• Waterfront Living
    • Art Stop
    • Homes
    • Design Stars
    • Designer Notebook
    • Studio Visit
    • The Elements
    • Entertaining at Home
  • Adventures
    • Sky, Sand & Surf
    • Field Notes
    • Get Outdoors
    • Waterways
      • Headwaters
    • The Pike
  • Travel
    • HOUGHTON & HANCOCK: Off the Beaten Path
    • MICHIGAN: Storybook Stays
    • SAGINAW: Saginaw Surprises
    • GRAND HAVEN: A West Coast Favorite
    • Thumbs Up
    • Discoveries
      • NORTHERN TIP: For Fun, Rent a Pontoon
      • MICHIGAN LIGHTHOUSES: Mesmerizing Sights
      • UPPER PENINSULA: Upper Peninsula Escapes
      • GREAT LAKES: Cool Cruises
  • Dining Out
    • Dining Out
    • Tasting Room
  • Events
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Purchase Single Issues
    • Digital Edition
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Submit a Project
    • Sponsored Great Lake Stories
    • Issue Archive
    • Newsstand Outlets
    • Staff
  • BLUE Awards
    • Best of BLUE Awards
    • Michigan BLUE Design Awards
Sign in
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Create an account
Privacy Policy
Sign up
Welcome!Register for an account
A password will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy Policy
Password recovery
Recover your password
Search
  • Subscribe
  • Archive
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Create an account
Privacy Policy
Create an account
Welcome! Register for an account
A password will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy Policy
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
Michigan Blue Magazine
  • Waterfront Living
    • Art Stop
    • Homes
    • Design Stars
    • Designer Notebook
    • Studio Visit
    • The Elements
    • Entertaining at Home
  • Adventures
    • Sky, Sand & Surf
    • Field Notes
    • Get Outdoors
    • Waterways
      • Headwaters
    • The Pike
  • Travel
    • HOUGHTON & HANCOCK: Off the Beaten Path
    • MICHIGAN: Storybook Stays
    • SAGINAW: Saginaw Surprises
    • GRAND HAVEN: A West Coast Favorite
    • Thumbs Up
    • Discoveries
      • NORTHERN TIP: For Fun, Rent a Pontoon
      • MICHIGAN LIGHTHOUSES: Mesmerizing Sights
      • UPPER PENINSULA: Upper Peninsula Escapes
      • GREAT LAKES: Cool Cruises
  • Dining Out
    • Dining Out
    • Tasting Room
  • Events
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Purchase Single Issues
    • Digital Edition
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Submit a Project
    • Sponsored Great Lake Stories
    • Issue Archive
    • Newsstand Outlets
    • Staff
  • BLUE Awards
    • Best of BLUE Awards
    • Michigan BLUE Design Awards
Home Great Lake Story Journals Great Lake Story 2022: Crooked Lake Prairie – 42° North: Chapter One
Promotion

Great Lake Story 2022: Crooked Lake Prairie – 42° North: Chapter One

By
Michigan Blue Staff
-
April 5, 2022
605
Facebook
Twitter

    Annette and Jeff Brennan were thousands of miles from their home in Kalamazoo, Michigan when the first hints of this Great Lake Story unfolded. Celebrating 25 years of marriage, they dined, and whale watched at a picturesque, cliffside restaurant overlooking Oregon’s Depoe Bay and envisioned where their next 25-plus years would take them. When Jeff asked Annette, “When we’re done working and raising children, and if you could have whatever you want, what would that be,” she already knew the answer. She wanted a place; a large lake house for their children and grandchildren to visit and come home to. And, while that could have been anywhere, they ultimately decided they wanted to stay in Southwest Michigan.

    Annette had grown up with a family cottage on a lake, and the Brennan’s kids had enjoyed summering there and soaking up lakefront life, too. The Kalamazoo area is known for its beautiful bodies of water, and while that choice of location provided options, finding a property with sufficient land proved to be a bit more challenging. That was until they discovered a sweeping, 32-acre plot on Crooked Lake. While the property was much larger than they needed, it had plenty of appeal—and plenty of potential, too. Located in the quaint, small-but-growing Texas Township, Crooked Lake has the advantages of feeling away from it all while also being quite close to Kalamazoo and the people and places the Brennans love.

