Best Overall Home
Birchwood Design Associates
Photography by: Jeff Garland
Traditional Lakefront Home
A huge congratulations goes to Tiffany Birch and her company, Birch Design Associates of Ann Arbor, which took top honors in this issue’s first-ever Readers’ Choice Award, part of the inaugural Michigan BLUE Design Awards. The Devils Lake gem, located in Lenawee County, was one of dozens of homes that were featured online at mibluemag.com for several weeks during the competition, in which readers could vote for their favorite home.
Birch says she embraced the opportunity to work with the clients, whose family has had cottages in the area since the 1920s; they’ve had a summer lake house there since 1979. The clients waited several years before building their dream home on the idyllic lake — the largest in Lenawee County, with a maximum depth of 63 feet.
Upon entering the home, one can’t help but be impressed by the vastness of its space, while simultaneously feeling embraced by its warmth. This balance was ultimately achieved by designing specific areas for daily activities, while retaining the home’s open concept, designer Birch says. Nearly every surface of the interior is made of wood, which was chosen to provide a sense of quality and as a nod to its nautical roots. Shiplap, bead board, and hand-hewn beams offer a variety of textures. A dramatic three-story stairs tower is a showpiece that also offers an abundance of natural light.
The heart of the residence is the kitchen, which is wrapped in white millwork. A large quartz island stands front and center, overlooking the full expanse of the great room and dining room. Brass lighting fixtures are scattered throughout, and contrast nicely against a double-sided stone fireplace thoughtfully placed between the great room and a well-appointed library. “Everything is open, but there are places to sit — quiet spots where you can just be, yet still feel a part of the action,” Birch notes.
The designer says she got to know the clients well when the husband hired her to do interior design work for the Devils Lake Yacht Club, where he’s a very involved member. Birch explains that she understands the cottage vernacular because, as a child, she spent every summer on Devils Lake.
The goal was to create a home where the couple’s three grown daughters would love to gather with their families and enjoy many fun moments. The couple was also after a kid- and dog-friendly vibe. To that end, Birch says it was a must to have synthetic deck flooring and a luxury vinyl tile for the interior, both of which can handle water, water, and more water. “Most of the fabrics are indoor-outdoor, so no one has to worry about getting water on, say, the sofas,” she adds.
What’s a dream home without a space to create? The designer says she’s crazy about the first-floor craft room, which also won a Michigan BLUE Design Award for a top specialty room.
Thank you, readers, for casting your vote. And well done, Birch Design Associates!
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