OUR WORK
Year-Round Lake House in Pinckney, Michigan
A summer-only cottage became a lake house the family can live in all year.
THE STORY
What the homeowners wanted, and what we found.
WHAT THEY WANTED
This family had a summer cottage on the lake in Pinckney and wanted to live there all year. They wanted to keep every bit of its lakeside charm. But the cottage was built for summer breezes, not Michigan winter storms.
WHAT WE FOUND
The cottage was a modest summer place, and it wasn't built to stand up to Michigan winters. A screened porch hid the front of the house and only worked a few months a year. The good news was the proportions, which worked well and were worth keeping.
HOW WE DESIGNED IT
We kept the original cottage proportions the family loved and rebuilt the home around all-season living.
THE INSPIRATION
Keep the charm. Lose the cold. The family loved the cottage's proportions and lakeside feel, so both stayed. Nautical woodwork and a cleaner, modern edge carry that feeling into every season.
THE PLAN
We started with the kitchen and positioned it for the lake view. A window over the sink fills the room with natural light. Dark accents add a classic touch to the light, bright space.
THE OUTCOME
How it turned out
The family lives at the lake all year now, not just in summer. They bake Christmas cookies and make summer potato salad in the same bright kitchen, with the water in view. When the bugs come out, the patio becomes a screened porch at the touch of a button.
FINAL PHOTOS
The finished space.
AT A GLANCE
A New Take on a Classic Michigan Lake House, From the Ground Up
A summer cottage rebuilt as a year-round custom home.
On the lake in Pinckney, Michigan.
Kitchen positioned for the lake view, oar-inspired stair railings, wide-plank pine floors, patio that converts to a screened porch.
THE FLOOR PLANS
What changed, and why.
We kept the original cottage proportions the family loved and rebuilt the home around all-season living.
FIRST LEVEL
SECOND LEVEL
WHAT MAKES IT WORK
Three details that carry the design.
FEATURE 01
The new home keeps the original cottage's proportions, so it still feels like the family place on the lake. With the old screened porch gone from the front, the house now shows off its nautical-inspired design and works in every season.
FEATURE 02
Custom woodwork, like oar-inspired stair railings and wide-plank pine floors, gives the house a nautical feel. The warm browns glow in the daylight from many windows, so the home feels welcoming all year.
FEATURE 03
The patio has electric screens that turn it into a screened porch in moments. Bugs stay out, so the family can enjoy indoor-outdoor living without interruption.
THE PROJECT
A New Take on a Classic Michigan Lake House, From the Ground Up
AT A GLANCE
A summer cottage rebuilt as a year-round custom home.
On the lake in Pinckney, Michigan.
Kitchen positioned for the lake view, oar-inspired stair railings, wide-plank pine floors, patio that converts to a screened porch.
THE STORY
This family had a summer cottage on the lake in Pinckney and wanted to live there all year. They wanted to keep every bit of its lakeside charm. But the cottage was built for summer breezes, not Michigan winter storms.
HOW WE DESIGNED IT
We started with the kitchen and positioned it for the lake view. A window over the sink fills the room with natural light. Dark accents add a classic touch to the light, bright space.
