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.

Lindsay Chambers Design, Roger Davies Photography
Bathroom - mid-sized transitional master white tile and marble tile marble floor and white floor bathroom idea in Los Angeles with a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink, a hinged shower door, shaker cabinets, purple cabinets and marble countertops

Josh Goetz Photography
Bathroom - scandinavian bathroom idea in New York

Photo Credit: Pura Soul Photography
Bathroom - mid-sized scandinavian bathroom idea in San Diego

This large side yard in the Lakeshore Historic District was redeveloped into a natural woodland clearing. Stormwater from the roof has been directed through a steel runnel into a native rain garden where it replenishes the cistern for a bubbling stone fountain. Weathered concrete slabs act as a thread from a firepit seating area, across the rain garden to the rear yard. This additional garden has a lawn parking pad, extensive kitchen gardens and a custom-built garden shower for visits to the beach. Darris Lee Harris Photography

© amandakirkpatrickphoto
Small transitional white tile powder room photo in New York with white walls and a wall-mount sink

This contemporary kitchen features the NEW Stainless Steel Drawers and Roll-Out Shelves from Dura Supreme Cabinetry. The Bria (frameless) cabinets in Dura Supreme's "White" and Wired-Foil cabinets in Dura Supreme's "Wired-Mercury" are a great combination of cabinetry for creating the clean sleek look of this modern two-tone kitchen design. Dura Supreme Cabinetry is excited to introduce NEW Stainless Steel Drawers and Roll-Out Shelves for their Bria Cabinetry (Frameless / Full-Access product line). For a limited time, this new metal drawer system is available exclusively from Dura Supreme as they partnered with Blum to be the first American manufacturer to bring it to market. Dura Supreme’s Stainless Steel Drawers and Roll-Out Shelves are an attractive option for any kitchen design. Sleek, double-wall, stainless steel sides are only ½” thick and work with many of Dura Supreme’s wood drawer accessories, as well as the coordinating gray metal accessories designed specifically for Stainless Steel drawers. Concealed, undermount glides are integrated into the sides and are self-closing with a soft-close feature. Our new Stainless Steel drawer option provides a contemporary alternative to our classic Maple dovetailed drawer. For homeowners that favor Transitional or Contemporary styling, this sleek, high-performance drawer system will be ideal! Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure Find a Dura Supreme Showroom in your area: http://www.durasupreme.com/dealer-locator Want to become a Dura Supreme Dealer? Go to: http://www.durasupreme.com/new-dealer-inquiry To view a video and more info about this product go to: http://www.durasupreme.com/storage-solutions/stainless-steel-drawers-roll-outs

The custom arbor creates a cool intimate sitting area thanks to a cantilevered steel canopy with die-cut panel by Parasoleil. Arizona flagstone pavers and a boulder fountain ground the space in lush plantings. 'Koi' artwork (acrylic on reclaimed glass windowpane) by owner. Photo © Jude Parkinson-Morgan.

Dane Tashima Photography
Living room - mid-sized eclectic formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor living room idea in New York with white walls

Haris Kenjar
Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in Seattle

To improve storage and increase counter space near the range, the refrigerator was relocated in favor of a shallow pantry cabinet. Andrea Rugg Photography

Backyard view of remodel
1960s exterior home photo in San Diego

Transitional home bar photo in Austin

The tub was eliminated in favor of a large walk-in shower featuring double shower heads, multiple shower sprays, a steam unit, two wall-mounted teak seats, a curbless glass enclosure and a minimal infinity drain. Additional floor space in the design allowed us to create a separate water closet. A pocket door replaces a standard door so as not to interfere with either the open shelving next to the vanity or the water closet entrance. We kept the location of the skylight and added a new window for additional light and views to the yard. We responded to the client’s wish for a modern industrial aesthetic by featuring a large metal-clad double vanity and shelving units, wood porcelain wall tile, and a white glass vanity top. Special features include an electric towel warmer, medicine cabinets with integrated lighting, and a heated floor. Industrial style pendants flank the mirrors, completing the symmetry. Photo: Peter Krupenye

Joe Tighe
Inspiration for a large transitional look-out basement remodel in Chicago with blue walls

Chris Davis Photography
Eat-in kitchen - large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, stainless steel appliances and an island

This dreamy blue kitchen from Orlando Soria creates contrast with White Cliff Matte countertops, a pure white quartz countertop design. A patterned blue tile backsplash with white grout complements a peacock-blue kitchen island with matte black hardware.

The chance to build a lakeside weekend home in rural NC provided this Chapel Hill family with an opportunity to ditch convention and think outside the box. For instance, we traded the traditional boat dock with what's become known as the "party dock"… a floating lounge of sorts, complete with wet bar, TV, swimmer's platform, and plenty of spots for watching the water fun. Inside, we turned one bedroom into a gym with climbing wall - and dropped the idea of a dining room, in favor of a deep upholstered niche and shuffleboard table. Outdoor drapery helped blur the lines between indoor spaces and exterior porches filled with upholstery, swings, and places for lazy napping. And after the sun goes down....smores, anyone? John Bessler

Our clients, a couple with four children, wanted to update their 1952 home with a mid-century feel, focusing on the main floor. The renovation emphasized enhancing finishes, optimizing storage, and maximizing seating in the dining and living areas. The entryway was designed to be inviting and practical, while the living room featured a statement sectional and a stunning terrazzo fireplace. The kitchen and dining area were transformed to be both functional and elegant, with playful touches like “Drunk Monkeys” wallpaper in the powder room.