Master Bedroom Re-Do

Here is a Photo that Shows You Our Bedroom Suite on the Showroom Floor...And In Our Home.  The bottom Photo shows Our Bedroom the way it was Before I started the Current Make-Over.  I hope this post will entice you to continue watching for UPDATES on our Whole-House Make-Over!!  A While back, I showed you some of my Design Options for my All Over House ReDesign.   Today, I am going to show you our Master Bedroom Furniture and how it currently looks...and show/tell you why my First Choice...
for a Bedspread won't work on our Bed.  Here's Our Bedroom Suite (well, part of it).  The Bed is a Platform Style Bed...but rather than our Mattress laying flat on a hard surface, our bed has a recessed area to hold a Low-Profile Box Spring designed to go with Our Foam Mattress.  The color of the Wood is a Dark Brown/Red and any Hardware is Brushed Silver.  The "inserts" are brownish-black Leather.

We purchased this set when we moved into our current house in March 2006.  It's well built and looks so pretty.  The one thing I don't like about it is the area all around the bed (of the frame) that sticks out about 3-4".  I've stubbed my toes, banged my legs on the edges in the middle of the night...and it makes choosing bed coverings extra difficult.

Remember this beautiful textured Bedspread I showed HERE?  

It looked even MORE beautiful in person - However, because the kick-pleat on the corners had an underskirt that fit tightly, it was a no-go on our Platform Bed and had to be returned.  Aaack!

So, back to the drawing board - looking for another Bedspread or Comforter Set that will work. 

Here's our NightStand - we have 2 of them.  Simple and very pretty.

Of course, I went with the Mirror that matches...

the Dresser

And here is how all of the furniture looks in our Bedroom at this time.  The Comforter, Shams & Draperies are Cream with Gold-to-Tan Roses and a hint of Blue flowers, with ever-so-light green leaves.  I have sheers shown here on the windows with roll-up Shades, with scalloped edges.

The door to the Master Bath, with a large corner Whirlpool Tub.

This door leads to our 12'6" x 7' closet!  It's HUGE!!

The Dresser and Mirror, directly across from the 2 Windows on the Bed Wall

While I work on re-doing our Master Bedroom...what Room or Area of Your Home are you working on?  

In case you're wondering what takes me so long - since getting Bell's Palsy 15 months ago, and still being in the recovery stage, I don't have as much energy/stamina as I did prior.  I hate to complain about it or even talk about it, but some of you have commented on the length of time it takes me to get big projects finished.  Some days, it's enough just to get out of bed, get ready for the day and do a few things around the house.  Other days, I have a bit more energy.  Just keepin' it real and wanted you to know!! 

Timber Frame Montana

Today we're going to tour another Timber Home.  So many of these homes speak to my ♥ giving me feelings of warmth, protection, peace and tranquility.  I love the sturdiness, the wood and the stonework, too.
Timber Windows: A View With a Room in Montana

Indoors and out fuse effortlessly through the creative use of timber windows in this Western home.By Jason Peak | Photos by Heidi Long


Imagine experiencing the most beautiful, relaxing wilderness of the west — a pristine cobalt-blue lake framed by stately trees and snow-capped peaks that give way to an endless azure sky. Though a bone-chilling wind occasionally blows outside, you’re warm and content next to a roaring fire enjoying the scene.  You’ve just described a typical December day at Lazy Bay, a 4,800-square-foot timber home built by High Country Builders in northwest Montana.  Named for the serene area of Whitefish Lake where it’s located, Lazy Bay is a hybrid — a construction method combining conventional stick framing with the majesty of timber framing. The structural beams are larch finished with a dark stain to provide a warm feel. The vertical posts in the great room are the entire trunks of mature cedar trees. “We left the base on the trees,” says Walt Landi, owner of High Country Builders.  An exterior view of the home shows the upper-level great room's massive timber windows that overlook the adjacent lake. Stone and wood work together to help further the illusion of the seamless transition from the home's interior to its surrounding nature.

