A TRADITION AMONG THE TREES

A TRADITION

AMONG THE TREES

THE AREA IS NAMED AFTER ITS GEOGRAPHY

— Interlochen means “between two lakes.” Green Lake and Duck Lake are well-known and cherished by visitors and locals alike. Summer ramps up with the beginning of Interlochen Arts Camp, live music, and an influx of campers at the state park, but the tranquility remains. For Clare and Andy Morrison, that tranquility lies on the west side of Green Lake. Clare first came to Green Lake as a young adult with a friend who had deep familial ties to the town of Interlochen. She saw the region’s charm and quickly fell in love. “I went up several times in high school with my friend—we’ve remained friends all this time—I introduced my family to the area in the late nineties.” Ever since, the Morrisons leave their year-round home in Indianapolis and head north to enjoy all northern Michigan has to offer. In the summer of 2009, while renting a place on the lake, Andy and Clare came upon a small home on the water and all but bought it on the spot. Though charming, the home soon made it difficult to host their friends and family comfortably. Thanks to a word-of-mouth referral by a friend, the Morrisons were directed to Roger Widing of Widing Custom Homes and began crafting their perfect lakeside getaway. “It was a terrific experience. He wants his customer to be happy. We developed a friendship with him,” Andy says. Widing, alongside Shoreline Architecture and Design of Petoskey, worked with the Morrisons to create a blend of the family’s must-haves with some added flair. The exterior of their lake house is reminiscent of a grand castle, blending stately blue, striking white, hints of rich wood, and calming neutral stone. The backyard features a modest garden and a spacious yard on which the Morrisons and their guests enjoy bocce and badminton tournaments. Near the walkout French doors is a grotto shower, perfect for rinsing off after a day spent waterskiing or swimming. “A must have—particularly for the dogs!” Clare says. The most eye-catching part of the home is its grand turret, lined with a handcrafted wraparound staircase. It is a standout piece that provides knockout views of Green Lake as far as the eye can see. “We didn’t necessarily ask for a turret in our conversations, but the architect listened to our needs and came up with it,” Clare explains.

ON THE INSIDE, the home is open, simplistic, and bright thanks to its many windows. “We wanted to come through the front door and see the lake,” Andy says. When the sun sets, the west facing walls appear to sparkle thanks to the subtle quartz inlays. The stone fireplace and polished cherry wood beams and trim are sourced from the Great Lakes region, a highlight for the homeowners. “We wanted to build something that was of that place,” Andy adds.

THE KITCHEN is equipped to cook for as many guests as the Morrisons can invite. Along with dual ovens and a spacious granite island, it features an eight-burner stove and a professional-grade vent hood, something cooking enthusiast Clare was excited for. Upon installation, Widing had the idea to relocate the vent’s large exhaust motors on the roof. “That way it doesn’t sound like an aircraft carrier is in your kitchen!” Clare laughs.

Practicality dictated much of the home’s design, which is why the main floors are tile instead of hardwood. “We are not worried about wood floors being wet from dogs or kids coming in from the lake. This house might ‘call’ for hardwood floors, but we have tile everywhere,” Clare says. “It is a beautifully crafted house, but it is not fussy.”

room large enough to fit all their family and friends. “We had engaged the architect and the builder, but we hadn’t necessarily finalized plans yet. I don’t know why they took me to look at granite, but they did. The very first thing I bought for the house was a slab of quartzite, and that’s the whole dining room table.”

The unique streak of blue running through the earth-toned granite is set off by the room’s blue-gray paint and cherry wood trim. “The entire room was designed around the table. The table can seat up to fourteen guests. We had a custom base made for it, and all the other selections in that room were based on that.”

THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE A FUSSY

HOUSE, there are small touches in the home that surprise and delight, like the inclusion of an infrared sauna to promote recovery for the health-conscious family—Clare is an accomplished equestrian and one of their sons is a D1 athlete. Looking for the wine? It’s hidden in a secret room underneath the lower-level stairs, a request from Andy. “I had this little idea in my head where we could have a bunkroom for grandkids that you get to through a secret door. As the house took shape, it wasn’t viable, but I still wanted a secret room someplace!” Also behind a seemingly inconspicuous wooden panel is the mechanical room—out of sight but easily accessible. Those aren’t the only things that are hidden in plain sight; all of the outlet covers are hand painted to blend in seamlessly with their surroundings. Most notable are the outlet covers in the guest bathroom, painted to match the vanity made of various pieces of stone. “I can’t tell you how many people come out of the bathroom and say ‘Clare, I can’t find the outlet,’” Clare explains.

THE MORRISONS had a few more requests for Widing during the nearly two-year-long build. Number one on their list was having enough space, including en suite bathrooms for each bedroom. Andy and Clare entertain often and enjoy having guests over; much of the reason for building the home was to have ample room for everyone.

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THE CHARM OF GREEN LAKE

and Interlochen is one that the Morrisons absolutely love. “It’s not one of the big glamour lakes, like Torch Lake, but it works well for us. We know people there, it’s quiet and clean, and there’s hardly any traffic on the lake. It’s our second home up there,” Andy says. “We’re so happy to just stay on our deck!” Clare laughs. The Morrisons’ home is currently for sale, but this doesn’t mean they plan on leaving the area anytime soon. They’re looking to buy another home, preferably facing west as this one does now, and are hoping to collaborate again with Roger Widing to customize another lake getaway that suits their current needs. “We’re very committed to the location,” Clare confirms. “We’re not abandoning Green Lake!” Andy chimes in. The family will continue to enjoy the quiet beauty and limitless options of Interlochen for many years to come. It’s a tradition, after all.