Designers & Builders of Well-Appointed Beach Houses & Cottages

Summer Afternoon

September 14, 2009

Weekends like this one past, help me truly appreciate all the lakeshore has to offer. I would say the weather was near perfect (in my book) this past weekend; excellent and delightful in all respects. There are many things I enjoy in life, but it's hard to beat a perfect summer afternoon. Like Henry James wrote, "Summer afternoon - Summer afternoon ... the two most beautiful words in the English language."

Whatever your passion is, whether it's biking, golfing or gardening, I hope you were able to get outdoors and enjoy what draws so many people to this area. No matter what the season, good weather or bad, we hope you can enjoy your Cottage Home and appreciate the land, the incredible views and the changing seasons. Although summer afternoons may be transitioning soon to falling leaves and cool breezes, enjoy every moment the four seasons bring.

Suequehanna

September 9, 2009

If you are anything like me, the everyday stresses of life can sometimes become too much. Every now and then I just need to get away from it all; whether I go golfing, go for a hike with my family, or head up to the cottage, getting away from everyday life can be a much-needed renewal and also a time to reflect.

Suequehanna, one of our developments in Glenn, is a perfect place to just get away. Suequehanna features four lots in a pristine, natural setting that maximizes privacy. Our goal for Suequehanna is to preserve the natural beauty of the area and help you find a sense of peace and relax in the beauty of West Michigan. Suequehanna means "Pure Water", we are trying to keep not only the water, but also the entire environment pure by building all our houses as LEED® certified homes. LEED® is a voluntary program that sets guidelines for building energy efficient homes.

The privacy and seclusion of the area can make for a perfect weekend getaway from the stresses of everyday life! Hope you all enjoyed your long, Labor Day weekend! Let me leave you with one final thought: a Roman poet, Ovid says, "Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop."

Blue Green Success

August 31, 2009

Last weekend we were welcomed with over 200 friends, family and neighbors to our first gala event to raise money for the Michigan Maritime Museum while showcasing two homes on Lake Michigan in South Haven. We were overjoyed with the tremendous turnout, the weather cooperated beautifully and Michael Anne Erlewine & The Younce Guitar Duo entertained us all. I enjoyed meeting new people from the community while spending time with old friends. Not only was it a fun, relaxing evening, we were also able to donate over $20,000 to the Maritime Museum!

The event was also meant to bring awareness of sustainable living and show how far "green" has come with regards to home building and energy efficiency. We showcased both the new Monroe Beach House and its neighboring house, whose kind residents welcomed us all to view their home. Dwelltech Solutions was also there with information on their home energy services. The Monroe Beach house is now sold but will be available for viewing during special open house hours. For more information click here.

Completion of Two Homes

August 18, 2009

This past week has been an exciting time at Cottage Home. We've finished construction on the Monroe Beach House as well as Monroe House #1, both in South Haven. The completion of these two homes has been a time we've looked forward to for the past year. This coming week will be a busy one, as we finish preparing the Monroe Beach House for the Blue Green Gala.

We hope to share our excitement with you this upcoming Sunday at the Blue Green Gala, where we'll be "Keeping it Blue, by Making it Green." The Gala will feature tours of both LEED certified homes, live music, discussions on sustainable design and catering by the South Haven Yacht Club. The forecast for Sunday is sunny and mid-70's so come out and join the Cottage Home crew as we celebrate this exciting time. Tickets for the event are $50 and all proceeds of the event will benefit the Michigan Maritime Museum. You may purchase tickets at the Maritime Museum or online; all online tickets from now until the event are "Will Call," just say your name at the door!

'Helping Hands' Service Trip

August 10, 2009

Earlier this summer I traveled up north with my youngest son, Aaron, and his youth group to Lake City, Michigan. We went up there for four days to lend a hand and try to make a difference in the community. One of the projects that we worked on was putting siding on a shed for an elderly couple. One of them was suffering from cancer and didn't have long to live. They lived in a small trailer that was not what many would consider a house. A friend of theirs had given them some siding to use to finish their shed but because of their age, they were unable to ever do so. We spent a couple days putting on the siding and when we finished they were overwhelmed by emotion. All we did was finish a small shed, but to them, it meant the world that we had taken the time and put in the effort to finish the shed the way they wanted.

