Michigan Blue Magazine Fall Issue

If you get a chance please check-out the new fall issue of Michigan Blue magazine there is a great article written by Lisa Jensen the editor of the magazine about "River Living". One of our first green homes we designed back in 2003 was featured in this article. The home was called "Modern Cottage" and was built on the Thornapple River in Ada, Michigan. The home is a site specific home that was designed for a narrow lot that was really close to their neighbors on each side of them. Every room in the house has a view of the river from the moment you step through the front Door. The home was designed to direct your view to the River not the neighbors. This home was a experiment with green and unique building products and was ahead of its time.


Green Feature
  • Metal Roofing.
  • Concrete counter-tops
  • Stained Concrete Floors
  • Hand made Concrete Tiled fireplace.
  • Recycled Barn Beams
  • Radiant Heat Floors
  • CertainTEED Cement Board Siding
  • Andersen 400 Series Windows
  • Use of the "Not So Big House" principles.

Unique Feature

  • Precast Plank for a Garage below the Garage.
  • Alder w/matte charcoal finish kitchen cabinets.
  • Honed granite counter top with glass tile backsplash.
  • Brazilian cherry flooring.
  • Catwalk connects masters suite w/childrens rooms.
  • Open stairs.
  • Connecting loft "secret room" in clildrens rooms w/rock climbing holds to access loft.
  • Bunk room designed for weekend visits and sleepovers.
  • Bedrooms all have decks and patios.
  • Mylar sink.
  • Built in sand box.

I would like to thank Lisa Jensen and Michigan Blue magazine for featuring one of our projects in one of its articles. Their magazine is one of my favorite magazine here in Michigan because of how it features unique homes and activites along our Lakes and Waterways.