water scapes and pond that adorn the gentle rolling slopes to the waters edge. Sandy bottom lake that is perfect for swimming. Dock and outdoor shower. Being a private lake you won’t experience jet skies or big boat tie offs, just nature, the loons call, campfires, kids laughter and joy. A true “legacy” waterfront estate which can sleep up to 12 of your most favorite people!
Peninsula Drive Waterfront Home- west facing to take in the pristine waters of West Grand Traverse Bay and all its splendor. Overlooking sunsets, Power Island views, sitting in an Adirondack chair, your feet in the sugar sand with a bonfire crackling--ready for you to move right in. This turnkey, immaculate-fully furnished Peninsula home provides instant comfort and relaxation. From the front covered porch overlooking the bay to the outdoor shower and woodside deck in the back, you will have no problem claiming where you want to relax. Generous kitchen, dining and living areas to entertain a crowd, yet not overwhelming for the day-to-day. Master suite has a main bedroom with additional sleeping area or sitting room and 2 extra closets for seasonal storage, relaxing garden tub and separate shower. Gorgeous maple floors on the main floor. Large main floor laundry to keep up with the beach towels. Bountiful storage throughout with basement and garage, plus extra linen, coat, and broom closets along with cabinetry in main floor laundry. This lake home has been exceptionally maintained over the years--pride of ownership shows! Minutes to the wineries or for a quick bite at the Boat House or Peninsula Grill. If you want all the magic of the Peninsula, this home has it all!
10191 PENINSULA DR, TRAVERSE CITY
3 Beds | 2.5 Baths | 2,191 Sq Ft | $1,200,000
Cindy Anderson Cindy Anderson MANAGING BROKERMANAGING BROKER 231.218.5324 canderson@lakehomes.com www.LakeHomes.com 12935 SW Bay Shore Dr., STE 335
Traverse City, MI 49684
231.218.5324 canderson@lakehomes.com www.LakeHomes.com
Selling the family cottage? Here’s how to do it right.
by Lisa Blake
The emotional and physical exchange that comes with selling the family lake home can be heavy. Use these tips to lighten the load.
Family properties are highly sentimental, carrying generations of memories. How do you let go? And make it all worth it? Lake Homes Realty Associate Broker Cindy Anderson helps us dissect what she calls one of the biggest conflicts she’s seen in the real estate industry.
When it comes to family cottages, what are the biggest seller mistakes you see?
There are so many emotions when a family goes to sell what is basically their memories, and many times emotions cloud their approach.
I often see families list emotionally, going with the agent who sends them calendars over the years and not interviewing to find the best fit. Look at hiring a lake home agent much like you would hire a heart surgeon. Would you hire a heart surgeon based on an ad on a park bench? Experience and market coverage area matters in getting the maximum dollar and best results.
It’s a hot seller’s market. How can a lakefront homeowner use this to their advantage?
List smart. Don’t fall for the strategy of listing low and having a piranha-like feeding frenzy. That creates negative emotions and only benefits the real estate agent’s business; it’s a dog and pony show at the seller’s expense.
Craft a careful market strategy instead. Because our brokerage only sells lake homes, we know the regional market as well as state and national. Only selling to the immediate area leaves hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table. I have story after story of listings that we sold for $50,000, $100,000, $400,000 more than what the sellers were told by others. People may be looking to buy in Michigan, upstate New York, South Carolina, etc. We have our finger on the pulse of the lake home buyer, because that is all we do here in Northern Michigan and throughout the country.
How can sellers prepare?
Estate plan if you can. Suburban houses usually sell every five years, so there is not a big legacy attached. With lake homes, mom and dad built the house when they retired and summer after summer families hang out there. There is a much longer holding period for a lake home. As soon as you buy a lake home, have your exit strategy in place or be thinking about it. Don’t leave it to your kids; be a part of the process early on.