The trip was a great time, but there was one downside. While roofing a house, my foot slipped through the unfinished roof and I cut my ankle on a piece of metal. I ended up getting five stitches and missed the canoe ride at the end of the trip; however, helping the people in Lake City who were desperately in need of it was well worth this small sacrifice. It feels great to make a difference in the world and in the lives of a few people.

Blue Green Gala, Keep It Blue By Making It Green

August 3, 2009

I am very excited about the upcoming Blue Green Gala at the Monroe Beach House model home on Sunday, August 23. Open to the public, the event will showcase sustainable design and living, plus two home tours, live music and discussions about green living and design with refreshments and
hors d'oeuvres catered by the South Haven Yacht Club.

All proceeds will benefit the Michigan Maritime Museum. The museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the Great Lakes and all that revolves around it. Their replica schooner, Friends Good Will, will sail past the house at 4:30 p.m. during the event. Tickets to the event are $50 and can be purchased at www.cottagehome.com/tix , at the Michigan Maritime Museum or by mail to Cottage Home.

The home is located in beautiful downtown South Haven and is LEED® certified. For more information on the Monroe Beach House, click here.
Doors open at 4:00 and the event will last until approximately 7:00.
We hope to see you there.

Michigan Maritime Museum

July 28, 2009

As a lifelong resident of West Michigan, I appreciate the many organizations in the area that contribute to a better life on the lakeshore. One of these many organizations is the Michigan Maritime Museum. The museum is located in South Haven and is dedicated to "the preservation of Michigan Great Lakes and waterways maritime history and culture." They feature multiple exhibits and collections such as: historical watercraft, historical engines, art, tools, and ship plans. They also have a replica sailboat called "Friends Good Will" that sails out on Lake Michigan daily. I would highly recommend going out at least once on a sunset cruise; it's a great experience. More information can be found here.

The Michigan Maritime Museum does a great job helping to protect the long history of the Great Lakes and to preserve artifacts and items that relate. I encourage anyone with an interest in the history of the Great Lakes to stop by the museum or maybe even volunteer and lend a hand. On August 23, you can also join us for the Blue Green Gala, an event showcasing our newest in sustainable design, live music, catered hors d'oeuvres and refreshments and the "Friends Good Will" is sailing past around 4:30. All proceeds benefit the Michigan Maritime Museum. Click here for more information about the event.

70th Birthday

July 20, 2009

The South Haven Yacht Club celebrated its 70th birthday this past weekend. The club was established in October 1939 by a few locals who thought a yacht club would be an asset to the city in accommodating the few pleasure boats that passed by. The club has grown since then and is now an integral part of the South Haven Harbor. They do a great job celebrating the West Michigan area and everything that is right about the area. They also offer many services to others: youth sailing programs, children events, social gatherings, boat docks and fueling, and more.

The birthday party was great. The pig roast was delicious and socializing was rewarding. My younger son, Aaron, even won a hula-hoop contest!

Next time you are in South Haven, make sure you check out the historic South Haven Yacht Club.

Canoeing with Peter Ter Louw

July 13, 2009

This past Friday I went canoeing down the Black River with Peter Ter Louw, Executive Director of the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. The SWMLC is dedicated to protecting the natural beauty of the area. Pete and I were getting together to talk about the various conservation efforts in the area and to catch up in general. We canoed about two miles down the Black River on the Bangor/South Haven Heritage Water Trail while we talked. We are both rather large guys so the canoe was slightly crowded with me in front and Pete in back and as we were paddling down the river my seat gave out, sending me to the bottom of the canoe. We pulled over and found a nice log for me to sit on for the rest of the trip.

It was a nice stretch of river and the volunteer association has done a great job cleaning up the river to make it passable. If you enjoy canoeing or kayaking I highly recommend the Bangor/South Haven Heritage Trail and if you are interested in lending a hand, check them out online here!

Fourth of July

July 6, 2009

As Americans, we often take for granted the many things we have that other people around the world don't. We have an unprecedented level of safety and freedom. We have food to eat, clean water to drink, and a great natural environment to enjoy. It's no wonder that we take a few days each and every year to set off a few fireworks and celebrate the birthday of our great country.

