Nantucket Style Beach House

This quintessential beach house designed by Benchmark Design Studio in collaboration with Mike Schaap Builders is located in Grand Haven, Michigan. The home blends lakefront architecture with refined design elements to create an overall relaxing space with stylish details. This home follows the trend of all-season lakeshore living, seeking out materials and landscaping that offers low-maintenance and superior wear, spending less time on upkeep and more time enjoying the sand.

Material selections for this beach house include: cedar shingles, a resawn cedar shake roof with copper flashing, wood clad exterior windows, natural stone cladding and Western red cedar trim — all selected for durability and longevity. The front facade portrays a fresh coastal attitude, offering major curb appeal. With its many unique details, once such detail includes the custom hickory-stained front door by Benchmark Wood Studio.

This welcoming beach house boasts captivating lakeshore views through its walls of windows. Soaring 13-foot high ceilings helps to keep the main living spaces feeling light and airy. Even in the kitchen the view takes center stage, where the project team eliminated upper cabinets, which would have obstructed the view. Other notable details in this exquisite home includes the white-washed pine ceilings and beautiful stained hickory floors.

There are two islands in the kitchen, one topped with hickory, while the other is a functional and elegant gris quartzite. The perimeter countertops are also quartzite, while the backsplashes are penny-round tiles from Anne Sacks. Flush TRUFIG outlets have been integrated into the backsplashes seamlessly. A faux finish artist had them painted to match! Lutron shades have been built into the transoms and door bulkhead facing the lake to block the intense sunlight.

This bright and airy beach house kitchen boasts unobstructed views of Lake Michigan, yet still incorporates functional workspace and ample storage. Adjacent to the kitchen is a butler’s pantry, offering a wine fridge, plenty of cabinetry. Opposite is another pantry with open shelving. Plenty of storage!

A dual-sided, full masonry fireplace anchors the great room and serves much needed warmth to a three-season porch.

The custom built bookcase is backed by reclaimed wood, featuring a rolling library ladder and retractable doors to conceal a television.

The master suite includes an office, private outdoor deck, bedroom and a bathroom with another deck. A striking cathedral ceiling boasts reclaimed wood beams along with a porthole window detail. The custom chandelier is by North Carolina-based artist, Louise Gaskill.

A lakeside deck features IPE decking, a smart selection that will stand up to harsh lakeshore elements and has a natural resistance to decay. A copper roof overhang shields loungers from the elements.

The master bathroom countertops features luxurious Calacatta marble.

The master bathroom offers a spa-like oasis with a 6-foot Kohler spa tub that includes a privacy wall of iridescent, shell stone oval tiles by Terra Bella Marble.

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