The Custom Build 2022 - Zahn Builders Inc.

DESIGNER ARCHITECT BUILDER

A coastal legacy T

The long arc of blue shoreline along southwestern Michigan has long beckoned vacationers to its sunny, sugar-sand beaches and chain of nostalgic small towns. Tens of thousands of visitors each summer stream into St. Joseph, where Lake Michigan, the St. Joseph River and a charming downtown offer an appealing escape from the often-busy schedule of city life. The small town’s appeal for vacation homes is undeniable with its proximity to Chicago and its relative abundance of waterfront lots.

“There’s definitely been a lot more interest in that area. Since 2020, and after the pandemic, a lot of people from Chicago were pushing forward with second homes in southern Michigan,” said Tony Zahn, founder and president of Zahn Builders Inc. in Holland, Michigan.

“We’ve completed six projects in the southwest Michigan area in the past five years. It’s a pretty hot area, and logistically it works out well for us. We’ve also developed some strong local trade relationships there,” Zahn added.

Seasonal waterfront homes are common in the region, and Zahn is happy to build them. But he was especially intrigued when he received a request to help a noted local family build their full-time dream home on a multi-lot site near the famous St. Joseph North Pier with its two picturesque lighthouses. Just off of a leafy, brick-paved street, one lot held an established home where a local couple had lived for about 20 years. They had purchased the neighboring vacant lot and wanted to build a home there for their son and his family. With both lots settled along a vast swath of sand that tinges pink as the sun sets over Lake Michigan in a town so vital to their family history, this would be the ideal place to build a legacy home. The family’s concept was to build a compound of sorts, creating a loose physical

Text: Diane Kolak

Photography: Ashley Avila Photography

Zahn Builders Inc.

connection between the lots—but a very tight social connection between the three generations and those to come.

Zahn accepted the challenge involving both renovation of the existing home and a major ground-up project, as the work fit perfectly with Zahn’s passion for building enduring homes. He loves to see the big picture and assemble the perfect team to make it happen, starting with the company’s long-time project manager, Matt Bruursema. Given the company’s philosophy of careful project selection, a transparent process, self-performed carpentry, and exceptional follow-through, this project seemed ideal.

To match Zahn Builders’ level of craftsmanship, the team looked to partner with Sears Architects of Grand Rapids. Robert

Sears, owner and principal at the firm, credited his team and the clients for the design success of the extensive project.

“The central design concept of the house was to address the water; secondarily, they wanted a house that is just fun to live in,” Sears said.

With those goals in mind, Sears Architects designed a progression of structures connected to meet zoning requirements, but with enough separation to provide a variety of public and private spaces for young children, working adults, and active seniors. Drawing upon the clients’ requested aesthetic of New England beach houses, the Sears Architects team developed a rich, classic look in timeless style. The house features both gambrel and gable rooflines, cedar shake roofing and siding, divided-light windows in varying patterns, and gently curving elements all set upon a stacked-stone foundation. The series of segmented masses is set in a U-formation connected by breezeways flooded with natural light. The effect is almost like being outdoors in the transitional spaces, particularly between the main house and the pool house, which is the primary space shared with the grandparents next door.

With the nine-month planning process complete early in 2020 and Zahn “standing ready with the shovel,” pandemic restrictions put a halt on all residential construction for a couple of months. When restrictions lifted, though, the team was prepared and immediately began ordering supplies for the 12,000-squarefoot home, garage, and pool house.

“The moment the shutdown was lifted, we were able to get ahead of the [supply chain] shortages,” said Zahn, in reference to a process that was completed in about two years—a brisk schedule for a home of this size. “A lot of [the credit for quick completion] was due to good project management and decisive owners.”

Having moved in at the beginning of summer in 2022, the family has had time to experience and appreciate the home’s long list of luxurious features. There’s a strong emphasis on outdoor living with a rambling stone patio and an outdoor kitchen and bar beneath a cedar pergola. A two-story pool house holds a sauna with an ice bath, a CrossFit-style gym, and a private space for guests. A beachside pool and infinity-edge hot tub settle within a sleek glass enclosure that visually dissolves into the views of the sweeping sand and whitecaps beyond. The cozy firepit area is thoughtfully sunken to maintain uninterrupted views from inside the house.

