Making Magic

Best friends collaborate on enchanting Livingston County island home

By Tracy Donohue Photography by Texture Photography

In her two decades of designing homes, Dawn Jacobs has taken on a range of interesting and memorable projects. As principal designer and owner of Artichoke Interiors, Jacobs runs a fullservice interior design firm as well as a retail storefront studio and showroom in charming downtown Holly.

When she was offered a unique project involving a summer lakefront escape on an island with multiple buildings and a complex elevation, she readily accepted. Fortunately, this particular project had a fun twist because the clients were her decades-long best friend, Patricia (Patsy) Prose, and her husband.

“Patsy was very involved in the project,” Jacobs says. “She’s gone through many construction projects at many homes before, so she wasn’t overwhelmed. We shopped together for everything from fabrics to knobs. It was easy, due to our friendship, and enjoyable for both of us.”

According to Prose, her husband previously lived across the lake and had long had his eye on this one-of-a-kind waterfront property with a soaring 80-foot hill. When it became available, he bought it. “There was a big house on the property that was tired and a tear-down. We wanted to replace it with something authentic and beautiful, with a natural look.”

The secluded property, nearly 2 acres in size, is the only residential property on Treasure Island, an 80-acre island surrounded by Halfmoon Lake and Blind Lake in Gregory, in Livingston County. The biggest challenges in what became a five-year project had to do with the architecture and the elevation.

The homeowners hired DesRosiers Architects, based in Bloomfield Hills. Prose notes, “What Lou DesRosiers and his team created here is magical.” The couple lived on-site in an Airstream trailer during the summer months of construction, so they Both pages, clockwise were able to observe much of the process. from upper left: The Prose’s husband marveled at the “exboathouse — with a traordinary work” of the excavating crew second-floor guest during all stages of building into the hill, house — and main-home which involved sheet pilings and an engigathering spaces all boast neered retaining wall created with two-ton wonderful adornments and furnishings that make lakeside living comfortable blocks. Limited space to work on such an extensive undertaking was also a formifor the homeowners. dable factor. The project was completed in 2019.

Clockwise, from right:

Cheers to a great view of Halfmoon Lake! The main home’s first-floor bathroom. The tiles behind the wood stove feature a creative tree design.

The home’s mix of Nantucket-style cedar shingles, natural stones, and splashes of blue create a quintessential waterfront retreat. The compound includes the main lake home, a boathouse with a secondfloor guest house, an on-lake stone storage shed, and a six-car garage with an unfinished space above it. For water recreation, there’s a lagoon with a boat lift, a boathouse with a lift and two docks, and a sandy beach. The property has many stunning lake vistas as well as an elevated fire caldron area, which is a popular spot when the couple entertains family and friends.

A loop road provides a convenient alternative to taking the 88 stairs to the main lakehouse, which Prose says is especially helpful when bringing in groceries.

The three-story main home is perched along the water on the grandfathered site of the previous guest house, which allows for spectacular panoramic water views. Prose’s husband says, “I spend a lot of time in

the great room, which is on the edge of the lake, and it’s like sitting in a boat. It’s a great place to have a glass of wine or cold beer and watch the lake.” His wife agrees: “Sitting on the couch, you don’t see land and you feel like you’re floating.”

“This house is very connected to the water,” Jacobs says. “The owners wanted a nautical but elegant lakehouse — a real Michigan lake- house with an old-school Up North feeling that’s different than their waterfront home in Florida. They wanted it to be comfortable and not too precious.”

The designer adds that the couple wanted to blend the old with the new, both inside and out, by repurposing furniture such as wicker and iron pieces from a previous lakehouse as well as interior furniture, some of which was reupholstered in performance fabrics.

There are numerous playful nods to the nautical theme throughout the house, including fish cabinet knobs, sail-inspired ceiling fans, brass The boathouse’s second porthole mirrors, and a swan bathroom floor awaits with plenty of faucet. Creative tile choices play a role in room for overnight visitors. the home, adding a nontraditional spin to the otherwise traditional décor. The main floor has bluish-gray tile flooring that looks like wood, while decorative large-format tiles in an abstract tree design give off a wallpaper vibe behind the wood stove.

With all the work done, the best friends agree on their favorite place on the property: the boathouse, which is where Jacobs happily stays when she visits. “The boathouse is the most fun and charming spot. The guest house (on the second floor) is a small space with very thoughtful design. I especially love the kitchenette, yacht flooring, and view from the balcony,” Jacobs says.

“I love the special touches and fine finishes,” Prose adds. “Dawn is gifted. It was such fun creating beautiful magic with my best friend.”

BUYER’S GUIDE

INTERIOR DESIGNER

Dawn Jacobs, Artichoke Interiors, Holly, artichokeinteriors.net

BATHROOM

Cabinetry – Inset Cabinets, Medallion

Cabinetry, Artichoke Interiors, Holly Countertops – Onyx, Ciot, Detroit (Showroom),

Troy Faucet – Phylrich, Herald Wholesale, Troy Flooring – Beaver Tile & Stone, Troy Lighting – Reiss, Lighting Resource Studio,

Michigan Design Center, Troy Shower – Herald Wholesale, Troy Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Accessible

Beige

BEDROOM AND KITCHENETTE

Cabinetry – Medallion Cabinetry, Artichoke

Interiors, Holly Chair (Fabric) – Pindler, Michigan Design

Center, Troy Countertop – Na, Blue Quartzite, Ciot, Detroit (Showroom), Troy Flooring – Harbor Floors and Interiors, Keego

Harbor Furniture, Wicker – Refurbished Vintage Sconces, Bedside – Lighting Resource Studio,

Michigan Design Center, Troy Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Sporty Blue

BREAKFAST NOOK

Chairs, Dining – Refurbished by Homeowners Chandelier – Herald Wholesale, Troy Flooring – Beaver Tile & Stone, Troy Lights, Pendant – Lighting Resource Studio,

Michigan Design Center, Troy Table, Dining – Refurbished by Homeowners Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Accessible

Beige Window Seat – Clarke & Clarke, Kravet,

Michigan Design Center, Troy

FIREPLACE, WOOD-BURNING

Fireplace – Vermont Castings Tile, Surrounding – Cercan Tile, Michigan

Design Center, Troy

LIVING ROOM

Chairs – Fairfield, Artichoke Interiors, Holly Mirror, Gold – Vintage Sculptures, Duck – Vintage Sofa – CR Laine Furniture, Artichoke Interiors,

Holly Tables, Side – Refurbished by Homeowners Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Accessible

Beige

STAIRCASE

Treads and Railing – Chelsea Lumber Co.,

Chelsea Both pages: The boathouse’s guest quarters is a small space with very thoughtful design, designer Dawn Jacobs says. “I especially love the kitchenette, yacht flooring, and view from the balcony.”

EXTERIOR

Windows – Pella Windows & Doors

ADDITIONAL PROJECT CONTRIBUTORS

Architect – Louis DesRosiers, DesRosiers Architects, Bloomfield Hills General Contractor – Homeowners