As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

A close-up of a beautiful crystal. Photo credits: Dan Drobnick
This is an example of a small partial sun backyard gravel landscaping in Cleveland.

Dimension: 38" L X 20" D X 80" H Keeping your home organized will become easy with our Idaho Modern Solid Wood 3 Open Shelf Bookcase Hutch. We combined styles of rustic and contemporary design to craft a cabinet that fits modern home needs. The rustic bookcase is built with durable Indian solid rosewood. The three top shelves are open in the front so you'll have easy access to books and essentials you store in the storage cabinet. The two-door bottom cabinet features a large 4-shelf cupboard storage space with split level separation. The Solid Wood bookshelf features exquisite moldings on top. The rustic bookshelf sits on a broad base. Special Features: • The storage cabinet is crafted using Solid Wood. • It features 3 open shelves and cupboard storage space concealed behind doors. • The storage cabinet features beautiful moldings on top. • Neatly finished interior. • 3 Open Shelf Bookcase Note: Real wood is a product of nature, and as such, no two pieces are alike. Variations in solid wood grain patterns are to be expected and make each furniture uniquely beautiful, just like us humans.

Dimension: 79" L X 40" D X 30" H Featuring a solid yet elegant base, the Fulton Stylish Recycled Teak Wood Trestle Base Large Dining Table can anchor your dining area effortlessly. The trestle base gets a tweaked look with the two extra bars joining with the bottom tier. The table is a perfect add-on to a modern space where eight people can sit and enjoy the meal comfortably. It features a slat top that makes it into a chic piece giving it an urban feel. Pair it with the benches or chairs or both and create an inviting ensemble in your dining room. Materials: The trestle base dining table is made from the sturdy Teak wood, which is a solid hardwood that offers the table its exceptional qualities like durability and superior visual appeal. Special Features: • 100% Handcrafted • Recycled Teak wood construction • Trestle base Note: Real wood is a product of nature, and as such, no two pieces are alike. Variations in solid wood grain patterns are to be expected and make each furniture uniquely beautiful, just like us humans.

The Main Stay House exists as a straightforward proposal on an urban infill lot, paring down the components of a house to a minimal amount of planes and openings. The scheme is anchored by a modern entry sequence and a staircase volume, both clad in iron spot masonry externally and internally, creating thresholds between the respective realms of public, common and private, by minimal means. The masonry contrasts with an otherwise muted interior atmosphere of smooth, desaturated surfaces. The entry sequence is a twist upon the conventional domestic front door, front facade, and fence. The front masonry wall replaces the typical residential fence and frames an indirect access to the front door, functioning as a privacy barrier while revealing slices of the interior to the public street. The staircase bifurcates the layout to provide a clear division between the common and private zones of the house, while clearly reading as a mass from all outside view. Brick and glass become portals between common and private zones. The design consolidates the service core along the west façade, allowing the structure to fully open the living zone to the pool court and existing trees. This directly connects interior and exterior, as well as human and nature. Freedom to vary the program or functional use of the area is enabled and strongly encouraged. Photography: Twist Tours

Dimension: 97"L X 16"D X 73.5"H The fusion of rustic and contemporary styling embodied in our Traver Rosewood Wall Unit TV Console Entertainment Center offers a fresh approach to relaxed sophistication. Whether used in your office, media room, den, or living room, this solid wood wall entertainment center is crafted for longevity, made entirely out of rosewood which is known for its interesting grain characteristics. The design features clean lines and a dramatic collaboration of open shelving and closed drawer storage. The finish is warmly toned, coupled with sleek black hardware. A central area for housing your flat screen television sits center stage, surrounded by a plethora of display and organizational possibilities. Fill up these spaces with your decorative vases, apothecary jars, travel books, kissing balls, potted plants, or media collections. The six total drawers maintain a tidy place to tuck your A/V gear and other etceteras out of sight. Together, these options create the perfect marriage of storage and beauty. Founded atop solid wood feet, this rosewood entertainment system of both open and closed shelving is a stunning representation of the art of quality craftsmanship. The handmade construction is exquisite, lending heirloom longevity and timeless practicality. This solid build is enhanced by the fluid flow of grains and knots that create a distinct natural motif that draws the eye throughout the piece for total visual pleasure. Special Features: • 100% Handcrafted • Constructed from solid rosewood materials • 2 large drawers • 4 small drawers • Open shelf bridges the top • 3 smaller media-minded cubbies with built-in grommets for cords • 6 larger open shelves offering decorative and storage possibilities Note: Real wood is a product of nature, and as such, no two pieces are alike. Variations in solid wood grain patterns are to be expected and make each furniture uniquely beautiful, just like us humans.

