Designers & Builders of Well-Appointed Beach Houses & Cottages

Our Communities

We conduct extensive engineering and environmental studies, especially near dune and wildlife conservation areas, and work closely with local government, regulatory agencies and conservation groups.

When land is deemed appropriate, careful consideration is then given to site clustering, devoting a high percentage of the land to natural areas. Restrictive covenants assure such enhancements as natural vegetation, including increased plantings of native dune grasses, tree preservation, nature trails and common areas wherever possible... places to be enjoyed for generations to come.

Our Homes

There is more to Cottage Home style than meets the eye. Beneath the natural siding, you'll find one of the most efficient building systems available. From Low-E windows to High-R insulation techniques to geo-thermal heating and cooling systems, our smart homes give homeowners added protection against harsh lakefront weather with intelligent control over energy consumption during occupancy and vacancy.

Several of our existing homes, as well as nearly all of our new homes, are LEED® certified, which verifies that a building project meets the highest green building and performance measures. For a home to be considered for LEED® certification requires dedication of the builder and homeowner and a commitment to the environment. Historically, all our homes were built to be 30 percent more efficient than code requirements. Today, LEED® certified homes represent the future of home building.

Our Building Process

While building a green home, we recycle as much as possible - the scrap building materials such as lumber, wallboard, concrete and packaging. We use environmentally safe material in our process, including bio-friendly concrete release agents, adhesives, sealants, solvents and other compounds. Locally harvested materials are used wherever possible.

Cottage Home is an active member of Green Built Michigan, a statewide green building certification, professional development and education organization. For more information on our green homes and practices, please contact us.

Integrated Project Planning

· Green home building strategy

· Specifications focused on energy conservation

· Centralized scheduling

· Pre-planned material usage, focusing on local and FSC certified suppliers

Site Selection & Management

· Adaptive reuse of existing site

· Waste water collection system

· Rain water harvesting for irrigation

· Permeable roads and drives

· Community green space management

· Bulk water run-off

· Sensitive areas protected from construction activity

Energy Efficient Construction

· Recycling construction waste

· Engineered floor truss

· High efficiency windows and doors

· Cut list and beam sizing material pre-planned

· 2x6 exterior wall system and Tyvek® moisture management

· Icynene® insulation in walls and ceilings

· Framing and windows that are caulked and sealed

Green Mechanical Systems

· Geothermal closed loop heating system

· Domestic water supply to reduce energy usage

· Highly efficient plumbing system

· Highly efficient electrical system/fixtures

· Energy Star lighting fixtures and CFL (Compact Florescent Lights)

· Exterior lighting and bath fans use time switching devices

· Energy Star rated appliances

Indoor Air Quality-Green Interiors

· Ductwork sealed from debris during construction

· Entry walk-off mats

· Central vacuum with exterior venting

· Zero VOC, low odor, silica free GreenSure™ designated paints

· ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator)

· Very fine filtration (MERV10)

· CO detectors

Additional Specifications ® Selections

· Engineered roof truss

· Renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable cedar shake siding and cedar decking