6 minute read
LIFE ON THE LAKE
A decade later, Martha began her search for custom builders in the area, which brought her to MAC Custom Homes and Joe Colgrove’s outstanding crew. “I found them and called them. We started talking and it just went from there,” Martha says. One thing she had to have: a large kitchen. “I wanted a really big stove. We all gather in the kitchen and prepare meals.”
Martha went into the custom home process knowing three things: the color, size, and where on the property the house would sit. Everything else was left up to Colgrove, whose stellar team made her dreams a reality. Looking up from the lake, the home is a mirror image of itself, perfectly symmetrical with plenty of windows to let in the natural light. Martha requested the house be blue and MAC Custom Homes delivered with a stunning navy shake siding. Natural stone surrounds the home and breaks up the slope of the hill leading to the backyard, which features a patio overlooking the expanse of Lake Michigan and an outdoor fireplace. Plants dot the exterior, something all three sisters pitch in to make happen. “We all kick in together. I hate gardening, but we split it up!” Martha says.
Inside, varying shades of blue are balanced with crisp white walls and eye-catching lines. The simplicity of the colors is set off with splashes of pattern in the form of wallpaper, tile, and multitoned hardwood floors. Marble countertops, subway and mosaic tile, and floral patterns give Martha’s home personality. Silver hardware, simplistic light features, and delicate rain chains complement the house. Altogether, the home is not ostentations. “We’re kind of low-key, but we enjoy ourselves,” Martha explains.
“MAC Custom Homes has built our reputation on quality, attention to detail, and a commitment to Integrity throughout the build process. It is this commitment which calls upon us to partner with those who share our passion for excellence. That is why we have chosen Old Mission Windows as our Partner, as we strive to exceed our clients’ expectations.” -Joe Colegrove President MAC Custom Homes
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gravitate toward the outdoor spaces, especially during warmer months. Friends and family join them in reveling in the crisp breeze on the front patio or catching up around the fireplace, which holds a unique feature that draws the eye and lots of questions.
It’s a large, shining Petoskey stone, but not in the usual color. Instead, the rare dark hue sets off the surrounding neutral stone of the fireplace. “You have to look at it closely. We show it to everyone, of course!” Martha says proudly. “A lot of my friends are from Oregon, and they don’t know what a Petoskey stone is and what it means.” She knew she wanted Petoskey stone to be included in the fireplace, having a soft spot for them since childhood. Luckily, Colgrove had just the thing and immortalized the polished stone for all to see.
The love of rocks, and the region’s famous stone, is one that Martha and her siblings have not been able to shake. While living in Oregon, Martha wore a Petoskey stone necklace, which drew the eye of curious friends. Even now, she wears the necklace, an homage to where it all began. Petoskey stones are a rarity on the sisters’ slice of shorefront and can be challenging to find, though Martha claims her sister is the “Petoskey hound” of the trio. Right now, their collection of stones is unpolished. “We haven’t polished any Petoskeys, but we should start so we can show them off.” It’s a fun hunt that everyone who visits loves to partake in—there’s an important title at stake.
Each summer, family and friends are challenged to scour the beach and select a rock that stands out to them. Any rock is fine as long as the person finds it to be captivating. Onto the windowsill it goes for the possibility of being crowned Rock of the Summer. “You find a rock you like or think is interesting-looking and put it on the windowsill in the interim. Then next year, whichever one is the best from that group is crowned Rock of the Summer,” Martha explains.
The Lake Michigan experience is one that Martha and her family have loved for years. “We spend as much time outside as we can stand in the summer and less time in the winter,” Martha says. When the holidays roll around, there is plenty of space for everyone to gather. “We have a big family and invite people up for Thanksgiving and Christmas.”
As cooler weather rolls in, the sisters enjoy more of their time on the back patio instead of overlooking the lake. “Our back patio is my favorite area. We weren’t going to put a patio out there, and my sister said we should. We sit out there when it’s sunny in the morning. The wind gets blocked back there.” No matter the season or weather, the home provides a space for Martha and her sisters to relax, entertain, and enjoy the quiet beauty of the region. From family barbeques on the beach to hiking in the surrounding woods, Martha couldn’t be more elated to live on the lake. “The whole thing is a hidden gem,” Martha says. “It’s just beautiful.”
Now, Martha and her sisters are preparing for a chilly Michigan winter. “It’s a little sad, but it has to be done,” Martha laments. Just like always, though, another pictureperfect summer on the lake is right around the corner.
