project overview
Along the quiet shoreline of Lake Michigan, a family imagined more than just a house—they envisioned a home where connection could thrive across generations while still offering spaces for personal retreat. Partnering with AMDG, they set out to create a place where family and friends could gather, connect, and find renewal. With the removal of an aging structure, a new vision took shape: a home designed to celebrate family, honor the landscape, and anticipate the rhythms of life across three generations. Every detail—from the custom entry gate to the sweeping beach stair—was thoughtfully composed to craft a place of welcome, memory, and enduring beauty.
Each suite within the home was given its own distinct character, affirming the individuality of each family branch. The great room, with its two-story ceilings and hidden acoustic cloth, balances grandeur with warmth, ensuring that family gatherings feel intimate rather than overwhelming. A cozy bunkroom for the grandchildren, a lookout room perched above the lake, and outdoor spaces like covered porches and patios, create countless opportunities for connection and solitude alike. Traditional elements—a masonry fireplace, turrets, and planter boxes—anchor the home in a timeless lakeshore aesthetic.
AMDG collaborated closely with Mike Schaap Builders and SDI Engineering to meet the unique challenges of the site. From designing a sprawling beach stair anchored by helical piles, to stretching sightlines across the primary gathering spaces, the team celebrated the land’s natural beauty. Exceptional craftsmanship shines through; from finely executed details first expressed in the hand-sketched elevations presented during early design meetings to the Dutch skyhook that captured the client’s imagination and now crowns the accessory structure.
Through careful listening, collaborative spirit, and craftsmanship rooted in care, the team captured the homeowner’s every desire. Today, this lakeshore home offers a place where generations can gather, find rest, and create new memories—always anchored by the enduring beauty of the land and water around them.
