Glen Lake Community Library holds biennial home tour
From staff reports
It’s the event the community has been waiting for The Glen Lake Community Library’s Home Tour includes five diverse residences that span the architectural sphere, from an old log cabin on Inspiration Point built in the 1920s to a “green” home built two years ago. These and three other unique homes will be open to the community for the tour. One of the homes is a gorgeous farmhouse complete with barns and gardens, all accessible. There is a beautiful Nantucket-style country home on Big Glen Lake, and a charming summer cottage on Little Glen. Something for everyone, to be sure.
The Home Tour will be held Thursday, July 20, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets will be available from members of the Glen Lake Garden Club, The Cottage Book Shop, Northwoods Home and Gift, and the Glen Lake Community Library in Empire. Cost is $20 and tickets will be available at the end of June.
The Lyman Home
Lori Lyman, a childhood visitor to the area, and her husband Michael have developed a deep reverence for Glen Lake and the surrounding environment. When they purchased their cottage in 2009 they thoughtfully developed the property with as gentle an impact as possible. The result is the first LEED Gold Certified home on Glen Lake with a landscape that earned them the 2016 Glen Lake Association Stewardship award. Here you’ll see that “green” is not only defined by energy efficiency and conservation, it’s also beautiful, comfortable and includes fine amenities.
As you enter the property you’ll view the garden house and vegetable garden. Lori, a landscape architect, designed the home and gardens and had the fence built from invasive Black Locust trees found on the property. Remaining lumber was donated and used to build boardwalks in the National Lakeshore. Upon entering the home, you find natural light-filled rooms where you are always aware of the outdoors. The clear grade cedar and stone materials transition from exterior to interior to provide warmth and consistency in this contemporary home. The kitchen is equipped with the latest technology including an induction cooktop, grill, steamer and large gourmet prep sink. Electric appliances were chosen to prohibit any combustible gases from entering the interior atmosphere. In the master bedroom take a moment to experience the view of the dunes across the lake. Look up and imagine the stars on a clear night; this view was considered when the room was designed. Enjoy this unique house, ask questions as you tour and discover the future of homebuilding.
(LEED=Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
The Herr Home
This spacious family home was built 10 years ago by Marty Easling for David and Maureen Herr. The Herr’s vision embraced a home where family would always want to gather. Warm tones used in the paint, antiques, and pickled wood all contribute to a sense of warmth and welcome. The soft colors of sage green and yellow add to that feeling. The Herrs have a wonderful collection of paintings, many by local artists. In the inviting great room there is a beautiful painting by Ellie Harold and a sculpture from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. David’s office features beautiful photographs of flowers from his garden. In the master bedroom, don’t miss the watercolors by Suzanne Wilson. Upstairs are paintings by Peggy Hawley and Nell Revel. The open floor plan keeps everyone in touch. Walking from the great room into the dining room, you will be able to see all the way into the spacious kitchen, which can accommodate many people for both cooking and entertaining. Finally, be sure to admire the garden on the lake side of the home. David spends many hours working on this space. It features more than 170 species of flowers, including the endangered monkey plant. We are grateful to the Herrs for their generosity in opening their home for us to see.
The St. Julian Home
Built in 1978, the St. Julian cottage was purchased in 2013 and completely renovated in 2014. When you walk through the front door, it feels like vacation has begun. A large Suzanne Wilson painting greets you on the right wall as you enter. Jennifer and Joe purchased it many years ago because it was painted on the site of the old family cottage just down the road. The painting was the inspiration for the blue-and-white palette that graces the cottage. The board-and-batten walls and tongue-and-groove ceiling take you back to an earlier era. The wall of windows with French doors lead to an expansive deck overlooking the lake. Notice the cabinet doors over the fireplace that hide the TV. The mantle is from an old barn in Ohio. A simple but elegant kitchen shows Jennifer’s attention to detail in the custom cabinet color that matches the walls and the subway tile design over the stove. Don’t miss the shiplap in the half bath and laundry room, where a barn door adds extra interest.
An extensive landscaping plan incorporated environmental steps to keep the beach from eroding. Both the front and the back now include many flowering plants to embrace the feeling of a summer cottage. You’re sure to enjoy this wonderful home that makes feel like you could move right in.
The Cochran Home
Three Barn Farm is a country-chic marriage of modern and antique, as well as farmhouse and formal. In addition to the Cochran’s home, the 40-acre property includes an office and art studio, barns, and fabulous gardens. Barbara Cochran is a lifelong painter and her color sense pervades this gracious farmhouse. Although sizeable, this home embraces the visitor upon entering. The garden colors used in the living room are woven throughout the house. In the half bath, note the antique dresser that has been reconfigured into a modern vanity. The library/family room is warm and inviting–a great place to spend a snowy evening. Meander through this home and envision great parties taking place in the kitchen and dining room. The lengthy island provides a fabulous workspace for cooking as well as all kinds of projects. Barb’s office features buffalo-check wallpaper and is a cozy space for reading and relaxing. The upstairs workout room can accommodate even the most dedicated athlete and is a great space to relax when done.
Moving across the eco-friendly driveway, cross-thatched with pavers and grass, one enters a separate building that houses George’s office and Barb’s art studio, which makes use of abundant natural sunlight. All will enjoy her sunny paintings lining the walls. Leaving the studio, stroll across the lawn to a large old barn and patio where the Cochrans can host gatherings of family and friends. A lap pool stretches out in front of the patio for early morning swims. From there, cross through German- and English-influenced gardens to Barb’s flower and vegetable plots.
As you leave the property and head down Nash Road, notice the barn on the right, which the Cochrans built with timbers from an old barn in Suttons Bay. We know you will enjoy this home that is filled with light and embraces the land surrounding it.
The Faust Cabin
Step into this wonderful example of an early 1900s custom log home and imagine the Faust Cabin in all its splendor. We are thrilled to offer this home on our tour with the support of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. In 2015, the Park Service purchased the Faust home from the family, and they have generously offered it to the Friends of the Library for our tour. The following excerpt is from Barbara Siepker’s book, Historic Cottages of Glen Lake, which can be purchased from the Cottage Book Shop in Glen Arbor.
“Young and newly married, Mary and George Faust bought 400 feet of Big Glen frontage in 1921 for their summer home. They fell in love with the view just west of this site, the Overlook, as Inspiration Point was then known. They hired Frank Sohn, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, to be their architect; Fred Miller of Port Oneida was the contractor. Mary had done her research and she knew exactly what she wanted: large rooms with an open feel. The home is a three story, full round cedar log cabin with notched corners and a stone foundation. Dormers run the length of the cabin both on the front and the back. The first floor includes the 24 x 24 ft. two story living room with a stone chimney and fireplace and an 18 foot glass sun room overlooking the lake. An impressive 18 x 18 ft. master bedroom provided a separate sanctuary for the couple. As expected, the main floor includes the kitchen and dining room, but not expected are a maid’s room, a furnace room with laundry, and woodworking and plant potting areas. A central log staircase is opposite the living room fireplace and leads upstairs to a wrap-around balcony and 2 additional bedrooms. Outside, 456 steps with 7 landings led down to the shore. The property also included a boathouse and a 2-car garage.”