THE DOOR NAME ORIGIN - "PALLADIO TRE SOLID" FINISH: WHITE This is a bit tricky. Isn’t White the default finish that would look great on any interior door? Well, not quite. W. is the color most often associated with perfection, honesty, cleanliness, newness, neutrality, and exactitude. The pigment has been known and used by humans since prehistoric times. In ancient Egypt, W. symbolized purity. Roman patricians paraded around in W. togas to distinguish themselves from the common folk. It was the color of choice of French monarchs. Architects of all epochs used W., with considerable enthusiasm, in various projects and for various reasons. In the United States, architects favored it when designing churches, capitols, and municipal buildings – which is, in fact, a tradition they inherited from classical and Renaissance architecture. According to some experts, most of the buildings in the celebrated Forum were either made of, or clad in, W. marble. In Taoism, it represents the yang or masculine energy, one of the two complementary natures of the universe. Many authors, both classical and contemporary, have referred to W. as a sign of purity, either physical (like William Shakespeare, whose treacherous usurper monarch wishes a heavenly rain would cleanse his blood-stained hand, washing it “white as snow”) or spiritual (like Tennessee Williams, who named his lead character Blanche (derived, incidentally, from the Germanic word blanc)) as a symbol of her innocent child-like spirit, perceptible from the moment she makes her first entrance (through the interior door stage-left). Back in the Seventeenth Century, Sir Isaac Newton discovered that sunlight is composed of light with wavelengths across the visible spectrum which the human eye perceives as W. It is the lightest of the spectrum, and achromatic (hue-less) to boot, because it fully reflects and scatters all visible wavelengths of light, absorbing none. W. objects stand out in the dark. Depending on the surroundings, an interior door with W. finish might come off as emphatic or tactful, dominant or complementary. It blends seamlessly into most types of decor and, once the owner’s needs and disposition are taken into account, can symbolize - oh, so many different things, while bringing back a myriad memories: from those glorious snowy Alpine slopes and peaks to the fluffy tops of the wayward herd of cumulus cloud heap over the horizon on a balmy afternoon in the Caribbean. Tropical sand beaches are W. due to the high quantity of calcium carbonate they get from tiny bits of seashells ground to powder by the waves. In a number of cultures W. can also symbolize festivity, and be used lavishly to brighten up weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries. It is beautiful. Make sure it goes well with your interior door model, though.

Dimension: 18" L X 19" D X 36" H Old World elegance marries modern amenities in our Modern Simplicity Handcrafted Rustic Wood Dining Chair. This slat back dining chair returns to the basics with a clean and minimalist classic profile. Made of solid wood for stability, this handsomely styled dining chair is designed to endure the regular wear and tear of family mealtime. It features a contoured seat and a slatted backrest for maximum comfort with a modern touch. The neutral finish gives it a rustic charm that endears with a comfort geared towards today's lifestyle demands. Amass a complete set of these wooden dining chairs in your formal dining room or kitchen and invite guests and family to dine in relaxed style. This rustic dining chair is beautifully rendered in a beloved design with a contemporary attraction. The richly grained natural wood is highly attractive and brings an upscale aesthetic to the chair's timeless contour. Handcrafted in the old world artistry of woodworking, your dining room will benefit from a versatile chair that will hold its own regardless of how much action it sees. Bring the rustic look to your whole dining room by adding other pieces from the Modern Simplicity collection including our Square Dining Table and 8 Drawer Sideboard Buffet. Special Features: • 100% Handcrafted • Made of solid wood • Contoured seat • Slatted backrest • Part of the Modern Simplicity Collection Note: Real wood is a product of nature, and as such, no two pieces are alike. Variations in solid wood grain patterns are to be expected and make each furniture uniquely beautiful, just like us humans.

