Free-flowing into a combination of wide-open spaces and intimate nooks, this smartly planned home pairs high functionality with early 1900s’ coastal resort appeal.

Multilevel eaves, board-and-batten shutters, decorative brackets, arched windows and a metal porch roof draw interest from the curb. While rustic shingles and a rubblework foundation lend texture, white trim and columns enhance rich Vandeusen blue siding’s nautical flair.

A two-story stair tower also immediately distinguishes the residence, inside and out. Infused with natural light from wrap-around transoms, this signature element lends winding, nostalgic character to upper and lower levels, as well as access to an inviting sitting area that can be closed off the master suite with a pair of pocket doors.

This plan packs comfort into several such smaller, inviting spaces.

Within an inglenook just off the spacious front entry, bookcases flank a fireplace centered between two cushioned booths, crowned by a coffered ceiling. Beneath one rainbow-side of a barrel ceiling in the master bedroom, the bed nestles into another intimate nook. Multiple-use boot benches in the mudroom provide plenty of convenient storage; built-in desks in bedrooms create space for a computer. And a screened porch augments dining areas off a gourmet kitchen and second-story deck.

Yet, Hampshire’s most evident characteristic is its openness. While an abundance of natural light pours in through numerous and expansive windows, the floor plan’s flexibility caters to everyday family routines or a houseful of guests.

“Key living spaces are designed to merge naturally into one another,” noted architect Wayne Visbeen, AIA, IIDA, of Grand Rapids-based Visbeen Associates, Inc. “Rather than walls closing people in, furnishings in many places create room divisions. Each room is free to shape itself.”

To inquire or purchase this floor plan, call (616) 285-9901 and ask for Michigan BLUE cottages.

MICHIGAN BLUE LAKESTYLE COTTAGE FLOOR PLAN IS A COPYRIGHT OF VISBEEN ASSOCIATES INC. AND IS MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH MICHIGAN BLUE, MICHIGAN ’S LAKESTYLE MAGAZINE.