Maintain your property’s septic, exterior and interior. We go through and advise on what repairs or staging are needed to get the best price. You want to be on the edge of where the buyer cannot say no and not have buyers find the repairs.
Make it a family affair. When it comes time to sell, have a family meeting. You may get pushback and that’s okay. Ultimately, it is up to the decision maker. Just make sure voices have been heard.
What are some of the nuances of selling a lake property?
Let’s say the property was built in the 1950s before building codes were invented. You can run into what we call dry wells, which are old-fashioned septics, or you may have water wells where the water has never been tested. Many times, families do not know where the septic field is and find that it is an old field that is leaching into the lake. The property may be a part of an old plat where there has not been a survey in years. We have run into waterfront properties without any waterfront attached. We are prepared for just about anything.
Any insight for buyers?
Our lake homes forecast is based on the representative from the Fed who visited us in October and indicated rates would climb by two points overall by the end of 2022. The forecast also was that sellers will want to take advantage of this market because they are fearful that it will end soon, so we will see more inventory on the water. Inventory is still short, but we are starting to see more waterfront homes come to market at the writing of this article. My prediction is short-term rentals will start to see backlash not only in Northern Michigan, but in all vacation destinations in the U.S. They can be a negative if you have a property next door to one of them; they impact the environment of our inland lakes, and many townships and neighborhoods are moving toward banning them completely. My professional opinion is short-term rentals do not belong on inland lakes. If you are considering buying a short-term rental, I would be very cautious of the environment surrounding your investment— you are a square peg trying to fit into a round hole.
About Cindy Anderson: A Detroit native, Cindy spent every spring, summer and fall on the lakes of Northern Michigan. Fond family memories and deep knowledge of lake living spurred her successful 30-plus-year real estate career in Northern Michigan, for which she’s been honored with more than a dozen awards and designations. When she’s not in her office, Cindy and her husband are making memories with their four children, their spouses and three grandchildren, or cruising the lakes on their 42-foot sailboat.
Home Services Guide
Your Building & Remodeling Resource Guide
The essential Northern Michigan guide for building, remodeling and decorating your home.
Whether your home project involves building a new home from scratch, just adding a bath, or landscaping your special bit of the North, you’ll find the talented, skilled suppliers and craftspeople and skilled services you need in MyNorth Home Services guide.
Visit link.mynorth.com/homeservices for more resources, products and services for homes and cottages in Northern Michigan.
Architects Audio & Video Systems Builders & Contractors Excavating Financial Services Kitchen & Bath Designers Millwork Real Estate
RAY KENDRA, AIA 10241 E. Cherry Bend Road Traverse City, MI 49684 231-946-1234
Ray Kendra, AIA; Local knowledge + Lifestyle and site inspired architecture. We believe architecture is rooted in its environment, and should be inspired by the uniqueness of each site and each client. env-arch.com
JOSEPH MOSEY ARCHITECTURE, INC. Elk Rapids. 231-498-2500 Northville. 248-515-4477
When architecture is done beautifully, it has the same power over the mind as music, poetry or any healthy activity, creating meaningful human experiences. josephmoseyarchitecture.com
SEARS ARCHITECTS 16 Ionia Ave SW, Suite 1 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 616-336-8495
We are an award winning boutique architecture and planning firm with projects that include private individuals, historic residential associations, and private developers. searsarchitects.com