Dimension: Dining Table :60" L X 42" D X 30" H ( With 1 leaves of 18" ) 42" L X 42" D X 30" H (Without Extension) Our Carrollton Two Tone Mahogany Wood Expandable Dining Table is ready to accommodate your guests at a moment's notice while providing a cozy, roundtable-style setting when not entertaining. Enjoy home-cooked feasts in high style with the simple elegance of this two-tone mahogany wood dining table. This expandable table offers a space-saving rounded contour but can expand to a larger oval size to accommodate more guests. This built-in feature allows the table to grow with your guest list, while also fitting into any designated space you may have to fit. The intrigue of the table's two-tone palette showcases a creamy white base topped by a warm, wood-tone top that shows off the intricate beauty of the natural wood grains and bands. This stately dining table is a chic and sophisticated piece of furniture that can complement a variety of decor themes due to its timeless nature. The entire piece is 100% handcrafted of solid mahogany wood that ensures the piece is durable and long-lasting in order to effortlessly withstand all your family get-togethers and drop-in dinner guests. This Old World-inspired dining room table is a wonderful way to finish off the look in your dining room or kitchen, especially when paired with other pieces in the Carrollton Collection including the Dining Chair with Leather Seat, Bar Hutch, and 4-Drawer Hutch Sideboard. Special Features: • 100% Handcrafted • Made of solid mahogany wood • Two-tone color palette • Expandable design • Part of the Carrollton Collection Note: Our furniture is made of solid wood (not wood veneer over plywood). It is handcrafted by Master Artisans. Real wood is a product of nature, and as such, no two pieces are alike. Variations in solid wood grain patterns are to be expected and make each furniture uniquely beautiful, just like us humans.

Dimension: 66" L X 19" W X 42" H Add a functional storage option to your dining area with the Dallas Ranch Rustic Solid Wood 3 Drawer Contemporary Large Sideboard Cabinet. This rustic large sideboard is handcrafted using solid wood which ensures its strength, durability and exotic wood grain. This handmade dining buffet makes organization easy with its four doors that open onto six large cupboard sections. It also features 3 drawers above the doors to add extra storage space and options. The stylish mullion doors with glass panes allow you to display your fav dinnerware in this solid wood sideboard stylishly. The 4-door storage-and-display cabinet is embellished with beautiful hand forged metal hardware on doors and drawers. The dining room sideboard sits on the floor on a broad base. Special Features: • 100 % Handcrafted • Solid wood Craftsmanship • 3 drawers and 6 compartments behind 4 doors. • mullion cabinet doors with glass pane • Hand wrought metal hardware on doors and drawers. • Heirloom quality Note: Real wood is a product of nature, and as such, no two pieces are alike. Variations in solid wood grain patterns are to be expected and make each furniture uniquely beautiful, just like us humans.

