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This new-build shoreline vacation home that’s all about the views turns summer

getaways into summer come-to-stays with a design that welcomes guests.

By Autumn Krause | Photography by Beth Singer | Styling by Cottage Company Interiors

Serenity &Simplicity

The gorgeous great room is almost as visually dazzling as the views right outside the windows. Kelly made sure ample windows and glass doors were used to let natural light stream into the area and highlight the intricacies of the room, like the ceiling details.

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Sometimes a new build is as much about the future as it is about the present. Such was the case for this Harbor Springs, Michigan, vacation residence. For these homeowners, summer on the northern shore of Lake Michigan is a family affair. Generations of family and friends arrive each summer to spend time together along the pictur-esque shoreline.

Kelly Mossburg, the designer on the project and part-ner at Cottage Company Interiors, worked with sister company The Cottage Company of Harbor Springs to create the perfect cottage retreat. “When word gets out that you own a home on Lake Michigan, guests come pouring in,” she says. For that reason, the home was equipped with five bedrooms, five-and-a-half bathrooms and plenty of durable furniture because, as Kelly says, “we didn’t want the owners to worry about whether a guest might drag in sand from the beach or kids might plop down on a sofa in their wet bathing suits.” She adds, that the “rooms are designed to be manageable in scale and encourage interaction and relaxed living.”

ONE SPACE, MULTIPLE PURPOSESSince the entire construction was a new build on the previous cottage’s foundation, the homeowners custom-ized the layout to their needs, including the great room, which leads to the dining room and kitchen. It uniquely places a variety of purposes—entertaining, dining and cooking—in one space that are all visible to each other. And, with an eye toward the layout, the designers de-lineated each area. “By strategically positioning lighting and rugs, and changing the ceiling treatments, we achieved our goal of functionally separating a seemingly united space,” Kelly says.

The sections devoted to relaxing with guests feature ceiling and wall treatments, and furniture is grouped in conversation-friendly manner. Coffered ceilings inlaid with beadboard and horizontal shiplap walls define the great room, and a river-rock fireplace with raw-edge limestone creates a stunning visual masterpiece along the wall. “The fireplace materials were chosen for their look and origins in the area,” Kelly says. A soothing color palette drawn “from sand and sun as much as surf and sky,” gives the classic coastal décor a sophisticated aesthetic and whispers summer.

This three-seasons porch is located just off the dining room and kitchen. “Of course the beautiful outdoors takes center stage, and this sunroom allows guests to enjoy the best of both the indoors and outdoors,” Kelly says. “The sunroom, completed in July of 2016, was designed to look like an addition to the cottage, to give the home a sense of timelessness.” Outdoor shake-shingle walls, beadboard ceilings, outdoor sconces and whitewashed wood floor do just that.

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“By strategically positioning lighting and rugs, and changing the ceiling treatments, we achieved our goal

of functionally separating a seemingly united space.”

The dining room continues the concept of “casual and welcoming” with “clean lines, bright colors, and natural materials.”

With its elegant positioning, the kitchen island is topped with Calacatta Blue marble

and works as the centerpiece to the space. Kelly chose the

other elements to enhance it, opting for a simple

backsplash tile to emphasis the island and stove.

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COOKING AND DINING WITH A VIEWThe great room naturally transitions into the dining and kitchen area. Single beadboard ceilings simultaneously define and unify the two spaces. When seated at the dining room ta-ble, guests are in for a treat, as windows and French doors let them enjoy the view and bask in the natural light that comes pouring in, which “further blurs the line between indoors and out,” Kelly says. The lighting fixtures were chosen because their design “[does] not impede views through the house and of the water,” Kelly says. “They also honor the owners’ love of Asian touches.”

The dining room chairs were selected for their quirky take on the classic cottage Adirondack chair and their transpar-ency, like the light pendants. Similar to the dining room, the kitchen was thoughtfully laid out for both entertaining and style. “Details like USB outlets hidden inside the kitchen make it as functional as it is beautiful,” Kelly says. “There is even an interior window above the sink that allows more natural light to pour into the space.” The perimeter countertops are quartz, chosen for its durability and elegance, and are paired with a subway-tile backsplash.

(above) The priority for the cottage is spending quality time together, so this room is the only living area with a television. The entire lower level has a patriotic theme. “July 4th celebrations are the highlight of summers in Harbor Springs, a quintessential Norman Rockwell kind of town,” Kelly says. “The parade is regularly voted the best 4th of July parade in Michigan. Cottages are lavishly decorated, and nearly everyone wears patriotic clothes on the 4th. Needless, to say, it’s a big deal. Because of this, the owner wanted a red, white and blue color scheme.”

