Beauty the Beach

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This new-construction home along the dunes in Grand Haven has given the homeowners modern amenities, low maintenance, and a fresh look.

Lakefront home in coveted location gets a fresh start

By Jeanine Matlow Photography by Werner Straube

or a home in Grand Haven that had been consumed by the moving dunes of Lake Michigan, there was a decision to be made before John Allegretti, owner of John Allegretti Architects in St. Joseph, could embark on the complex project for the owners, who wanted a timeless haven that could F handle the environment. “We either had to renovate their existing cottage, an older home that hadn’t fared well with the amount of sand erosion from blowing sand north of the pier, or build a new home,” Allegretti explains. The couple’s original house would require a major renovation, which would be difficult to do given the grade of the main floor.

“The cost to elevate the existing structure would (have been) significant,” Allegretti says. In the end, all of the parties agreed on new construction because it would give the owners all they wished for and more — including low maintenance, a fresh look, and modern amenities. The result is a striking linear structure with a Mid-century aesthetic that respects the lake and the natural environment. At the entrance, a dramatic glass door contrasts with the warm cumeru wood, while the back of the house reveals expansive lakefacing windows. “The design is really beach-oriented, and all that glass creates panoramic views in linear form,” Allegretti says. “I wanted to create that sense of being on a ship, or to capture the sense of the journey of life through time. “The inspiration was the wide-open panoramic view and the natural environment we wanted to integrate into the new home, which would be resilient and integrated into the dunes,” he adds.

The new home has an elevated concrete patio that resists the accumulation of wind-driven sand. Raising the elevation, adding screen walls on the exterior, and planting indigenous, droughttolerant xeriscaping helps reduce blowing-sand erosion and buildup. A screened porch beside the living room extends the home’s footprint. “It’s really livable,” Allegretti says. “By putting (the porch) on the end, there’s a sense of endless space. It’s a great place to come in from the beach, and it has a beach bath behind it.”

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The architect says he likes multi-functionality like the beach bath, which features a half-bath and shower. “It’s about maximizing the square footage to create usable space wherever possible, in as minimal space as possible,” he explains.

Flex spaces stretch the 2,700-square-foot structure with an open dining area, a living room, and a kitchen that welcome guests. There are four bedrooms (three upstairs and one on the main floor), with a master bedroom on each floor. That will allow the couple to age in place and may benefit their two grown sons in the future. One bedroom can double as an office or a sitting area, while a center bunk room can handle overflow.

An upper-level deck occupies the roof above the living room, and a two-sided fireplace separates the living and dining areas with wood and iridescent tiles reminiscent of Mid-century craft. Durable furnishings and surfaces include a white leather sectional and porcelain tile floors.

Key features like the warm wood details on the ceilings and beams, as well as the wall of windows, are simple and sustainable. Wood stairs with stainlesssteel handrails in the center of the home play well against the water and sky.

Both pages: The homeowners’ and architect’s design inspiration was the wideopen panoramic views and the natural environment. When you’re indoors, you feel like you’re one with the outdoors. It’s integrated with the dunes, architect John Allegretti says.Warm Inviting &

“It all gels,” Allegretti says. “It’s really important to use materials that are indigenous to the site, to create a sense of place.”

The architect got to experience the home firsthand during a housewarming party. “It was so nice to see it operating the way it’s designed,” he says. “There were groups of people on the screened porch, (and people were) chit-chatting in the kitchen and other areas. It really was enjoyable to see the completion of the home and all the people enjoying it. It was a great project, and the owners were delightful to work with.”

The wife, who vacationed in Grand Haven as a child, says she and her husband appreciate the setting not only for the beach, but also for the nearby walking and hiking trails. She says their new home serves as a hub for holidays and special occasions, like her brother’s wedding. Up Away&

Her husband laughs when he says he mostly just looks at the lake — which, after all, did determine their aesthetic. “Everything was intended to be simple, to try to have the lake be in the room,” his wife says. The natural, neutral palette lets the bones of the home shine, and the organic architecture and special elements like clerestory windows between the main Douglas Fir beams tie the lake and the landscape together.

Allegretti feels tremendous gratitude for CL Construction in Holland. “They’re incredible collaborators,” he says. The homeowners credit the talented team for their dream home, which delivers inside and out. “With the roof deck over the living room and the screened porch, it’s beautiful during the day, and at night you can see the lit-up pier and the fireworks,” the wife says. “At night the roof deck is so beautiful, with the glass along the roofline. It looks like it’s floating.”

BUYER’S GUIDE

Architect

John Allegretti, Allegretti Architects, St. Joseph, allegrettiarchitects.com

HALLWAY

Ceiling Treatment – Decking, Douglas Fir Doors – Douglas Fir Flooring – Wood (to match Douglas Fir Beams) Stairs and Railings – IPE railings, Douglas

Fir stairs Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Gardenia

KITCHEN

Flooring – Porcelain Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Gardenia

SITTING ROOM

Fireplace – Napoleon “See Thru” 42” Unit,

Allegretti Architects, St. Joseph Flooring – Porcelain Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Gardenia

STAIRCASE

Railings – Custom, Ipe and Douglas Fir Treads – Glulam, Douglas Fir Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Gardenia

UPPER LEVEL HALLWAY

Door – Douglas Fir Flooring – Douglas Fir Lights, Ceiling – Paper Lights, George Nelson Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Gardenia

EXTERIOR

Building Materials – Cumeru 5/4” Wide Ipe;

Stainless Steel Railings; Glulam, Douglas Fir

Beams with 26ga. Galvanized Steel Flashings Flooring – Concrete Plain Paint Color – Clean Finish Penofin Patio – Concrete Pergola – Screen Porch

ADDITIONAL PROJECT

CONTRIBUTOR

Builder – Brian Lamar, CL Construction,

Holland Both pages: It was important to use materials that are native to the area, to create a sense of place. Architect John Allegretti got to experience the home firsthand during a housewarming party. “It was so nice to see it operating the way it’s designed,” he says.