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  • A spacious terraced deck links indoor and outdoor living spaces highlighting awesome views of the lake.
  • The kid
  • The cottage family room opens to a protected outdoor porch with deck access.
  • Oversized seating around a fireplace adjacent to the kitchen and dining table combine the restful ambience of a crackling fire indoors and the sound of breaking lake waves.
  • Bar seating in the kitchen opens to dining, living and family spaces that allow for great entertainment space and large gatherings of family and friends.
  • The children
  • Fine custom details are incorporated throughout the design of this shingle style lakeshore cottage.
  • High performance appliances in the kitchen design enhance small intimate eating experiences and also support greater serving needs for large family gatherings.

  • Project name

    Holland Cottage on Lake Michigan

  • Project Type

    Residential

  • Location

    Holland, MI (map)

  • Completed

    Spring '01

  • Site Area

    1.7 acres

  • General Contractor

    Mike Schaap Builders, Inc.

  • Delivery Method

    pre-selected general contractor
Generous views from this stunning New England shingle style cottage residence overlook a sweeping deck onto magnificent Lake Michigan.

Holland Cottage on Lake Michigan

I just want to send a quick note telling you what a fabulous job you did on the cottage!  There is nothing I could think to change.  It really captures who we are and how we live.”

Joan, homeowner

Being inside and still celebrating a view of the outside

Homeowners, Bastian and Joan wanted to break out of the tired traditional cottage mold of small cramped rooms and small framed views with a more relaxed feeling of openness for large relaxed family gatherings and uninterrupted views to celebrate the greatness of the lake.

In response, AMDG designed a nontraditional open floor plan organically linking social spaces between living room, family room, and kitchen.  Large picture windows exaggerate the open design, blurring the line between indoor and outdoor space and capturing stunning views of Lake Michigan.

Being together and still keeping a comfortable distance

Bastian and Joan envisioned a master suite on the main level that would give them easy access to living areas and to the beach and yet still be a protected private space for them to connect and relax together.  They also wanted to provide a haven on the upper level to offer guests their own cozy retreat.

As a buffer from the main living areas, AMDG designed study and storage space as a subtle transition into more intimate away space with a dedicated private deck.  Here, Joan and Bastian enjoy a hot cup of morning coffee while taking in the beauty and sound of the lake.  Upstairs, AMDG devoted space for guest bedrooms, including a private bunk room just for kids, where friends and family can go to rest and refresh after a day on the lake.

Being outside on the beach and still living inside without sand

Bastian and Joan wanted to live in a clean and comfortable home with direct access to the beach while keeping the sand and seagrass outside.  They wanted to provide a way for grandkids to de-sand and de-water between the beach and the cottage. 

To reduce time spent cleaning up small sandy footprints, AMDG created a series of stations that cleverly transition between indoor and outdoor space.  From lawn to deck, to outdoor storage, and a foot wash outside, then tiled floors, a wash room, changing room, laundry, and storage for towels and sunscreen inside, both kids and adults can fully enjoy a love of the lake.

Solutions to Challenges

  • Maximizing the amount of lakefront views despite tight site constraints due to lot width and adjacent property boundaries.
  • Siting of cottage between a secondary dune and a critical risk erosion area and demolishing an existing home by working with the DEQ to apply special exceptions.

photography provided by James Yochum

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