This modern retreat is a guesthouse to a main residence designed for a growing and large extended family. The design expands guest accommodations and entertainment options and integrates into the natural environment. The building’s simple clean lines reference the rural context while providing an updated aesthetic. The residence is sited into the hill on the prairie of the 7-acre estate. Pedestrian footbridges connect guests to the residence and traverse the site topography which required the creation of dramatic dry riverbeds to handle an abundance of spring runoff.
The house contains four Bedroom Suites, a Great Room Loft with 2 sided view thru fireplace, Kitchen and Laundry Rooms, in addition to ample storage for lake and country living. Skylights march down the central axis of the house flooding each space with natural light. Large curtain wall windows look out to views of the tennis court, prairie walking and biking paths, fenced gardens, and Lake Michigan. The modern aesthetic is expressed with the use of custom horizontal teak veneer cabinetry and doors, cable rail, streamlined plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, and finish selections. Muted wall colors allow artwork and modern inspired furniture to become the focus of the interior spaces.
A main entertainment destination is the indoor pool room that is flooded with natural light. The pool room is filled with amenities - pool slide, 6 person spa, basketball hoop / volleyball net, swim in place jets for exercise, centralize water feature, and large TV with a Sonos audio system. The pool room contains two levels of seating connected by a spiral staircase: poolside lower level seating is below an Upper Level Deck which is cantilevered off the side of the Great Room Loft. Large sliding doors allow the Upper Level Living Room to open up into the pool retreat. A dumbwaiter connects the Pool with the Kitchen and further expands the entertaining options. The entire room has color-changing lights to create any mood of choice for the pool party.
The addition of this guest residence has made our client’s estate a year round destination to entertain family and friends in the natural countryside setting with the highest level of comfort and amenity.