Dimension: 18"L X 18"D X 35"H If you’re searching for the perfect dining room chair to complement your home, then the simple grace and elegance of our Avondale Teak Wood Modern Style Dining Chair would blow you away. The straightforward design of this solid wood dining chair makes it highly comfortable and visually appealing. It has been handcrafted and assembled from heirloom-quality solid teak wood, so it’s as sturdy and durable as they come. You’ll also appreciate how it can be paired with any interior design style seamlessly. The design of this modern dining chair is effortlessly simple. It has a slim wooden seat, oblique tapered legs, and a gently concave backrest so that you can easily lean into it. It is highly comfortable and stylish. There is a natural teak patina on the surface that lends it a rustic charm. This wooden dining chair can complement any dining table design, but it’ll look the best with the complementing table and large sideboard from our Avondale Teak Wood 8 Piece Modern Dining Room Set. Special Features: • 100% Handcrafted • Solid Teak wood craftsmanship • Modern design • Casually elegant • Slim seat • Oblique tapered legs • Curved backrest • Visually versatile • Heirloom quality • Easy maintenance Note: Our furniture is made of solid wood (not wood veneer over plywood). It is handcrafted by Master Artisans. Real wood is a product of nature, and as such, no two pieces are alike. Variations in solid wood grain patterns are to be expected and make each furniture uniquely beautiful, just like us humans.

Dimension: 42.5" L X 23" D X 78" H Maximize your storage space with the heartwarming Old World charm of our Denison Rustic Solid Wood Corner Hutch with Glass Doors. This handsome dining corner hutch is a rustic number emblazoned with a hearty helping of ornate natural knots, grains, and bands. The tongue and groove detailing provides a stylish backdrop for your favorite display pieces, complemented by simple black metal hardware. At the base of the hutch is a cabinet with double doors and shelved storage made perfect for tucking those items best stored out of sight. Two drawers top this organized space to fit your silverware, linen, or napkin rings. A centralized open shelf provides a proper space for keeping decorative bottles, stacks of cookbooks, or a tea caddy among other items. The icing on the cake, the glass-front cabinet that tops the hutch creates a designated zone for a simply elegant presentation of your dinnerware or other collections. An absolutely marvelous work of handcrafted care and attention, this solid wood corner hutch beautifully complements any space or any decor theme. Solid wood has a stunning ability to coordinate with modern, transitional, traditional, and rustic decor with astounding flexibility. With a minimalist footprint that allows you to make the most of any space you have to work with, this corner hutch is one piece you will cherish for years to come, not just for its versatile storage, but also because of its classic styling. Special Features: • 100% Handcrafted, dining room corner hutch • Made of solid wood • Cabinet with solid doors and shelf space • Cabinet with display glass and shelf space •Open shelf • 2 Drawers Note: Real wood is a product of nature, and as such, no two pieces are alike. Variations in solid wood grain patterns are to be expected and make each furniture uniquely beautiful, just like us humans.

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

Dimension: 88" L X 17"D X 72" H Keep your entryway clutter-free and neatly organized with our Peletier Rustic Solid Wood 4 Piece Entryway Hall Tree Set. This modern rustic double tower hall tree brings storage and functionality to your entryway. When you consider the many things we take in and out of our house on a daily basis, it makes sense to streamline a place to hang, drop, or store these everyday essentials. Ensuring this space is not simply efficient, but complements your decor makes for a wise investment in your home. This hall tree delivers a mega dose of storage possibilities wit two towers featuring a total of six open shelves, two drawers, and two cabinets with interior shelves. The bench is the perfect perch to don or remove your shoes with padded bench boasting three cubicles beneath for boots or sneakers. Just above this bench is a shelf with four double prong hooks for hanging your jacket, backpack, or purse. This sleek hall tree is beautifully rendered in a neutral finish that gives all the glory to the natural bands and grains found in the solid wood. Handmade by skilled artisans, the piece is built for longevity, forged by old world woodworking tools and techniques that make it an instant heirloom. Special Features: • 100% Handcrafted • Solid wood construction • Black metal hardware • Two towers with open shelving, drawers, and cabinet storage • Padded bench with three cubbies underneath • Bridge is equipped with shelf and hooks for plenty of storage capacity • Entryway set includes 1 bench, 2 towers, and 1 bridge Note: Real wood is a product of nature, and as such, no two pieces are alike. Variations in solid wood grain patterns are to be expected and make each furniture uniquely beautiful, just like us humans.

