THE DRAMA IS IN THE DETAILS

How do you pick a favorite Victorian cottage on Mackinac Island—a place graced with dozens of them? I truly love them all, though Brigadoon on Main Street has always stood out to me. The home was built by George Arnold, the founder of Arnold Line ferries (now Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Company). Not coincidentally, Arnold built his home across from his dock. I love to imagine Arnold, prominent citizen that he was, strolling confidently to work from his gorgeous Queen Anne home—surveying the stunning and wild Straits of Mackinac that he’d conquered to make himself a wealthy man.

On my island trips, I walk slowly past, head turned to gaze at Brigadoon’s domed turret and gracious veranda, while horses and bikes dart by narrowly missing me. But never did I think I would get to go inside. Lucky me! In the process of writing this issue’s story on the restoration of Brigadoon after a devastating fire, its generous owners, Jay and Janet Stingel, gave me a personal tour of their home. To see the historic details—the carved woodwork, antique furniture, puddled drapes and much more firsthand—was truly unforgettable.

In Brigadoon those details are original. But what if you have a vintage home that is begging to tell its story even when the original elements have been lost over the years? In our feature “Storied Style,” Erica Harrison, a former designer for Ralph Lauren, shows us how to channel another era in her renovation of a 1910 bungalow. Hint: It’s all about the details, as you’ll see in the special two-page spread she put together for us called “Get the Look.”

Lastly, our story "Curating the Maximalist Cottage" is a lesson in what to do when you are overwhelmed with collectibles you can’t part with. Designer Wendy Buhr gives us the answer: artfully display them. Taken together, these three features are a deep dive into the power details have to bring out the drama in our homes. After all, while some of us prefer subtle drama and others bold, as George Arnold might have said, who wants boring?

Elizabeth

Lissa@traversemagazine.com

Adding distinctive style to small spaces is easy when you start at Wittock Kitchen and Bath. Metallics or marble, pastels or high pigments, vintage or contemporary, you’ll find all the design options you need to inspire your next kitchen or bath renovation. Just stop by our showrooms or book an appointment with one of our consultants.

Blossom Bliss

A contemporary take on fine-art tiles makes the perfect statement piece with a nod to Mother Nature.

By ELIZABETH EDWARDS

THE HOME trends universe has been immersed in neutral subway tiles forever, so these bloomingly brilliant beauties immediately caught our eye. Each handmade tile in Motawi Tileworks’ latest series, Blossom Bliss, possesses subtle variations of color and texture, unscripted touches from the artisans who work in the company’s Ann Arbor pottery studio. The flower motif, created by print and textile artist Cary Phillips, comes in orange (shown here), pink and light blue. The 6-by-8-inch Arts & Crafts – style tiles make lovely stand-alone statements (each one has a notch in the back for hanging), but we love using them for a bolder impression, embedded in backsplashes and other installations. Purchase directly or find a store that carries Motawi tiles at motawi.com. $132.