Close up of the cedar pergola over the garage doors.

Morgan Howarth Photography. Surrounds, Inc.

John Cole Photography

Hillersdon Avenue is a magnificent article 2 protected house built in 1899. Our brief was to extend and remodel the house to better suit a modern family and their needs, without destroying the architectural heritage of the property. From the outset our approach was to extend the space within the existing volume rather than extend the property outside its intended boundaries. It was our central aim to make our interventions appear as if they had always been part of the house.

Allison Cartwright

These doors are a prominent architectural feature of the home. Their custom window design as well as their arched header make for beautiful "garden style" doors.

Dominic AZ Bonuccelli

Rob Karosis

92 square foot SIP panel, modular, backyard office. Shou-Sugi-Ban wood siding and Monotread wall sheathing. Burned-wood or charred-wood siding, Shou-Sugi-Ban is Japanese wood treatment used in various elements throughout Sett – interior and exterior. Not only does it deliver an attractive aesthetic, the burning also weatherizes the wood, prevents bugs and rot, and has enhanced fire-resistance. Photography by Blake Gordon and Lisa Hause

Alitex provided a construction company with a National Trust Scotney Greenhouse, situated beside their wooden slatted garage, with nearby access to the firm’s stunning formal garden. Our client chose the colour Wood Sage, which blends in perfectly with the garage and surroundings.

6 m x 5m garden studio with Western Red Cedar cladding installed. Decorative Venetian plaster feature wall inside which creates a special ambience for this garden bar build. Cantilever wraparound canopy with side walls to bridge decking which has been installed with composite planks. Image courtesy of Immer.photo

We love it when a home becomes a family compound with wonderful history. That is exactly what this home on Mullet Lake is. The original cottage was built by our client’s father and enjoyed by the family for years. It finally came to the point that there was simply not enough room and it lacked some of the efficiencies and luxuries enjoyed in permanent residences. The cottage is utilized by several families and space was needed to allow for summer and holiday enjoyment. The focus was on creating additional space on the second level, increasing views of the lake, moving interior spaces and the need to increase the ceiling heights on the main level. All these changes led for the need to start over or at least keep what we could and add to it. The home had an excellent foundation, in more ways than one, so we started from there. It was important to our client to create a northern Michigan cottage using low maintenance exterior finishes. The interior look and feel moved to more timber beam with pine paneling to keep the warmth and appeal of our area. The home features 2 master suites, one on the main level and one on the 2nd level with a balcony. There are 4 additional bedrooms with one also serving as an office. The bunkroom provides plenty of sleeping space for the grandchildren. The great room has vaulted ceilings, plenty of seating and a stone fireplace with vast windows toward the lake. The kitchen and dining are open to each other and enjoy the view. The beach entry provides access to storage, the 3/4 bath, and laundry. The sunroom off the dining area is a great extension of the home with 180 degrees of view. This allows a wonderful morning escape to enjoy your coffee. The covered timber entry porch provides a direct view of the lake upon entering the home. The garage also features a timber bracketed shed roof system which adds wonderful detail to garage doors. The home’s footprint was extended in a few areas to allow for the interior spaces to work with the needs of the family. Plenty of living spaces for all to enjoy as well as bedrooms to rest their heads after a busy day on the lake. This will be enjoyed by generations to come.