Leighanne LaMarre, interior designer and owner of Leighanne LaMarre Interiors in Brighton, had just completed a home design project for a Detroit-area couple in late 2021 when they requested her assistance with a vacation house they had purchased on Walloon Lake in Charlevoix County.
“Leighanne was so easy to work with, and we knew we couldn’t do the lake house without her,” the homeowners say enthusiastically. “She brought both houses together and made them feel like home for our family.”
According to the couple, their Walloon Lake home was built in 2008 as a guest house for the home next door. Coincidentally, the lake home’s original architect, Greg Presley of Presley Architecture in Northville and Petoskey, had designed their Detroit-area residence, so it made sense for him to handle the renovation of their new lake home.
Ben Percy, of Percy Construction in Boyne City, a family-owned custom-building company with more than 50 years of experience, was the contractor for the northern Michigan project. His highly skilled crew included his father and brother. “Ben was so organized and hands-on. He paid such attention to detail that we didn’t have to worry about being on-site (all the time), like we were able to do with our other house,” the homeowners say.
The welcoming home sits on a secluded lot that’s just over an acre in size and boasts 110 feet of lake frontage. During the renovation process, a 500-square-foot addition was built onto the original 2,900-square-foot home, along with a two-story carriage house/garage and a breezeway joining the two structures.
Keeping entertaining and overnight guests in mind, the thoughtfully designed property now has five bedrooms, a bunk room, and 6.5 bathrooms. The project was completed last year, in time for the summer season to officially kick off.
“As repeat clients, I know them so well that it’s like working with friends, but (I also had to factor in) that the aesthetics, function, and lifestyle are different Up North,” LaMarre explains. “I wanted their lake home to feel different but still reflect their personal style and love of entertaining. It also had to be easy-care and low-maintenance, due to sand and snow.
“Their lake house took on a sense of Up North nostalgia and a more traditional feel than their main home. In the lake house, we achieved this by fusing traditional (ideas) in a more designed and deliberate way, while embracing the water views from nearly every room in the house. We used warm white and wood tones, including old-school oak paneling, in a more updated, modern way as a focal point. We played with layering and texture, such as the blue patterned area rug in the great room, to give the feel of curated family heirlooms. Overall, it’s soft contemporary with a collected Up North vibe.”
The designer says she especially loves the home’s master bedroom. “It’s modern and cozy, with warm white colors and textures. The contemporary beige artwork above the bed offers juxtaposition against the traditional wall.”
The wife adds: “My husband and I are drawn to darker, more masculine, moody colors, but the house gets a ton of natural light, so it doesn’t seem dark at all — even the walkout basement.” She also appreciates the touches of blue in the house, which play against the neutral palette and sparkling lake views.
Since the property didn’t originally have a garage, the addition of the carriage house offered an opportunity to create space for the couple’s vehicles, and add an extra 1,000 square feet of living space above the garage. The second level includes a game room, bedroom, full bathroom, and kitchenette. LaMarre admits it was her favorite part of the project. “I always care as much about the home’s exterior as the interior,” she says. “The carriage house added a special architectural element, as well as function and privacy.”
As a complement to the renovation, the homeowners made improvements to the outdoors, with updated landscaping done by Boyne City’s Robinson’s Landscaping & Nursery. Overgrown plants were removed to enhance the property and water views, leaving room for picturesque birch trees and great pines to thrive. The homeowners note that during the clean-up, stone columns from an old hotel that previously was located on the property were unearthed and restored.
We’re outdoor people. We love the lake, and skiing in the winter. My favorite part of the house is the back porch, which opens from the main living room and looks out at the water. It’s so inviting and relaxing for coffee in the morning or cocktails at night,” the wife shares.
LaMarre says the biggest challenge involved the addition to the kitchen, laundry room, mudroom, and office — and finding space to accommodate the homeowners’ full wish list. “The addition needed to be extremely deliberate with form, function, and focal points that worked for the family’s lifestyle. I think we succeeded.”
The wife reflects: “This isn’t just a summer house for us; it’s a year-round home that we visit during all four seasons. The lake house is special for our family and guests. It feels like us.”