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.

The Main Stay House exists as a straightforward proposal on an urban infill lot, paring down the components of a house to a minimal amount of planes and openings. The scheme is anchored by a modern entry sequence and a staircase volume, both clad in iron spot masonry externally and internally, creating thresholds between the respective realms of public, common and private, by minimal means. The masonry contrasts with an otherwise muted interior atmosphere of smooth, desaturated surfaces. The entry sequence is a twist upon the conventional domestic front door, front facade, and fence. The front masonry wall replaces the typical residential fence and frames an indirect access to the front door, functioning as a privacy barrier while revealing slices of the interior to the public street. The staircase bifurcates the layout to provide a clear division between the common and private zones of the house, while clearly reading as a mass from all outside view. Brick and glass become portals between common and private zones. The design consolidates the service core along the west façade, allowing the structure to fully open the living zone to the pool court and existing trees. This directly connects interior and exterior, as well as human and nature. Freedom to vary the program or functional use of the area is enabled and strongly encouraged. Photography: Charles Davis Smith

As written in Northern Home & Cottage by Elizabeth Edwards Sara and Paul Matthews call their head-turning home, located in a sweet neighborhood just up the hill from downtown Petoskey, “a very human story.” Indeed it is. Sara and her husband, Paul, have a special-needs son as well as an energetic middle-school daughter. This home has an answer for everyone. Located down the street from the school, it is ideally situated for their daughter and a self-contained apartment off the great room accommodates all their son’s needs while giving his caretakers privacy—and the family theirs. The Matthews began the building process by taking their thoughts and needs to Stephanie Baldwin and her team at Edgewater Design Group. Beyond the above considerations, they wanted their new home to be low maintenance and to stand out architecturally, “But not so much that anyone would complain that it didn’t work in our neighborhood,” says Sara. “We were thrilled that Edgewater listened to us and were able to give us a unique-looking house that is meeting all our needs.” Lombardy LLC built this handsome home with Paul working alongside the construction crew throughout the project. The low maintenance exterior is a cutting-edge blend of stacked stone, black corrugated steel, black framed windows and Douglas fir soffits—elements that add up to an organic contemporary look. The use of black steel, including interior beams and the staircase system, lend an industrial vibe that is courtesy of the Matthews’ friend Dan Mello of Trimet Industries in Traverse City. The couple first met Dan, a metal fabricator, a number of years ago, right around the time they found out that their then two-year-old son would never be able to walk. After the couple explained to Dan that they couldn’t find a solution for a child who wasn’t big enough for a wheelchair, he designed a comfortable, rolling chair that was just perfect. They still use it. The couple’s gratitude for the chair resulted in a trusting relationship with Dan, so it was natural for them to welcome his talents into their home-building process. A maple floor finished to bring out all of its color-tones envelops the room in warmth. Alder doors and trim and a Doug fir ceiling reflect that warmth. Clearstory windows and floor-to-ceiling window banks fill the space with light—and with views of the spacious grounds that will become a canvas for Paul, a retired landscaper. The couple’s vibrant art pieces play off against modernist furniture and lighting that is due to an inspired collaboration between Sara and interior designer Kelly Paulsen. “She was absolutely instrumental to the project,” Sara says. “I went through two designers before I finally found Kelly.” The open clean-lined kitchen, butler’s pantry outfitted with a beverage center and Miele coffee machine (that allows guests to wait on themselves when Sara is cooking), and an outdoor room that centers around a wood-burning fireplace, all make for easy, fabulous entertaining. A den just off the great room houses the big-screen television and Sara’s loom— making for relaxing evenings of weaving, game watching and togetherness. Tourgoers will leave understanding that this house is everything great design should be. Form following function—and solving very human issues with soul-soothing style.