“When I think about how the homeowners solved the challenge of cloudy weather, I’m reminded of how crucial light, air, and views are, and I know the homeowners kept this top of mind. Michigan is one of the cloudiest states in the country, so making the most of available sunlight is key.”
Picture windows span one side of the primary living area opposite the full-height glass wall.
The Ellingson family heads out to the lake.
The rear of the garage and studio is fitted with a slatted screen, which creates unique shadows on the stairwell and inside the unit. The outdoor room also benefits from views of the lake and is anchored by a two-sided, white brick fireplace.
The original home was preserved and renovated. In the front bedroom, a small window was replaced with a large painted-steel window seat, a favorite of the residents' grandchildren.
A switchback staircase accommodates a grand piano handed down from Anton’s father.
The house is clad in Western red cedar.
Rear of the house at dawn
Rear of the house and the garage in the snow
The kitchen-cum-dining is designed for both intimate meals and hosting friends in a casual setting.
The house's discreet entrance to the north of the site shelters a car park.
The architects gave the new oak and steel staircase pride of place. The stairway leading down goes to the garage level, where the team installed a den and laundry facilities, as well as a full bath for rinsing off after a surf session.
"We mixed high and low furnishings, and it was fun to do research and purchase everything over time—like during Black Friday sales,
“We’re either cooking, sitting around the bar at the island, or at the table in the living area by the fire. It’s all very, very snug,” says Onur.
In the bathroom, the cast iron tub is a Paris flea market find, and the cement floor tiles were designed by Alix and made in Istanbul. “I love to use mosaic tiles in gradations of color,” she says.
A concrete staircase leads to a newly added mezzanine that contains Onur and Alix’s bathroom and a small sauna. A gloss-sealed MDF closet doubles as a headboard for the couple’s floating concrete bed. Behind the closet is the girls’ bedroom and bath.
In the kids’ room, a pendant from Cedar & Moss hangs above custom gabled beds with integrated lighting. The walls are painted Tranquility by Benjamin Moore.
The dining table was designed by MASA Architects. It features a structural glass manufactured by Van Dijken Glas in a color gradient of black to brown.
Moveable walls of glass create a seamless blend of indoor-outdoor living.
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