WHITE & LIEBLER ARCHITECTS 117 Howard St., Petoskey, MI 49770 231-347-6870
Providing high quality residential and resort architectural services since 1979. Our project scope ranges from small residential additions to large estate residences, commercial buildings and institutional projects. white-liebler.com
AUDIO & VIDEO SYSTEMS, HOME AUTOMATION
WAARA TECHNOLOGIES 144 Hall St., Ste. B, Traverse City 49684 • 231-935-4511
We specialize in lighting control, home theater design, audio and HD video distribution, home and commercial internet networks, and whole-house automation. Come visit our showroom. waaratechnologies.com
BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS
6446 E Traverse Hwy. Traverse City MI 49684 231-933-4336 COOLEY CONTRACTING, LLC More than 25 years of experience in building distinctive homes while exceeding the expectations of discriminating clients. We demonstrate a total commitment to quality while specializing in projects of all sizes. jim@cooleycontracting.com
10167 E. Cherry Bend Rd., Traverse City, MI 49684 231-941-1448 PAUL MAURER GENERAL CONTRACTING, INC. Paul Maurer General Contracting has been building some of Northern Michigan’s finest, most innovative custom homes for more than 40 years. Call on Paul Maurer Home Services for expert handling of smaller projects, maintenance, and major home improvements. paulmaurer.com
16 S. West Silver Lake Rd. Traverse City, MI 49685 231-943-4710 ALPERS EXCAVATING Complete Excavating Services including removal of existing structures. Installation of Septic Systems. Water & Sewer Hookup. Residential & Commercial. Family owned and operated since 1969. alpersexcavating.com
FINANCIAL SERVICES
3515 West Rd East Lansing , MI 48808 800-444-3276 GREENSTONE FARM CREDIT SERVICES GreenStone supports rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services, today and tomorrow. Visit greenstonefcs.com to learn more about country living financing including vacant land, home sites, home construction and country homes.
KITCHEN & BATH DESIGNERS
808 S. Garfield Ave, Suite B Traverse City, MI 49686 231-947-7040 @HOME CABINETRY & INTERIORS Creating your dream home shouldn’t be an overwhelming experience. Let us guide you through the design process in a way that makes it fun & exciting! We provide design and construction. Initial consultation is complimentary. Call for appointment. homecabinetryandinteriors.com
KITCHEN CHOREOGRAPHY 420 S. Division, Traverse City, MI 49684 231-932-9700
Northern Michigan’s leading design firm, we provide outstanding interior design for new construction and remodeling projects. Visit our award-winning, historically renovated showroom to discover how our team coordinates projects seamlessly from design to completion. kitchenchoreography.net
MILLWORK
Petoskey and Traverse City 800-968-7236
Since 1977, a leader in architectural woodwork for the building contractor and homeowner. Doors.Windows, Molding, Stair parts, & Siding. tmmill.com
REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE ONE, SUZY VOLTZ 57 N. Michigan Ave, Beulah, MI 49617. 231-651-9711. RealEstateOne.com
40 years experience serving Crystal Lake, Platte Lakes, Glen Lakes and Lake Michigan areas. Resort, residential, vacation and commercial properties. Contact Suzy Voltz at suzy.voltz@gmail.com
The CulinaryNorth Trends
3 CHEERS FOR CHERRIES
by CARLY SIMPSON
In the Cherry Capital of the World, July is the sweetest (and tartest) month of all. Here are three ways to celebrate Traverse City’s favorite fruit.
Nutty Mother Munson Bars
Slabtown Cookie Co.
228 Monroe St., Traverse City The menu changes daily at this self-serve cookie stand (menu on Instagram; Venmo or cash), but Katie Otterman’s “Mother Munson” bars make regular appearances. The chewy blonde brownies are brimming with pecans, dark chocolate chips and local dried cherries. Follow on Instagram for a special cherrylicious treat Otterman is dreaming up for the week of National Cherry Festival (July 2–9).
Sour de TART
Stone Hound Brewing Co.