I spent the holiday weekend with my family at our cottage on Torch Lake. We've made a tradition of spending the 4th of July at our cottage with a few family friends. We relax in the sun for a few days and on the 4th take the boat out on the lake at night to enjoy the fireworks.

On Saturday night we docked the boat after the fireworks and walked toward the cottage. Normally we're greeted by a lot of barking and scratching as our little dog Riley greets us. However, this time we were not. We found her curled up, on the bathroom floor, behind the toilet. She was shaking with fear and didn't calm down until well into the night. On the 5th, however, she was enjoying her freedom along with our other family members.

100,000 Miles

June 29, 2009

This past weekend driving home from my cottage on Torch Lake, in northern Michigan, my 2006 Audi A6 rolled 100,000 miles. That's comparable to 3,000 trips between Holland to South Haven, 830 trips from Chicago to South Haven and four trips around the world. Driving the lakeshore every day for the past decade and has made me very familiar with the area, the people, and the real estate. The last three years and 100,000 mile journey has also caused me to look back on how what has transpired. My sons were in high school and starting middle school, we had just gotten a new, very hyper dog; now my sons are in college and starting high school, and our dog has grown through the puppy stage into a lazy lap dog that follows my wife like a shadow. So much can change in three years, and yet so much can stay the same.

A Reminder of the Uniqueness of West Michigan

June 22, 2009

I just returned from a wonderful trip to visit Japan with my son, Tyler, who recently graduated from high school. We had a great time visiting the many temples and gardens, and taking in the sights; I even found a residential construction site to explore while we were in Kyoto. Some of our favorite sights were: Eikan-do, the Tsukiji Fish Market, the Kurama and Kibune area just north of Kyoto where we stayed in a traditional Japanese inn called a "ryokan", and the Tetsugaku no Michi (Philosopher's Walk).

As we wandered through both Tokyo and Kyoto, I realized how fortunate we are to have the amount of space and natural beauty that we do here in Michigan. Kyoto is located in a gorgeous valley in the Kansai region of Japan but has been built up to such an extent that much of the beauty is dominated and suppressed by the feel of a large city. West Michigan is a very unique area. We are truly blessed to have the beauty of Lake Michigan and also the space with which to enjoy it.

Deerlick Creek Park

June 12, 2009

I was surprised (and pleased) that Cottage Home received the 2008 Business Excellence Award for Community Partnership by the South Haven Chamber of Commerce, recognizing our work at Deerlick Creek. I feel compelled to come clean on the recognition (and the one presented by Representative Upton and other government officials). First off, the recognition is extended to all the Friends of Deerlick Creek, as well as the many contributors and contractors. The presentation read:

"There is a beautiful piece of property at the end of 13th Avenue in South Haven. Beachgoers, nature lovers, and many others have long used this area as their access to Lake Michigan and the creek where "lightening stones" are found. With a goal of partnering to preserve this area for the public and for our future, a partnership between organizations formed to make the dream of a public park a reality!

"At its best, this is a great example of community partnership - combining the efforts of both public and private entities. Due to the efforts of the South Haven Township, Friends of Deerlick Creek, Midwest Civil Engineers, Cottage Home, deBest, Inc., the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, the Van Buren County Road Commission, and as a result of financial contributions from many local businesses and supporters as well as with the help of a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant, the land was purchased and recreational development initiated in 2008."

Secondly, the award is really in the enjoyment of the lakeshore. Helping improve the beach - an area loved by my friends, family and work associates - helps improve the quality of my life. We have such a rare 365 days a year asset to enjoy; it just makes sense to contribute wherever we can.

Monroe Beach House

June 8, 2009

We're very excited about our progress on the construction of our LEED Certified Monroe Beach House in South Haven. Our crew is currently installing drywall in the home and construction is on track to be completed in August. I was on the site today and found a rare moment of silence as I gazed out the windows for a wonderful view of a tranquil Lake Michigan. We're currently working out details for a special Blue Green Gala to showcase the Beach House and benefit the Michigan Maritime Museum. Contact Cottage Home if you are interested in attending this special event, or stay tuned for more information.