Houzz Tours
USA Houzz Tour: A Well-Framed Timber Retreat on a Sloping Site
Architects help a USA-based couple escape from their urban loft to a remote getaway in the Michigan woods
After years of living an urban lifestyle in a Chicago loft, this USA-based couple decided they wanted to build a weekend retreat rooted in nature. The pair bought a six-acre, tree-filled property adjacent to an 800-acre park in south-west Michigan, USA, about a two-hour drive from their loft. After numerous trips spent camping on the site to experience the seasons, the two decided they wanted a contemporary home, but one that treads lightly on the steeply sloping land.
To create their leafy getaway, they turned to Chicago architects Pamela Lamaster-Millett and Gregory Howe, who created a multi-level timber-and-glass dwelling that’s comfortable and compact enough for two, yet can accommodate frequent visits from family and friends.
To create their leafy getaway, they turned to Chicago architects Pamela Lamaster-Millett and Gregory Howe, who created a multi-level timber-and-glass dwelling that’s comfortable and compact enough for two, yet can accommodate frequent visits from family and friends.
The entry facade belies the home’s three levels, while an overhang creates a welcoming patio space. The underside of the overhang is in knotty cedar, which runs through the home all the way to the rear, as do the two glulam beams.
Vertical cladding in shou sugi ban, or charred cedar, adds interest to the front elevation and helps shroud the roof’s mechanical elements. “We used a true black cement siding for the exterior of the house,” says Lamaster-Millett. “It helps the house recede like a shadow into the trees.”
A freestanding garage is positioned away from the house (out of view in this photo), making the walk to the front door part of the transition from city living to woodland retreat.
Vertical cladding in shou sugi ban, or charred cedar, adds interest to the front elevation and helps shroud the roof’s mechanical elements. “We used a true black cement siding for the exterior of the house,” says Lamaster-Millett. “It helps the house recede like a shadow into the trees.”
A freestanding garage is positioned away from the house (out of view in this photo), making the walk to the front door part of the transition from city living to woodland retreat.
Looking toward the glass front door, the main levels cascade down the sloped land. “The different levels reflect the topography,” says Howe, “and help define the kitchen, dining and living room functions.”
The look of the interior is at once contemporary and rustic, says Lamaster-Millett. “Though the house is modern, it’s not a [plasterboard] box,” she says. “It has a cottage feeling.”
The owners chose the furnishings and art, reiterating the modern cottage theme with pieces including the live-edge walnut dining table, paired with classic Eames moulded plastic chairs.
Renovating? Find the right architect for your style and needs near you
The look of the interior is at once contemporary and rustic, says Lamaster-Millett. “Though the house is modern, it’s not a [plasterboard] box,” she says. “It has a cottage feeling.”
The owners chose the furnishings and art, reiterating the modern cottage theme with pieces including the live-edge walnut dining table, paired with classic Eames moulded plastic chairs.
Renovating? Find the right architect for your style and needs near you
Surrounded by walls of glass, the living room offers views of the surrounding oak, hickory, maple and beech trees.
Natural materials such as the knotty-cedar ceiling, shou sugi ban wall cladding, slate flooring and black steel fireplace surround provide a backdrop for pieces like the mid-century-inspired sofas, a sculptural wing chair and moss-green tufted ottoman.
Subtle black metal tube lights, suspended from the ceiling, provide uplighting via an LED strip.
Natural materials such as the knotty-cedar ceiling, shou sugi ban wall cladding, slate flooring and black steel fireplace surround provide a backdrop for pieces like the mid-century-inspired sofas, a sculptural wing chair and moss-green tufted ottoman.
Subtle black metal tube lights, suspended from the ceiling, provide uplighting via an LED strip.
The wood-burning fireplace adds a warming glow in the living room during colder months, with stylish storage for logs below. The home also features a geothermal system for heating and cooling, as well as underfloor heating.
Though compact, the galley-style kitchen is well-equipped for the homeowners, who enjoy cooking and entertaining. Deep green cabinetry reflects the hues of the surrounding trees. Pale Vermont marble in the benchtops, splashback and range-hood cladding adds contrast.
