A Coastal Style Lake Retreat

A Narrow & Outdated Lakefront Property, Reimagined

Our clients needed a refuge from their busy day-to-day lives in Ann Arbor. They dreamed of a warm and welcoming place where family and friends could relax in a comfortable environment that’d bring joy to all who visited.

They found the perfect location to bring their vision to life: a beautiful lakefront property on the outskirts of Ann Arbor. The existing cottage was built in 1900 but hadn’t been updated and therefore wasn’t salvageable. They collaborated with our team at Meadowlark to tear down what existed and build a beautiful custom home from the ground up.

Maximize Lake Life, But Maintain Privacy

Our client's goal was to maximize the lakefront property experience while retaining some privacy and serenity. But their lot was narrow, with some very closeby neighbors on both sides — making that goal somewhat tricky to achieve.

Overall project goals and design challenges:

- Maximize lake views while minimizing neighbor views
- Create spaces that enable both group gatherings and private retreats
- Bring a modern, warm, and welcoming aesthetic to a coastal home style
- Plan for the future and create flexible spaces that can evolve with their family
- Design a beautiful custom home that’d blend into existing neighborhood character

Design Development

Creating a Stylish & Functional Custom Home

This custom home’s unique design illustrated how style and function can be implemented on a narrow lakefront property. The home was vertically oriented to make the most of the available space and designed to allow for relaxation and enjoyment of all the location had to offer.

Design layouts, architectural elements, and other selections were chosen with intention. Here are some of the stand-outs:

Marvin® windows, carefully placed to bring in natural light but protect our clients’ privacy
Serena & Lily wall coverings, furnishings, and accessories
White oak flooring and ceiling details
Horizontal 8” shiplap
15’ Centor folding door on the great room wall, complete with retractable screen and shade
Several patios and balconies
Gathering spaces with banquet seating
Work-from-home spaces and private reading nooks
Sun-filled kitchen with a large island
Layers of millwork detailing

An Inviting, Coastal-Style Lake Retreat

Extensive planning and skilled craftsmanship met to create this inviting, lakefront custom home with a warm and coastal aesthetic. Despite all the warmth and grade of the traditional materials, finishes, and furnishings, it remains contemporary and clean — ideal for a modern coastal lifestyle.

Our team is so proud of this project. It was such a success that it was even featured in this Houzz article!

The result? A beautiful custom home that welcomes first-time guests and regular visitors with ease and comfort, encouraging them to relax and enjoy their time on the lake.

A Coastal Style Lake Retreat

The

Vision