550 Stylish Square Feet

A cottage deep in the Benzie County woods proves that small is smart.

TEXT BY DIANE KOLAK PHOTOGRAPHS BY TODD ZAWISTOWSKI

Jim g ibson has spent a lot of time hanging out around—and far above—Lake Michigan. He’s a hang glider pilot and for decades has swirled amid the air currents high off the bluffs of Benzie County. Originally from Muskegon, g ibson decided to build a simple weekend cabin Up n orth. When he climbed a tree on a forested 5-acre lot in g ilmore Township and saw Betsie Bay peeking through the bare branches, he knew he had found the spot for his humble garage-with-loft design.

What began in g ibson’s mind as a casual crash pad is now a full-time home he shares with Marzena Fryc and their sweet dog, Kleeya. The barnlike structure was inspired by the property’s former function as an orchard,

Opening page remnants of which remain in view from the second-floor living space. The 550 stylish square feet embrace an island kitchen, flexible living/sleeping area, two work spaces, enclosed bathroom and, in the attic, a sleeping space with skylights. a “silo” outside the main structure encloses a spiral staircase and an airy, light-drenched office at the top. Some say the house has as much nautical inspiration as agricultural, because the tower looks like a lighthouse with its crown of windows, surrounding deck and marine-cable railing. e ither way you see it, the design fits well on this grown-over farmland one mile from the shore. g ibson is a mechanical engineer and approached the project as he would any product design, although he typically applies his skills to medical devices.

Jim Gibson's tiny house is a cross between a barn and a lighthouse, fitting for its old-orchard site about a mile from Lake Michigan. BELOW: A paneled nook near the entry contains a hobby space, open to the living area yet out of the way.

To save space in the kitchen, Gibson designed and built an island with long overhangs, then "hacked" two Ikea rolling carts by fitting them with induction cooktops. With the addition of a small brick oven (behind island) no range is required. Three reclaimed pendant fixtures from a gas station light the space with industrial style.

“Design is design. The principles are the same,” he says.

Space-saving features make the tiny house livable and smart. Custom-built beds hide rolling storage drawers beneath. The kitchen has plenty of counter space due to an inventive cooking solution. Two rolling carts, each outfitted with a single-burner electric induction cooktop, roll out from the ends of the custom-built island at dinnertime. Laundry takes up half the usual space with a combination washer-dryer unit by LG that dries clothes by extraction and requires no venting.

Both spatial and mechanical efficiency were important, so Gibson outfitted the house with electric in-floor radiant heat under cement fiberboard and travertine tile. The floor’s high thermal mass paired with good insulation and an aluminum building envelope conserve energy without sacrificing comfort. Everything is electric, and soon Jim hopes to install a residential wind turbine to generate most of the energy.

The aesthetic is as simple as the plan, with whitewashed cedar paneling, a natural wood ceiling, and many classic mullioned windows, even in the ceiling where attic skylights spill light into the living space.

Gibson’s favorite feature of the house is his tower office where he can see for miles and monitor conditions for hang gliding. Even when work keeps him grounded, the windows envelop him with light and breezes, and his tiny home feels as vast as the sky over the Big Lake.

Diane Kolak writes from Lake Ann, where she also operates Dwelement Home Design. dwelement.com

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ROOFING

Nate Roper, Metal Roofing Specialties, Honor, 231-325-92726 metalroofspecs.com

MASONRY

Ken Link. Honor, 231-882-7052

PLUMBING Gil Frantz, Frankfort, 231-352-9413

ELECTRICAL

Randy Olsen, Olsen Electric, Inc., Frankfort, 231-352-4201, olsenelectricinc.com

EXCAVATION & SEPTIC INSTALLATION

Bradley Sand & Gravel, Inc., Honor, 231-325-5583