The staircase, set against a large window that brings light into the stairwell, leads up to the master suite. The slatted wall feature in the stairwell provides some privacy from nearby bushwalking trails.
The staircase, set against a large window that brings light into the stairwell, leads up to the master suite. The slatted wall feature in the stairwell provides some privacy from nearby bushwalking trails.
Off the entry, a short hallway leads to a guest bathroom, which also services the main level. The architects designed a vanity mirror that folds onto the wall to the right when not in use, allowing views out the window.
The doors on the left hide the laundry, while the opening on the right leads to the main-level guest bedroom.
The doors on the left hide the laundry, while the opening on the right leads to the main-level guest bedroom.
The upper-level main suite provides the owners with privacy when hosting weekend guests. Corner windows create a treehouse effect, while a door at the other end of the bedroom leads to a deck.
The classic Eero Saarinen Womb chair is upholstered in a golden peach-coloured fabric, adding a peaceful corner in the space.
The classic Eero Saarinen Womb chair is upholstered in a golden peach-coloured fabric, adding a peaceful corner in the space.
The hallway into the main bedroom has a built-in wardrobe and small desk with bookshelves.
A floating cedar vanity and a sleek bathtub for soaking in the views anchor the main bathroom, which overlooks the upper deck. The vanity mirror is double-sided; the other side faces the walk-in shower.
In the shower, a skylight reveals the textures and shadows of the glazed clay tiles. “It’s like stepping into a limestone cavern,” says Howe.
Browse more beautifully designed bathrooms
Browse more beautifully designed bathrooms
The lower level, which opens to the backyard, includes a family room for watching TV, warmed by a gas fireplace. The cedar-clad walls and ceiling create a cabin-like ambience.
An inviting leather sofa, leather sling chair and modern Danish armchair form a comfortable conversation area.
An inviting leather sofa, leather sling chair and modern Danish armchair form a comfortable conversation area.
In a hallway between the staircase and family room, the architects designed niches for four stylish bunk beds, tricked out with contemporary ladders and drapery for privacy.
Along with a queen-sized murphy bed in a corner of the family room, the home can accommodate 10 people. The three levels give the homeowners and their guests privacy.
Along with a queen-sized murphy bed in a corner of the family room, the home can accommodate 10 people. The three levels give the homeowners and their guests privacy.
A screened-in porch serves as a transition between the indoors and the main-level deck.
One of the homeowners is a master gardener who has planted more than 1,000 native shrubs and trees on the long and narrow property, augmenting the existing site.
A small lawn offers a bit of breathing room on the site and space for outdoor games like croquet and badminton. The owners also enjoy canoeing, hiking and cross-country skiing at the nearby park and lakes. The steps lead down to a fire pit and a creek at the bottom of the hill.
A small lawn offers a bit of breathing room on the site and space for outdoor games like croquet and badminton. The owners also enjoy canoeing, hiking and cross-country skiing at the nearby park and lakes. The steps lead down to a fire pit and a creek at the bottom of the hill.
The screened-in porch and deck are accessible from the main level. The owners added a small plunge pool to the right of the deck, set partially above ground and surrounded by a low stone wall.
A side view of the house shows the living room’s windows and the home’s setting in the trees.
Your turn
Which feature of this home do you love most? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the renovation conversation.
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Your turn
Which feature of this home do you love most? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Missed our last Houzz Tour? Take a virtual trip to Paris with this France Houzz Tour: A Gorgeous Parquet Floor Reinstated
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Michigan, USA
Size: 214 square metres with two bedrooms and three bathrooms
Architects: Pamela Lamaster-Millett and Gregory Howe of Searl Lamaster Howe Architects
Builder: Estkowski Construction
The back of the house steps down the property slope. Poured-in-place foundation walls partially envelop the lower-level family room, while ‘glulam’ (glued laminated) beams support deep overhangs that shade the glass walls of the main-level living, dining and kitchen areas. The main bedroom suite is on the upper level at the rear.
The home’s positioning, remote locale and dense treescape made window coverings unnecessary. “The relationship with the site’s trees was important to the owners and helped shape the home’s design,” says Howe. “We only had to clear a few to facilitate construction.”