Like many Michiganders, Deb and Todd Ruthven grew up heading north on weekends. “We both came up a lot when we were younger,” Deb explains of their frequent trips upstate. “Todd camped at Interlochen and I liked to ski at Crystal Mountain.”
Like even more Michiganders, the then-Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor-based couple dreamed of a place on the water to call their own, and often checked out available properties on their weekend visits. Their dream became a reality in July of 2021, when they came across an empty lot with 230 feet of frontage on Bass Lake, about 10 minutes from Traverse City.
To the couple’s delight, the 2-acre lot was edged by wetlands and included lake views. It was “very beautiful, very secluded,” Deb recalls. “It had a U.P. kind of feel, with lots of pine trees but not a lot of houses — a very woodsy vibe.”
The Ruthvens initially thought they’d match that vibe with an equally woodsy log cabin, but they changed their minds after staying at some hygge-style short-stay rentals near Lake Leelanau. Based on the Scandinavian tradition that emphasizes coziness, comfort, and relaxed living, hygge also embraces simplicity, soft textures, natural materials, and a minimalist approach.
That choice of style led them to builder Gary Mott of G. Mott Builders in Traverse City, a local craftsman who’s “known for his ability to blend modern design with the natural environment,” Todd shares. Mott had worked on many of the projects the couple admired in the area, and together they designed a strikingly simple, approximately 2,000-square-foot home with three bedrooms and two baths. Rooted in Scandinavian style and the surrounding landscape, the house also includes custom touches such as a 37-foot vaulted ceiling in the great room/kitchen, a floating staircase, three levels including loft space for guests, and cement floors with radiant heat.
floating staircase. Photo Courtesy of Todd Ruthven
Clad in steel corrugated siding and cedar trim with accents of Shou Sugi Ban — an ancient Japanese technique of charring wood that lends a striking, textured appearance — the exterior fits seamlessly into the surrounding woods. Popular on the West Coast, it doesn’t need maintenance and is both flame- and bug-resistant, Todd says. “Gary created it all with a blowtorch,” he remembers with a laugh. “He was out there in 90-degree weather; he went way beyond the normal.”
Inside, the material can also be found on the living room fireplace.
The built-in table/kitchen island, meanwhile, is made of black walnut slabs the couple chose at Live Edge Detroit; they also worked with friend and interior designer Jill Arcure to achieve their overall goal of a cozy yet open concept, with lots of windows.
Photo Courtesy of Todd Ruthven
“The house blends into its environment,” Deb says. “It really feels like it belongs here.”
The couple moved into the home in October of 2023. Favorite activities include boating, paddleboarding, kayaking, hiking, and fishing. Fall is color-watching season, while in the winter the couple enjoys snowshoeing and Todd spends time ice-fishing or restoring his old car collection. With Traverse City just 10 minutes away, Deb can head to town for coffee or Pilates classes, and the couple likes to indulge in the area’s wineries, restaurants, and cultural events whenever the mood strikes or if they need a dose of city living.
Photo Courtesy of Todd Ruthven
Otherwise, they mostly enjoy the life they had long dreamed of. Now retired, they look forward to welcoming friends and family, including their two grown children and recently-born first grandchild. Todd jokes that it’s time to install Murphy beds on the third floor, which is currently used for yoga and is where you’ll find the couple’s home office.
“Life up here is more than we expected,” Todd reports. Although they miss their downstate friends, they don’t miss their downstate life, he says. “Waking up every morning to the sounds and smells of the lake and trees always makes us smile.
We feel truly blessed.” 
