Congratulations!

The competition for Michigan BLUE magazine’s first-ever design awards was electrifying, to say the least. Being our first year conducting the competition, we didn’t expect to get an avalanche of entries — but we did! Congrats to the top three winners in 30 categories that range from bathrooms and kitchens to pools and boat houses, all in the name of waterfront living. I think you’ll love how these pages inspire with beauty and interest, thanks not only to the great home designs, but also to our top-notch art director, production crew, copy editor, and contributing photographers.

As you’ll see on the following pages, I called on notable design professionals for our mix of judges. Using their years of experience, the extremely talented panel was able to discern which projects deserved a top award. I know it wasn’t easy, as I helped prepare the entries for the jury.

Look for this competition to grow in the future and include a special awards ceremony at a noteworthy location somewhere in Michigan. And it’s never too early to start thinking of next year’s competition. Visit mibluedesignawards.com this summer to review the entry packet. It’s likely that we’ll add some new categories, too, including lodging.

Speaking of lodging and travel, I’ve found that many people find the commute Up North dull and slow-going. I feel lucky that I can’t wait for the journey, and here’s why. First, my husband and I set sail in a large Chevy truck, so there’s a great deal of room to accommodate my computer and lap desk. Next, as the editor of Michigan BLUE, I get to check out all kinds of stops along the way. You never know what might inspire a story idea for this magazine!

Perhaps one of our writers has shared information on a site that warrants further exploration. I’m on it! The Chippewa Nature Center in Midland comes to mind, and a story in this issue reminds me that I need to pack my snowshoes for a wintry romp around its 19 miles of trails along the Pine and Chippewa rivers.

Other breaks we take advantage of on our treks north provide my husband and me with excellent opportunities to forest-bathe, which helps us peel off the stressful conditions of urban, modern living. If you make forest bathing an intentional pursuit (we’ll often pack a picnic and stroll along a river or Great Lake as part of our journey), as suggested in a story in this issue, and avoid screen time when you’re able to, dozens of benefits are there for the taking.

We did a little of that recently on our way to Harbor Springs. Rather than sticking to a direct route to the new Otis (see the story on this remarkable transformation in this issue), we took a jaunt over to Clear Lake and the Kirtlands Warbler Management Area in Montmorency Township. Cruising down a sandy two-track, we knew we wouldn’t see the warbler (long gone at this time of year, and now in the Bahamas), but we could check out its special habitat of young jack pine forests so we’ll know where to go next spring when we research the area for a bird population update in this magazine.

The explorations we make as we head to our cottage quickly fill up the pages where I keep track of future story ideas and new design-awards categories. But for now, I’m closing my laptop and getting ready to forest-bathe in Michigan’s inspiring and soul-soothing beauty.