This year we’ve got 12 amazing homes—yes, 12!—on our Traverse City Area Home Tour. Here’s a sneak peek inside Home #12 in Empire. See more on Saturday, October 19.

The homeowners, longtime residents of Chicago, had visited friends on Glen Lake for years—often stopping by on their return trip from sailing in the Chicago to Mackinac Yacht Race. When a lot went up for sale a couple of doors down from their friends’ home, they knew it was time to own their own piece of beautiful Glen Lake. Working with the skilled team at Mapleridge Construction, they built this handsome home that rests perfectly into its site.

The classic floor plan consists of a great room flanked by wings on each side that embrace a terrace and the lake view—simple and simply perfect for lakeside living. The couple channeled a hint of New England by cladding the exterior in stacked natural stone and shake, and then paving the generous front porch and equally generous terrace in bluestone—a rustic, elegant look that lives comfortably anywhere in the Northwoods.

The great room’s stacked stone fireplace, and floor made of six-inch hickory planks, speak Up North with a genteel accent.

The skilled carpenters at Mapleridge constructed the custom built-ins based on drawings from the homeowner, as well as two half barn-style doors above the mantel that close to cover the 75-inch television. The wealth of molding and details such as cherry beams, window casings and cherry stair system are further testaments to the quality of Mapleridge’s workmanship.

Sneak Peek! Home #4 on the Traverse City Area Home Tour is a Modern Farmhouse

Angela Goodall of Kitchen Choreography stepped in to assist in the design of this incredible kitchen that begs for making big, beautiful meals for friends and family. The kitchen revolves around a generous 6-by-10-foot island topped in marble-style quartz with a cherry base. Besides seating six, the island houses an apron sink, two dishwasher drawers and refrigerated beverage doors. Kitchen Choreography designed and fabricated the custom oil-rubbed bronze hood that complements the oil-rubbed bronze lighting fixtures.

In an uber-efficient design, the kitchen flows into a prep space (outfitted with a vegetable sink, dishwasher, prep sink, convection/steam oven and microwave drawer). That space, in turn, flows into the laundry room and a closed-in vestibule between the separated but connected guest quarters.

On the opposite side of the kitchen, a cozy banquette in the corner offers more space for gathering. An adjacent glassed-in porch with a fireplace continues the relaxing spaces. The master suite located across the terrace from this four-season porch is a true standout with a shiplap ceiling painted peppercorn gray and butter cream shiplap walls. Extra long windows bring in the leafy lake setting. The master bath is understatedly elegant with a bank of custom pewter-colored cabinets surrounding the vanity, touches of marble and a free-standing soaking tub.

This is a remarkable house from start to finish—right down to the dogs’ suite. When it’s downtime, Bella and Bailey retire to their suite under the stairs in the closed-in vestibule. Gated off with the same wrought iron spindles used in the staircase, it was customized just for them by Mapleridge.

Get your Traverse Area Home Tour tickets on MyNorthTickets.com.​