Remarks

Envision endless summer days that will become an enduring family tradition while realizing your dream on a private landmark waterfront estate on the highly coveted north shore of beautiful Lake Charlevoix. Concentric grass terraces lead from the lake to the south facade. The suite of principal rooms - living room, dining room, four seasons room, den, along with the master suite - and the adjacent expansive full length patio are framed within the concave of twin swooping gables, a picturesque profile noticeable from across the lake. The deep and lofty lakeside stone patio with its gas firepit and outdoor counterpart off the dining room culminates the experience by anchoring the house. At the ends of the twin gables, cedar shake shingles are treated like a membrane draped over the frame of the house. At the center of the symmetrical facade, is a stone clad gable and beautiful stone chimmney defining the living room. What the architect/owner envisioned was a “Hampton Shingle Style Residence”. He reversed the most common expectation of the traditional brown shingle style siding by evoking a striking contrast of white shingles for the exterior walls, set off by black framed windows, grey stone and a grey cedar shake roof. Traditional detailing transitions into the interior, with the use of flat panel wainscoting, coffered and beamed planked ceilings, extensive custom millwork, and two-panel doors with oil rubbed bronze hardware.The interior of this home transcends itself into a “Transitional Design Style” with the merging of custom light fixtures, polished nickel plumbing fixtures, ceiling details, and the locally sourced 10” wide plank white oak flooring with a dark charcoal matte finish. Thoughtful planning and imagination allowed the design to support a sophisticated modern family residence that would have been entirely at home in an earlier century.