(opposite) A sliding barn door was in order for the entryway. “We wanted this opening to be as large as possible to maximize a feeling of openness,” Kelly says. “The barn door created an unpredictable and unique way to allow our clients to close off the room when noisy movies or games were being played.”

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SLEEP-AWAY RETREATSSince the family and their friends spend their days boating and beach going, it was important for the cottage’s several bedrooms to be places of restoration and rejuvenation. And, with five different bedrooms to design and style, there was a lot of work to do. “The client wanted each of the upstairs guest bedrooms to be unique and different,” Kelly says. Various inspirations, from Asian to chic simplicity, were used throughout the rooms. One of the most delightful places to bed down is the bunkroom, which was designed with future generations in mind. “The owners have three adult children and are hopeful for grandchildren,” Kelly ex-plains. Storage was built into the layout, so the room is easy to keep tidy, and a festive July 4th color scheme was used.

With plenty of space, this home will expand around the family as it grows through time. And, with its durable design elements, the homeowners don’t have to worry about scratches or spills and can focus on making summer memories that last all year long.

SEE SOURCES, PAGE 128.

“The rooms are designed to be manageable in scale and encourage interaction and relaxed living.”

Each of the three second-floor bedrooms has amazing lake views and direct access to a large porch

with broad water views.

(opposite, top) The first-floor master bedroom has a beautiful view of the

lake and a private porch for early morning coffee and late night wine. Various shades of blue and natural colors and textures are the unifying

elements throughout the cottage.

(opposite, bottom) The luxurious bedding in the master bedroom ties in

with the white bedside table and the lamp with its graphic stripes.

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PLAYING HOSTIf you, like these homeowners, often have guests in your home, read these design tips for frequent entertaining.STORAGE, STORAGE, STORAGE. When designing a room, make sure you have lots of storage options. Not only will it give your guests space to keep their things should they stay overnight, but it makes for easy and quick cleaning up when surprise visitors stop by.

GO DURABLE. Stain-, tear- and scratch-resistant are the keys to stress-free hosting. Opt for furniture that can be wiped down with a cloth and lighter-colored wood floors disguise nicks and dings.

CREATE AREAS CONDUCIVE TO CONVERSATION. As you arrange your living room furniture, make sure its placement encour-ages conversation by facing comfy chairs toward each other (about 6 feet apart) around a coffee table. You want visitors to have enough space to stretch out and be at ease, but close enough to easily hear each other.

“ We didn’t want the owners to worry about whether a guest might drag in sand from the beach or kids might plop down on a sofa in their wet bathing suits.”

(right) The master bathroom is part of the main-floor master suite just off the great room. “I think of a luxurious master bathroom as the ‘second sanctuary’ in a home, so I wanted it to be designed in a way that maximized functionality and utilized material and finish selections to support the idea of an uncomplicated luxury retreat,” Kelly says. A custom built-in vanity with his and her sinks, Newport Brass plumbing fixtures in polished nickel and quartz countertops all combine to create that luxe feel.

(below) The powder room located near the entry on the cottage’s main floor features a whimsical wallpaper from Thibaut. It pairs beautifully with stylish yet functional features like a vanity designed with storage space and sturdy Newport Brass plumbing fixtures.

(opposite, top) One of the upstairs bedrooms, this room features a classic window seat and built-in storage.

(opposite, bottom) When looking at the owner’s inspirational photos, Kelly discovered she liked blues, vibrant greens and Asian elements. Kelly selected these beds for their Asian-influenced bamboo frame and had them painted a vibrant green. She also added a bright green pagoda lamp to round out the theme.

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(above) Since the home was a new-build, it was designed from the ground up and this bedroom reflects that fact. The slanted wall echoes the home’s roofline and created the perfect opportunity to incorporate built-in storage space and a cozy window seat.

(left) Since this bunk room was created with future grandchildren in mind, Kelly made sure it was kid-friendly and came up with a custom built-in bunk and storage design. Her firm’s sister company, Cottage Company of Harbor Springs, created it. The bunks have cutouts between the heads of the corner beds to allow for conversation and incorporate USB phone chargers into the design.

(above) When it came to designing this new build, Kelly was inspired by “simplicity and serenity.” She says, “This cottage style is a natural fit for the everyday way we want to live. The casual home evokes the easy, carefree feel of life on the lake.” From certain vantage points, the cottage feels like it’s hidden away in an enchanted forest. “I think of this home as a connection between social and serenity,” Kelly says. “Once you cross that bridge over the natural stream, you’ve reached a whole different element of magical.”

(right) For the waterfall, the owners turned to Litzenbeger Landscape to create the feature from Michigan River rock, which is found throughout northern Michigan and the upper peninsula. The locally sourced materials allow it to blend naturally into the landscape. It runs from the hill above the stone wall and ends at the beginning of the flagstone patio.