the TART to the brewery!). stonehoundbrewing.com
Cherry Turkey Sandwich
Bay Bread Company
601 Randolph St., Traverse City
3593 Bunker Hill Rd., Williamsburg This refreshingly tart cherry-lemonade beer is only available for a few months each summer. One dollar from each pint is donated to TART Trails (bike Slices of multigrain bread are slathered with housemade cherry walnut spread and cherry butter from Ellsworth’s Rocky Top Farm. Simply splendid. baybreadco.com
JUST a BITE
Lettuce Wraps
in july, seats on the riverside patio at firefly are coveted. But if you manage to nab one, a more difficult challenge awaits—deciding what to order. The downtown Traverse City restaurant known for its small plates and sushi is celebrating 20 years this month. I personally can’t pass up the lettuce wraps: chicken, water chestnuts, edamame, peanuts and hoisin sauce all tucked into crispy romaine. It’s salty, crunchy perfection. But you can’t just order one small plate, right? So also get the sweet potato fries and garlic aioli to share, and cheers to a match made in culinary heaven. 310 Cass St., Traverse City, tcfirefly.com –C.S.
From Our Cellar
The beers, wines or ciders that area beverage professionals are drinking right now.
spontaneously fermented natural wines have been all the rage in coastal wine circles in recent years. But have you tried any of the bottlings from Michigan’s Old Mission AVA? Get your hands on the Neu Cellars 2021 Sparkling Riesling, made by this small-but-mighty father-son winery that brought the natural wine trend to Northern Michigan in a way that actually tastes like Northern Michigan. “Natural wine is an expression of terroir because of the wild ambient yeast,” says chef Forrest Moline, who stocks the label at his equally petite but progressive natural wine shop in Traverse City—Forrest, A Food Studio. Pair this cold-climate natural bubbly with lake trout, walleye or any other fish from this coast. neucellars.com; $33 per 750ml bottle –S.B.
The CulinaryNorth Served
DINING OUT STIX 2.0
by CARLY SIMPSON
Five great reasons to visit the new iteration of this beloved restaurant and bowling alley.
Andrew riemer has long loved stix, a Ludington restaurant and bowling alley originally built in 1954. Though it’d fallen into disrepair, he dreamed of what it could be. A few years ago, Riemer asked an area
Realtor to give him a call if the property was ever put on the market, and in 2020, it was. He rebuilt the aging building from the ground up, creating a modern two-story restaurant with nautical vibes and a little something photos by Dave Weidner for everyone: 1) A family-friendly beer garden has games for kids and adults—cornhole, Jenga, bocce—along with a food truck, Argentinian grill, campfires and a huge oak tree wrapped in lights setting the scene. 2) The attached bowling alley was completely renovated and outfitted with the latest technology: Spark by Brunswick Bowling. The augmented reality system projects digital images and mini games onto the lanes; STIX is one of approximately 50 bowling centers in the world to have this new technology,Riemer says. 3) An upstairs patio called The Pier overlooks the beer garden; here you’ll find high-end whiskeys and hear live music on evenings when artists are performing in the garden. 4) The on-site dining is spot on. Riemer interviewed chefs across the nation—New York, Texas, Atlanta—before finding a perfect match in Ryan Wierenga from Lansing, Michigan, who crafts elevated dishes like prosciuttowrapped shrimp for the restaurant alongside more casual pub fare such as wings and loaded fries for the separate bowling alley menu. 5) A scenic setting helps sweeten the destination—STIX is the last business before the entrance to Ludington State Park, which Riemer says is one of the most beautiful state parks in the nation (we don’t disagree). Grab dinner after a day of hiking, biking and beaching.
STIX
1963 N. Lakeshore Dr., Ludington stixludington.com
The CulinaryNorth On the Table
Here in the greater grand traverse region, we all get really opinionated about who makes the best cherry pie. Is it the 100-year-old Cherry Hut in Beulah, where my mother worked (and learned to drink coffee) in high school? Is it Traverse City’s Cherry Republic or Grand Traverse Pie Company? What about Friske’s Farm Market in Ellsworth? Is it Grandma’s pie, with that secret ratio of butter and lard? Our neighbors across the pond have a better answer to this riddle: Cherry clafoutis.
Instead of sandwiching thickened sour cherries between pie crusts, French cooks love to bake clafoutis— an eggy, custardy, single-layer cake of sorts that is studded with sweet cherries and can double as breakfast or dessert. It’s the texture of a crêpe, but much thicker.
