As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards For years, Jeff and Ellen Miller spent their vacations sailing in Northern Michigan—so they had plenty of time to check out which small harbor town they might like to retire to someday. When that time arrived several years ago, they looked at properties up and down the coast and along inland lakes. When they discovered a sweet piece on the outskirts of Boyne City that included waterfront and a buildable lot, with a garage on it, across the street, they knew they’d found home. The couple figured they could find plans for their dream lake cottage online. After all, they weren’t looking to build anything grandiose. Just a small-to-medium sized contemporary Craftsman. But after an unfruitful online search they gave up, frustrated. Every plan they found had the back of the house facing the water—they needed a blueprint for a home that fronted on the water. The Millers first met the woman, Stephanie Baldwin, Owner & President of Edgewater Design Group, who solved that issue and a number of others on the 2015 Northern Home & Cottage Petoskey Area Home Tour. Baldwin’s home that year was a smart, 2000-square cottage on Crooked Lake with simple lines and a Craftsman sensibility. That home proved to the couple that Edgewater Design Group is as proficient at small homes as the larger ones they are often known for. Edgewater Design Group did indeed come up with the perfect plan for the Millers. At 2400 square feet, the simple Craftsman with its 3 bedrooms, vaulted ceiling in the great room and upstairs deck is everything the Millers wanted—including the fact that construction stayed within their budget. An extra courtesy of working with the talented design team is a screened in porch facing the lake (“She told us, of course you have to have a screened in porch,” Ellen says. “And we love it!’) Edgewater’s other touches are more subtle. The Millers wanted to keep the garage, but the home needed to be sited on a small knoll some feet away in order to capture the views of Lake Charlevoix across the street. The solution is a covered walkway and steps that are so artful they enhance the home. Another favor Baldwin did for them was to connect them with Legacy Construction, a firm known for its craftsmanship and attention to detail. The Miller home, outfitted with touches including custom molding, cherry cabinetry, a stunning custom range hood, built in shelving and custom vanities. A warm hickory floor and lovely earth-toned Craftsman-style color palette pull it all together, while a fireplace mantel hewn from a tree taken on the property rounds out this gracious lake cottage.

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Inspiration for a mid-sized craftsman ceramic tile foyer remodel with gray walls

This house was a new construction and we met with the clients from the beginning of the project. We planned and selected the materials for their home including tiles (all the main floors, bathroom floors, shower walls, & kitchen), fixtures, kitchen, baths, interior doors, main door, furniture for the living room area, area rug, accessories (vases inside and outside).

Front Porch
Large farmhouse front porch photo in Boston with decking and a roof extension

Flagstone Lilypads
This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic partial sun front yard gravel garden path in Denver for fall.

Produced by: PrecisionCraft Log & Timber Homes. Image Copyright: Roger Wade Studios
Inspiration for a rustic l-shaped light wood floor seated home bar remodel with wood countertops, glass-front cabinets and dark wood cabinets

Home built by Master Builder Certified, Avanti Homes © Merle Prosofsky http://www.prosofsky.com/

Undercounter refrigeration is discreetly hidden behind a custom paneled door.
Large transitional porcelain tile and beige floor eat-in kitchen photo with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Our Clients loved their home, their backyard and their neighborhood, but wanted a new feel to their 1960’s Colonial. So they asked us to give it a complete internal “facelift.” Now, elegant mahogany doors set the tone for the graceful Entrance Hall; the stunning renovated Kitchen is open to the Family Room; the expanded “back of the house” area between the Garage and Kitchen accommodates Laundry and Mud Rooms, a Walk-in Pantry, and Pool Shower Room and Closet. On the second floor, the Kids’ Bedrooms and Bathrooms are updated with new fixtures and finishes; and the reconfigured Master Suite fashions a sun-filled Master Bedroom with vaulted ceiling, a large Dressing Room, and beautiful Bathroom. To our Clients’ delight, the internal “facelift” was a genuine transformation, and gave their home a fresh, new beginning.

This backyard cottage is a neighborhood gathering space. The ground floor opens up to the alley and yard for impromptu get togethers in addition to serving a ballet studio. The 2nd floor features a 1 bedroom apartment.

Alex McGregor, Montreal Canada
Large elegant single-wall porcelain tile and beige floor eat-in kitchen photo in Tampa with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, green backsplash, glass sheet backsplash, stainless steel appliances, yellow walls and no island

Custom sports court with raised planters
This is an example of a backyard outdoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court in New York.

Small transitional master carpeted bedroom photo in Chicago with brown walls

Located in the sought after north-western Houston suburbs, this luxurious 2-story home features modern architecture with lots of natural lighting. The brightly illuminated kitchen includes white cabinetry and a coffered ceiling. The master bedroom has a seating area in front of large windows. The huge master bath has a gorgeous walk-in shower and separate tub as well as his and her sinks and vanities. This home comes with a spacious covered outdoor living space with build-in grill, cabinets and coffered ceiling. The home includes a custom pool with a massive water feature as well as many outdoor family and children amenities including a full basketball court, playground set and a batting cage.

This bathroom started out with builder grade materials: laminate flooring, fiberglass shower enclosure and tub, and a wall going all the way to the ceiling, causing the shower to look more like the bat cave than a place where you would want to wash off the worries of the world. The first plan of attack was to knock the full wall down to a halfway w/ glass, allowing more natural light to come into the shower area. The next big change was removing the tub and replacing it with more storage cabinetry to keep the bathroom free of clutter. The space was then finished off with shaker style cabinetry, beautiful Italian tile in the shower, and incredible Cambria countertops with an elegant round over edge to finish things off.

Located in the sought after north-western Houston suburbs, this luxurious 2-story home features modern architecture with lots of natural lighting. The brightly illuminated kitchen includes white cabinetry and a coffered ceiling. The master bedroom has a seating area in front of large windows. The huge master bath has a gorgeous walk-in shower and separate tub as well as his and her sinks and vanities. This home comes with a spacious covered outdoor living space with build-in grill, cabinets and coffered ceiling. The home includes a custom pool with a massive water feature as well as many outdoor family and children amenities including a full basketball court, playground set and a batting cage.

Located in the sought after north-western Houston suburbs, this luxurious 2-story home features modern architecture with lots of natural lighting. The brightly illuminated kitchen includes white cabinetry and a coffered ceiling. The master bedroom has a seating area in front of large windows. The huge master bath has a gorgeous walk-in shower and separate tub as well as his and her sinks and vanities. This home comes with a spacious covered outdoor living space with build-in grill, cabinets and coffered ceiling. The home includes a custom pool with a massive water feature as well as many outdoor family and children amenities including a full basketball court, playground set and a batting cage.

Avalon Daybed and Suzani Quilt Serena & Lily