Landscape planning was also a strong factor in maintaining views and creating the feel of a family compound, according to Zahn. Macatawa Landscaping & Lawn Care of Zeeland, Michigan worked to enhance the site with a dune grass berm and functional

connections to facilitate seamless movement between the two lots. They established a more formal look for the entry side of the house while maintaining a looser, natural feeling on the lakeside. This, combined with careful positioning of the structure, makes the roughly 2.8-acre lot feel much bigger than it is.

Even though there is a generous amount of space devoted to outdoor living, this is a year-round home so Zahn gave special attention to high-performance mechanical systems. He involved his tradespeople early in the process to ensure the design and construction would allow for a highly efficient and comfortable setup. They achieved it with a combination of skillful system design and the use of closed cell foam insulation and infloor radiant heat.

Zahn also looked to the expertise of Van Enk Woodcrafters LLC of Zeeland, Michigan

in rounding out the top-notch team, leveraging their talented experience to craft the fine interior millwork and cabinetry, as well as many exterior architectural elements. The home features graceful brackets that sweep from the eaves to the walls, creating a visual flow with the curving sidewall flares at the base. Inside, the woodwork is plentiful and varied. The foyer features stepped crown and

base moldings and a transitional stair railing with simple turned balusters. Elsewhere in the main house, the crown molding is a unifying element while cabinetry styles vary to include sleek slabs, shaker style doors, and simple vanities with curved, louvered or campaign-style embellishments. The fun and eclectic mix is a testament to the versatility of Zahn’s carpentry team.

Throughout the home, fun is a noticeable theme that came to life with the help of interior designer Cory Drajka. There is an expected sense of sophistication, but with a significant twist of cheeky attitude. Playful but upscale use of color and layered patterns on walls, floors, and even ceilings keep the elegant rooms from looking staid. Most surfaces are covered with a wide selection of tile, wood, or wallpaper.

Wallpaper patterns and textures set the tone for most rooms, either subtle and

refined or bold and witty. The primary bedroom is cocooned within a soothing enclosure of shimmering lavender-gray grasscloth. Elsewhere, walls and ceilings come alive with artful natural elements like trees and flowers, fine geometric patterns, novel themes like cartoonish seagulls, and even a star-studded ceiling with labeled constellations up in the “eagle’s nest.” As the highest room in the home, it’s designed to be a casual gathering space for watching sunsets over the lake and pier.

The home’s rambling layout offers many opportunities to take in the never-ending views, but practicality was not sacrificed. A thoughtful and practical progression of spaces places everything where it will be easiest to reach and to use. The family entrance hall near the main garage leads past a crisp-looking, nautical-style mudroom outfitted for light laundry, pet care, and personal storage in custom lockers. This hall then leads to the central area of the main floor containing an airy white kitchen open to the dining and

living rooms, plus a second working kitchen. Behind glass doors is a hard-working, island-layout kitchen with marble counters over shaker style cabinetry painted blue and glinting with brass hardware. The two-room setup offers the family ease and flexibility when entertaining, and it keeps everyday messes manageable and out of sight.

Despite the large footprint of the house, the water is visible from most main-floor areas. The living room and family room look directly to the lake, and the panoramic views extend across long sightlines to the home’s entrance areas. Two graceful staircases and an elevator lead upstairs, where space is mainly divided between five bedrooms, each with its own private bath. The suites will be especially appreciated in the future, when grown children return with their own families. Zahn pointed out that this kind of forward-think-

ing in design fits with the company’s goal of building long-term homes that adapt to families’ shifting needs.

For now, though, this young family places a premium on fun, and they make the most of that in the walk-out basement level. A generous recreation room with a kitchenette and a play area opens onto the beach. Interior spaces with less natural light house a theater, kitchenette, craft room, and wine cellar with its own bar, and there is also a hall that leads to the basement of the pool house with its duckpin bowling alley and golf simulator.

The overall result is one that places collaboration at the heart of the process, working with the clients to achieve their goal of building a remarkable home that functions efficiently for a multi-generational family, while also encouraging a relaxed, resort lifestyle— the best of both worlds for a family committed to their lakeside community.