Traditionally, this peasant recipe from the farming region of Limousin is assembled with the pits still in the cherries. A bowl is placed in the center of the table for discarding the pits. It’s been said that leaving them inside helps pull all the flavor from the pits during baking. That said, as good as this dish may be, I’m thinking it might not go over well if I brought this as my dessert to share at the next yacht club barbecue, with a note about spitting pits. Instead, for this recipe, I pit the cherries, but capture all their flavor by first steeping the pits in the milk that ultimately gets poured into the batter. While I’m not sure
DINING IN
CHERRY, CHERRY,
QUITE CONTRARY
by STACEY BRUGEMAN This month, leave cherry pie to others and try your hand at France’s favorite cherry dessert: clafoutis. what French traditionalists will say about pulling the flavor of the pits in this way, I am sure that there’s no harm in thinking beyond pie and mixing up our repertoire here in cherry country. And who better to draw a little kitchen inspiration from than the French?
Stacey Brugeman is a Leelanau County–based food and beverage writer and editor. Her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Saveur, Travel + Leisure, Eater and Denver’s 5280, where she served as restaurant critic. Follow her on
Instagram @staceybrugeman.
photo and styling by Sarah Peschel
Cherry Clafoutis
Makes 8 wedges 3 cups sweet cherries, washed and stems removed
1 ¼ cups whole milk Knob of butter (about 2 Tablespoons) 3 large eggs ⅓ cup granulated cane sugar 2 pinches salt 2 Tablespoons kirsch or cherry brandy 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ¾ cup all purpose flour confectioners’ sugar for dusting
1. Working over two food storage containers, pit the cherries, placing pits into one container and the fruit in the other. Pour the milk into the container with the pits to soak. Cover both containers and refrigerate overnight.
2. The next day, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
3. Place a generous knob of butter in a 10-inch cast iron skillet and use a paper towel to rub it around the bottom and sides of the pan to coat. Add cherries to the pan and shake until they form a single layer.
4. Crack eggs into a blender and whiz at high speed until they are frothy on top, about 30 seconds. Working over a strainer, pour the milk into the blender, separating and discarding the pits. Add sugar, salt, brandy and vanilla, and pulse a few times to combine. Working in small batches while the blender is running at medium speed, add flour and blend until the mixture resembles frothy cream.
5. Pour the batter over the cherries and place the skillet onto the center rack of the oven. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.
6. Remove the clafoutis from the oven and allow to sit until the edges pull back from the side of the pan, about 15 minutes. While still warm, dust with confectioners’ sugar, cut into wedges and serve. –S.B.
POINTS NORTH
Points North is a show about the land, water, and inhabitants of the upper Great Lakes. Each week we look into what draws people to northern Michigan — the beaches, orchards, dunes, and forests — and the deeper stories behind these postcard settings. Fridays at 6:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. 91.5 FM, Traverse City 90.1 FM, Harbor Springs/Petoskey 89.7 FM, Manistee/Ludington
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Now serving both indoor dining and take-out, and featuring beer, wine and cocktails.
Dinner Prix Fixe Special
3 Courses • 5:00-6:00 pm • $25
Open for Dinner, Thursday through Monday, 5:00 until 9:00 pm
The Red House in Downtown Suttons Bay 231.271.2344 • marthasleelanautable.com
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OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN 2022
On Portage Lake with 200’ of beach 231-970-0335 • CanfieldHouseBnB.com
Bradley J. Butcher, AIA 989.705.8400 sidockgroup.com
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The CulinaryNorth Last Call
A SEED-SAVER’S SIP
by STACEY BRUGEMAN
Summer’s favorite salad flower is even better muddled into a spicy margarita.
