project overview
Offering more than just spectacular lake views, this custom designed lake house tucked within the wooded dunes of Holland, MI, provides family legacy. The home reflects a singular vision: to bring multiple generations together under one thoughtfully designed roof.
Long before design drawings were started, AMDG Principal, Peter Baldwin met the homeowners in Chicago to listen, learn, and interpret what “summer home” meant to them. The answer wasn’t just space – it was togetherness. A place where children and grandchildren could gather, decompress, and still find room to breathe.
Regulatory challenges required the home to be designed for relocation in case the lake were to encroach on the property, constraining its footprint and driving every inch to be optimized. AMDG responded to this challenge with a bookend layout that balances functionality with privacy. One end houses a fireplace and built-ins: the other, a serene first-floor primary suite with private deck access. Upstairs, adult children retreat to a porch-adjacent lounge just steps from the children’s bunkroom.
Weathered finishes—off-white cabinetry, rustic tile, and rough-edged countertops—imbue the cottage with timeless character. Patio doors draw in lake breezes. For those coming in from the lake each day, AMDG designed a “car wash” entry—complete with easy-to-clean stone tile, indoor/outdoor showers, and laundry—that keeps sand out and family flow in.
Custom-designed around togetherness, this cottage carries a mission: to be the setting for stories yet to unfold. A space that welcomes, shelters, and draws a family close – season after season.
