Endless View in Ludington – Great Lake Story 2018
Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three | Chapter Four | Final Chapter
The final installment of the 2018 Great Lake Story features the full unveil of ‘Endless View,’ the custom Ludington home of Bruce and Julie Lowing. The project transformed a lot with an aging old house into a sprawling contemporary dream, complete with the unobstructed glimpses of Lake Michigan that inspired its name.
Call it serendipity, or fate, or simply a spectacular coincidence, but things just came together for homeowners Bruce and Julie Lowing. Longtime Ludington residents, the couple desired a getaway residence where they could relax and make memories by the lake they’d loved for their whole lives.
While Lake Michigan properties, especially those with ‘endless views’ of the water, are hard to come by these days, things fell into place when a realtor friend alerted them to a listing — that admittedly needed a lot of work — about to hit the market.
The Lowings jumped at the opportunity, and called upon the trusted team at Scott Christopher Homes to create the home of their dreams.
Above: Upon entering the home, the eyes are met immediately with a framed view of Lake Michigan. The entryway — outfitted with custom stone blend from Belden Brick & Supply — serves to separate the two wings of the upper level. Furnishings found throughout the home and adjoining guest apartment were kept neutral and classic to complement the stunning natural landscape. Furniture and decor was provided by Klingman’s Furniture and Design of Grand Rapids, whose legacy of quality pieces at affordable prices is unmatched. Learn more at klingmans.com.
“We were familiar with the team at Scott Christopher Homes and knew they were exactly who we wanted for this project,” said Bruce Lowing. And it was no easy task.
“Building homes near the water is always a challenging task, but this was an especially complex project that involved the removal of an old home, clearing of land, and the new build,” explained Scott Christopher, owner of Scott Christopher Homes. “We knew we needed to assemble a team of the best in the business, and we did.”
To begin, the team demolished the aging house and made way for the two-story modern estate designed by Brad D. Tilma of West Michigan-based Brad Douglas Design. Tilma’s goal was to create views of the lake from every room, and thanks to state-of-the-art custom windows and thoughtful design, his goal became a stunning reality for the Lowings to enjoy for years to come.
The home sits further back from the road (closer to the lake) than the former residence did, which allowed for a larger footprint and the creation of an outdoor seating area and adjoining guest apartment. “Our children are out of the house, but we still wanted a place for them to be able to stay when they visit,” said Julie.
The apartment was designed to feel private while still feeling like part of the home, and includes a large open bedroom with seating areas, mini kitchenette, and yes, its very own view of Lake Michigan.
Inside the home’s front foyer, custom stone blend from Belden Brick & Supply creates a stunning contrast to the framed view of Lake Michigan, visible immediately upon entrance. The foyer divides the living spaces into two wings — private and public.
“We wanted the private wing to be an oasis, away from the noise and busyness of the rest of the home,” Tilma said. To the north, the foyer opens into the spacious living spaces, including formal living and dining rooms, and custom kitchen, all with views overlooking the expansive shoreline.
The southern wing of the home includes the master suite, complete with spectacular master bath, and a mudroom with additional half bathroom. “Bruce and Julie wanted to be able to come home after work and truly relax, and there’s no better way to do that than sitting outside and watching the water,” said builder Scott Christopher.
Large sliding glass doors frame the view and provide access to the home’s sizable deck, which allows for sweeping views up and down the coastline. The colors in the master suite — as well as the rest of the home — are neutral and warm to allow the beauty and colors of the outer landscape to shine.
Bringing the outside in is also the theme in the master bath, which draws in views of the water and dunegrass, and couples them with fresh white and warm gray finishes, along with polished chrome fixtures and rich, dark cabinetry.Outfitted with an impressive stand alone soaking tub and separate shower, the room is pure and natural, perfect for serene moments away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Hedke Painting of Grand Rapids did a masterful job on the paint throughout the home under the direction and vision of Tiffany Walters, interior designer from Via Design.
With furnishings supplied by Klingman’s Furniture and Design, long known for its emphasis on quality and function, the home offers a variety of spaces to relax, entertain, and simply be.
The peaceful feel of the home doesn’t end with the interior. Outside, the large deck spans the length of the rear of the house, offering outdoor areas of respite accessible from multiple areas of the home. The deck was outfitted with stained Douglas Fir wood and a cable-rail fence system that was selected for more unhindered views.
Standing seam metal roofing and corrugated metal siding complement the exterior natural aesthetic and provide protection against the ever-changing conditions of Lake Michigan living. Buist Sheet Metal, a specialty architectural sheet metal contractor with a long history of quality workmanship, installed both the metal roofing and siding, providing materials made to withstand the toughest elements while still looking great. The company specializes in copper work, custom standing seam metal roofing, slate and clay tile roofing, and many other architectural metal elements.
Beneath the deck is an expansive outdoor living space, which includes more seating and dining areas, accessible through lower-level doors or the southern stairwell. “We wanted to keep everything very casual and very comfortable,” Tilma said.
Framing the outdoor living spaces and the entire home is expert landscaping, provided by Landscape Design Services, who kept it simple yet stunning with designs that naturally blended in with the organic environment.
Finding true balance with a lakeshore landscape is something Scott Christopher Homes excels at, and the Lowings’ home is another example of their time-honored legacy of spectacular custom homes on the water.
With the help of its trusted contractors and suppliers: Belden Brick & Supply, Brad Douglas Design, Buist Sheet Metal, Coach House Iron, Glass Concepts, Great Lakes Granite Works, Hedke Painting, Klingman’s Furniture and Design, Landscape Design Services, Lameyer Plumbing, Res.Com Electric, R&J Raven Custom Doors and Windows, and Via Design,
the Lowings now have the forever home — and view — of their dreams.
To read the entire Endless View story, visit mibluemag.com. Learn more about the exceptional local companies involved in this year’s Great Lake Story:
Scott Christopher Homes – scottchristopherhomes.com
Brad Douglas Design – braddouglasdesign.com
Belden Brick & Supply – beldenbrickandsupply.com
Landscape Design Services – LandscapeDS.com
Klingman’s Furniture & Design – klingmans.com
RJ Raven Custom Doors and Windows – rjraven.com
Buist Sheet Metal Company – buistsheetmetal.com
Hedke Painting – 616.226.6797
Glass Concepts Inc. – glassconceptsinc.com
Lameyer Plumbing Inc. – lameyerplumbing.com
Via Design – viadesign-inc.com
Coach House Iron, Inc. – 616.785.8967
Res.Com Electric – 616.235.7972
Great Lakes Granite Works – greatlakesgranite.com
Michigan Blue Magazine thanks Bruce and Julie Lowing for sharing their Great Lake Story with us and our readers. Please enjoy every chapter at mibluemag.com, including this 16-page full reveal. Photography for the Great Lake Story was provided by Mike Buck. Learn more about his work at mbuckstudio.com.