The first time i ate nasturtium flowers— the orange, red or yellow blooms from a low-lying plant that also has edible stems, leaves, and seeds—I was at the Sooke Harbour House on Vancouver Island. This celebrated destination restaurant and inn was also home to an extensive on-site garden. The evening we were there, the bright, fragile flowers came atop a salad of greens also grown on that lovely spit of land overlooking the Juan de Fuca Strait. We went home from our meal that night with a packet of their nasturtium seeds, the most inexpensive and enduring souvenir from a long-ago trip. Here in Northern Michigan, as in southwestern Canada, the nasturtium plant is an annual, but it produces a large seed that is easy to collect and save for replanting the following spring.
Every summer at about this time, these colorful flowers open and are such a fun reminder of that bucket-list meal. The flowers are slightly spicy, with a welcome floral note. I adorn salads with them, or julienne the flowers and roll them with butter in wax paper to make nasturtium butter. But there’s one thing I started doing with nasturtium flowers more than a decade ago that my friends still request every July—I muddle them in a shaker and mix up spicy margaritas. They add a flavor that’s more subtle than the green pepper kick of a spicy margarita made with jalapeños. Plus, the muddled flowers give the drink a gorgeous pale orange or light pink hue. Be sure to select a silver tequila, clear Cointreau and a pretty glass—all of which will let this natural coloring stand out. Grab a few tubs of nasturtium flowers from the farmers market or, better yet, order some seeds, and I promise your friends will also insist on a cocktail at your place every July. If they don’t, call me.
Stacey Brugeman is a Leelanau County–based food and beverage writer and editor. Her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Saveur, Travel + Leisure, Eater and Denver’s 5280, where she served as restaurant critic. Follow her on Instagram @staceybrugeman.
photo by Dave Weidner / styling by Sarah Peschel
Nasturtium Margarita
Serves 1
5 nasturtium flowers
3 ounces blanco tequila 1 ½ ounces Cointreau
1 ½ ounces freshly squeezed lime juice, plus the spent lime kosher salt
Place ice cubes in a margarita glass to chill it and cover a small plate with kosher salt. In a dry cocktail shaker, muddle 4 of the nasturtium flowers. Add tequila, Cointreau and lime juice to the shaker and fill with ice, shaking the mixture until it is cold. Discard the ice in the glass, run a spent lime wedge around the edge of the glass, and tip the rim into the plate of salt to coat. Strain the contents of the shaker as you pour into the glass, garnish with the remaining nasturtium flower and serve. –S.B.
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DIG A PONY: A BEATLES TRIBUTE LIVE IN CONCERT
Sojourn Lakeside Resort
SUMMER BLUES
by ALLISON JARRELL
Comb Leland’s beaches for pieces of colorful lake-tumbled slag.
Beneath leland’s crystal-clear turquoise waters and along its sandy shorelines lie brightly colored “stones” just waiting to be picked and admired. These prized stone-like gems are actually pieces of lake-tumbled slag—human-created treasures that are a byproduct of Leland’s smelting industry in the late 1800s. Slag glass can be found all over Michigan where smelting occurred, but you have to be in Leland to find the coveted “Leland blue.”
Contrary to the name, Leland blues range in color—from blue, purple and gray to what’s called “Frankfort green”—and can have swirling patterns and pits/bubbles throughout, as well as rusty spots from the iron. Good spots to start are Van’s Beach and North Beach. It can take your eyes awhile to adjust to slag spotting, but once you find a piece or two, you’ll be hooked.
Got skunked? Summer is the perfect time to wade out into the cold waters of Lake Michigan, but more visiting rockhounds can mean it’ll be harder to find pieces of slag. If you’re looking for a more peaceful (and potentially bountiful) experience, hit the beach early in the morning, or come back to hunt in the spring and fall, especially after a strong storm.
Rock hunting laws: Per Michigan law, an individual can’t remove more than 25 pounds per year of any rock, mineral (exclusive of any gold-bearing material) or invertebrate fossil from state-owned land for personal or non-commercial hobby use. And it’s illegal under federal law to remove stones from a national lakeshore.
