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.

photos by Steve Chenn
Mid-sized elegant enclosed carpeted family room photo in Houston with beige walls, a media wall and no fireplace

This little white cottage has been a hit ! We have sold versions of this plan that range from 1379SF to 2745SF all over the United States.
Inspiration for a small cottage home design remodel in Charleston

Design Consultant Jeff Doubét is the author of Creating Spanish Style Homes: Before & After – Techniques – Designs – Insights. The 240 page “Design Consultation in a Book” is now available. Please visit SantaBarbaraHomeDesigner.com for more info. Jeff Doubét specializes in Santa Barbara style home and landscape designs. To learn more info about the variety of custom design services I offer, please visit SantaBarbaraHomeDesigner.com Jeff Doubét is the Founder of Santa Barbara Home Design - a design studio based in Santa Barbara, California USA.

This cozy lake cottage skillfully incorporates a number of features that would normally be restricted to a larger home design. A glance of the exterior reveals a simple story and a half gable running the length of the home, enveloping the majority of the interior spaces. To the rear, a pair of gables with copper roofing flanks a covered dining area that connects to a screened porch. Inside, a linear foyer reveals a generous staircase with cascading landing. Further back, a centrally placed kitchen is connected to all of the other main level entertaining spaces through expansive cased openings. A private study serves as the perfect buffer between the homes master suite and living room. Despite its small footprint, the master suite manages to incorporate several closets, built-ins, and adjacent master bath complete with a soaker tub flanked by separate enclosures for shower and water closet. Upstairs, a generous double vanity bathroom is shared by a bunkroom, exercise space, and private bedroom. The bunkroom is configured to provide sleeping accommodations for up to 4 people. The rear facing exercise has great views of the rear yard through a set of windows that overlook the copper roof of the screened porch below. Builder: DeVries & Onderlinde Builders Interior Designer: Vision Interiors by Visbeen Photographer: Ashley Avila Photography

This countryside kitchen includes a beautiful blue statement island, which adds originality to the classic space with a transitional spin. The cabinetry is made by Downsview and the design is done through Astro Design Centre in Ottawa Canada. Astro Design, Ottawa DoubleSpace Photography

Charming Old World meets new, open space planning concepts. This Ranch Style home turned English Cottage maintains very traditional detailing and materials on the exterior, but is hiding a more transitional floor plan inside. The 49 foot long Great Room brings together the Kitchen, Family Room, Dining Room, and Living Room into a singular experience on the interior. By turning the Kitchen around the corner, the remaining elements of the Great Room maintain a feeling of formality for the guest and homeowner's experience of the home. A long line of windows affords each space fantastic views of the rear yard. Nyhus Design Group - Architect Ross Pushinaitis - Photography

https://www.spacecrafting.com
This is an example of a shabby-chic style landscaping in Minneapolis.

The Majestic range from Ilve in cobalt blue. The bonnet hood was custom designed to match the range. Cabinets in knotty butternut with antique glass panels, glass cup pulls. The hand painted tile backsplash was custom designed in this color palette of blue, gold, light brown and notes of soft green. Photo by Nancy E. Hill

Lisa Petrole
Bedroom - coastal bedroom idea

Inspiration for a country white two-story gable roof remodel in Minneapolis with a shingle roof

http://mollywinnphotography.com
Example of a mid-sized cottage chic open concept medium tone wood floor living room design in Austin with white walls and no tv

Photograph by Pete Sieger
Example of a farmhouse formal and open concept living room design in Minneapolis with a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Amanda Kirkpatrick Photography
Beach style gray floor mudroom photo in New York with beige walls

Alexandra Conn
Inspiration for a small coastal medium tone wood floor powder room remodel in Philadelphia with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white walls and quartzite countertops

Example of a mid-sized beach style guest medium tone wood floor bedroom design in New York with white walls and no fireplace

Elegant medium tone wood floor foyer photo in New York with a white front door and yellow walls

Photography by Nancy Nolan
Bedroom - transitional master dark wood floor bedroom idea in Little Rock with yellow walls

This Montrose Cottage was designed by Bob Chatham and built by Scott Norman. Scott Norman is well known in this area for building old world style cottages with attention to details. This home was designed to fit on a lot loaded with old oak trees. Notice the classic southern appeal to this home with a large covered front porch with open rafter tails and a stained wood plank ceiling. The white railings and columns and white board and batten siding contrast nicely with the stained wood floor and dark shutters. There are lanterns hanging on each side of the mahogany french doors.