Northern Michigan Shopping: For a dozen years Vee Mossburg has graced Harbor Springs with her cool, eclectic style, designing both independently and for The Cottage Company—the development company she owns with her husband, Rob. When pressed, Vee says the best way to describe her look is coastal—objects and palettes that work with saltwater coasts as well as our freshwater one. She’s also interested in custom-made objects—thus her choices for this spread. No doubt, she has an eye for sophisticated but relaxed classics that aren’t afraid to kick up their heels —matter of fact, that’s just how Vee’s clients might describe her. cottage-company.com
1. Meet Chauncey, a 22-inch bronze sculpture by artist Jim Budish. “It makes me happy,” Vee says of the piece. $1,375. Knox Gallery, Harbor Springs, knoxgalleries.com.
2. Vee had Scandinavian style in mind when she designed this custom bench made from 250-year-old pine planks from Alabama. Woodworker Peter Cummings of CeeFlow in Harbor Springs turned her idea into this handsome reality that is tailored to fit beneath a circular staircase. $14,500. The Cottage Company, Harbor Springs, cottage-company.com.
3. Hand-blown glass trillium plates by Harry Boyer of Boyer Glassworks in Harbor Springs. “I work with Harry often. He’s usually game to try anything—I give him my vision and he figures out a way to turn it into a piece of glasswork,” Vee says. Plates range from $375 to $475. boyerglassworks.etsy.com.
4. Harbor Springs artist Mary Hramiec Hoffman painted the 30-x-40-inch canvas of a Cottage Company project—a home the Mossburgs originally designed for themselves. The Mossburgs have made a tradition of hiring local artists to paint their completed projects. $4,950. Hramiec Hoffman Gallery, Harbor Springs, hramiechoffman.com.
5.Vee prospected this fabulous wicker trunk at Joie de Vie Antiques—the Harbor Springs antiques store that specializes in French antiques and sports the motto: From Our Chateaux to Yours. $1,800. 231.347.1400, joiedevieantiques.com. Vee dreamed up these perfect-for-the-coastal-cottage pillows, and Sarah’s Custom Sewing of Harbor Springs brought them to life. Fabrics from Schumaker Ikat and Manuel Canovas. $250 each.
6. Vee’s friend Dilly Kirby, of Elizabeth Blair Fine Pearls (elizabethblair.com) in Harbor Springs, pearled-her up for our photo shoot. Almost $70,000 of the world’s most beautiful pearls went (carefully) back to the shop afterward. Here’s what Vee is wearing:
Rare baroque Tahitian pearl necklace finished with 18kt white rope clasp. $35,000; Tahitian cultured drop shape and Keshi pearl rope. $5,500; Tahitian cultured round pearl and 18kt white gold chain. $18,500; Pair Tahitian silver blue pearl studs. $3,150; Micro pavé brown 10.36ct diamond bangle. $3,800; Micro pavé black 14.92ct diamond bangle. $3,950.