    “This is a really nice, private lake, and the piece of land where we’re building is very special,” Jeff said. “It’s on a little peninsula, with breathtaking views in both directions and lush, wooded surroundings.” The Brennans could imagine their someday family home coming to life in this idyllic place. But they would encounter setbacks and misfortunes that, at times, made them skeptical if their dream would be realized. There were obstacles to even purchasing the property, and the Brennans nearly gave up. That was when Jim Roberts, a local builder and developer with his own home on Crooked Lake, entered the picture.

    The Brennans could imagine their someday family home coming to life in this idyllic place. But they would encounter setbacks and misfortunes that, at times, made them skeptical if their dream would be realized. There were obstacles to even purchasing the property, and the Brennans nearly gave up. That was when Jim Roberts, a local builder and developer with his own home on Crooked Lake, entered the picture.

    Roberts spent most of his life on Crooked Lake and was President of the Lake Association as well. He knew the property the Brennans were interested in; it was right across the lake from his own and he had been gazing upon it for the last 50 or more years. He knew someone would eventually develop it, and he wanted to have a hand in doing it the right way. The Brennans planned to keep some of the plots for themselves and make the others available to other buyers. Roberts agreed to take on the development of the entire property, as well as many of the more complex aspects connected to the project, allowing the Brennans to move forward. “He worked with the road commission to get the road to the property built and also handled all the permits,” Jeff said. “His involvement made it all possible. We wouldn’t be here without Jim.”

    The next bit of serendipity came when the Brennans interior designer, Christine DiMaria, introduced them to Ryan La Haie, Principal at 42° North – Architecture + Design. She trusted he had the skills to fulfill the goal, having worked with him on dozens of homes prior. At the time, Ryan was recovering from a tragic automobile accident, but still conducting business—sometimes even from his hospital bed. The Brennans were impressed with his portfolio—and his determination—and ultimately contracted him for the home’s design, as well as giving him exclusivity to design the remainder of the lots.

    She trusted he had the skills to fulfill the goal, having worked with him on dozens of homes prior. At the time, Ryan was recovering from a tragic automobile accident, but still conducting business—sometimes even from his hospital bed. The Brennans were impressed with his portfolio—and his determination—and ultimately contracted him for the home’s design, as well as giving him exclusivity to design the remainder of the lots.

    “Ryan is a really gifted architect, but, more, he took the time to learn about us and how we live,” Annette said. “He really listened and has done an incredible job creating what I think will be our greatest opportunity to make great memories together.”

    This year’s Great Lake Story is one of resilience—a telling of heartbreak and triumph, and the formation of lifelong bonds. It follows the vision of two people with a desire to build and feather a nest for family to flock to and chronicles the partnerships that made it all happen.

    We invite you to follow the story of Jeff and Annette Brennan and the team of 42° North – Architecture + Design, Jim Roberts Construction, Cnossen Construction, Christine DiMaria Design, and the many other contributors who have helped create this magnificent lakefront home. Look for each chapter on mibluemag.com.

    Facebook
    Twitter
      Previous articleTime to Play
      Next articleLighthouses, miles of sugar sands beckon visitors to Ludington
      Michigan Blue Staff

      RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

      Promotion

      Great Lake Story 2022: Crooked Lake Prairie – 42° North: Final Chapter

      Promotion

      Great Lake Story 2022: Crooked Lake Prairie – 42° North: Chapter Three

      Promotion

      Great Lake Story 2022: Crooked Lake Prairie – 42° North: Chapter Two

       

      View Issue Archive

      FOLLOW US

      4,566FansLike
      540FollowersFollow
      1,083FollowersFollow
         

      DIGITAL PARTNERS

       
       
       
       
       

      Events Calendar

      « June 2025 » loading...
      MTWTFSS
      26
      27
      28
      29
      30
      31
      1
      2
      3
      4
      5
      6
      7
      8
      9
      10
      11
      12
      13
      14
      15
      16
      17
      18
      19
      20
      21
      22
      23
      24
      25
      26
      27
      28
      29
      30
      1
      2
      3
      4
      5
      6
      SUBMIT AN EVENT

      TRENDING

      Photo Essay: Shannon Kivi

      Megan Swoyer - June 20, 2025

      Beyond Main Street

      Ron Garbinski - June 20, 2025

      A Boatel B&B in Manistee

      Ellen Creager - June 20, 2025
      ABOUT US
      Michigan's Waterfront Lifestyle Magazine
      FOLLOW US
      • Subscribe
      • Archive
      • Advertise
      • Contact
      • Events
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      © 2025 - Michigan Blue Magazine
      Near me
      40 miles