Endless View in Ludington – Great Lake Story 2018
Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three | Chapter Four | Final Chapter
Growing up in Ludington, Julie Lowing never paid much mind to the big, yellow house near the public beach. It’d been there as long as she could remember, sitting stately on North Lakeshore Drive, quite a way from the Lake Michigan coastline that lay behind it. She’d heard stories, of course. Ludington’s small town charm meant there were rumors of a former inn on the property and plenty of personal histories tied up in its past.
But as fate would have it, Julie and her husband Bruce would become quite familiar with the over 100-year-old house and its beautiful piece of land in the heart of the small Michigan town. Sometimes, a home simply chooses you.
“It’s sort of a cool story,” Julie said. “Bruce and I had always wanted a home on Lake Michigan.” One evening, she mentioned this to a group of friends, one of whom was a realtor. The friend immediately told Julie about the listing on North Lakeshore Drive, one of the most desirable waterfront addresses, and had a feeling it was a chance she should not pass up.
The couple saw it as an opportunity for a cottage, a summer getaway where their family could enjoy the beach and downtown Ludington, and of course, have enough space for their dogs to run. They had raised their children in a cedar home on a wooded 12-acre piece of property and planned on continuing to remain in their peaceful piece of country living.
But as soon as they saw the spacious backyard, which led to a sandy beachfront and unobstructed views of the nearby pier and lighthouse, they began to see the opportunity to create much more than a summer cottage. The old house — the oldest in Ludington, according to Julie — was in desperate need of updating, but there was no denying the beauty of the site. Trees dot the property, giving it a private feel while still being open enough to enjoy the magnificent views of Lake Michigan. Downtown Ludington was within walking distance.
The more the couple saw of the property, the more they fell in love. “All of a sudden we’re sitting on this old couch in this old house talking about it becoming ours,” she said. As Julie and Bruce sat with the realtor, who hadn’t officially placed the home on the market, they said a prayer. “From that point on, everything fell into place,” Julie said. They immediately put an offer in, it was accepted, and the Lowing’s dream of a lakefront home quickly was becoming a reality.
Shortly after, Bruce, a contractor by trade, paid a visit to builder Scott Christopher to discuss their options, beginning what would be a wonderful adventure, one that would lead them to take down the existing home, move closer to the lakeshore and create a peaceful space for rest, relaxation and endless views.
This year’s Great Lake Story chronicles the Lowing’s journey to build their dream home, guided by exceptional Michigan-based experts and craftsmen. Follow the story of Julie and Bruce and the design/build team of Scott Christopher Homes.
We invite you to follow along, as we reveal a new chapter in each issue of Michigan BLUE Magazine or at mibluemag.com.
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