Serving as the designer and builder, the multitalented Landi planned the house so that every room had views of the lake and mountains. “I went out to the lot and put stakes in the ground to orient the house toward the views, and drew the floor plan that way,” he explains. He designed the fireplace to sit off to one side so as not to interfere with the views. Once the plans were finalized in a computer program, a 270-degree panorama was revealed.  The construction schedule was aggressive, taking only seven months to build, because High Country Builders erected it without a buyer in mind. With everything pre-selected, they were able to stay on their very tight timetable. However, there were doubters. “I thought there was no way it would be done on time,” confesses Hunter Dominic, owner of Hunter & Co., an interior design firm in Whitefish, Montana. Her firm made the selections and coordinated all structural decor inside Lazy Bay, including the hardwood and tile floors, light fixtures, cabinets, stonework and furniture.  A parallel-cord truss visually lowers the ceiling height while supporting the weight of the roof. The huge stone above the firebox is so heavy, it took a crane to hoist it into place. In lieu of a traditional mantel, it's the focal point of the hearth.  The great room's huge panes of glass, some weighing more than 700 pounds and sandwiched between slits cut into solid cedar columns, offer uninterrupted, panoramic views.

Success by Design

If pressed to single out one thing that makes this home so spectacular, Landi says it would have to be the great room’s timber windows. The huge expanses of fixed clear glass tucked between the naturally tapered cedar posts give the illusion of being outdoors. “It was the first time we had ever done windows like that,” Landi says. “People ask how we did it, but I won’t tell!”  The timber windows bring the outdoors in by their sheer size alone. At a massive size of  14 by 14 feet and separated by a mullion bar, a lot of engineering went into the project. Though he’s tight-lipped about most of the details, Landi will share a few secrets. “The mullion bar had to have a curvature built into it so that when we added all 700 pounds of glass on top, it would flatten out and keep the right amount of spacing between the two panes. You can’t just throw it up there and say ‘that looks nice.’ It takes planning.”

Pane-staking Process

Setting the glass was every bit as complicated as its design. Two cranes were required, and eight men on a scaffold slid it into place. “It was quite a challenge,” Landi recalls.  The glass must withstand 100 mph winds and keep the house warm when the mercury dips below zero during typical Montana winters. The glass is an inch thick and is insulated with high-density foam, silicone and chinking, but it’s set so deeply within the log frame that the sealant is hidden. “There is no visible framework, so it gives the illusion that there are no windows,” Landi says. “All you see is the logs, the stone and then the amazing lake view.”

Practicality Meets Panache

Lazy Bay uses both radiant heating beneath floors, as well as forced-air heat. “When you have that much glass, you need to blow warm air against it,” Landi says. “You won’t feel a chill in this house.” Once a constant temperature is reached, the furnace doesn’t have to work very hard to maintain it. One reason is that the logs and stonework absorb the sun’s heat and radiate it back into the home, making energy efficient as well as gorgeous.  The home’s stone serves another purpose. Large amounts of glass usually lend a contemporary feel, so the team used a variety of stone to make it feel grounded and homey.  The hearth is a blend of different local stone. “The huge rock above the fireplace must weigh a ton,” Landi says. “It had to be craned into place.” There’s a fireplace in the lower level, and the chimney is 45 feet high, free standing within the house.  No expense was spared in Lazy Bay. The alder wood cabinets were distressed and had a crackle finish applied. The countertops and sink are granite, and the kitchen boasts a Wolf range with and a Sub-Zero refrigerator; items that are not only stylish but are among the best, most durable choices on the market.

Contemporarily Rustic

Landi and his company designed and built Lazy Bay, but Dominic accentuated its natural beauty — with Landi’s help, of course — through its decor. “We presented him with options,” recalls Dominic, “and he went with most of the decor we suggested.”  It is clear that Dominic’s firm used only the best and most beautiful materials. The bathrooms’ tile floors are a combination of marble and slate in varying shades of gray. The wood floors — western larch and fir — were circle sawn and left rough, stained black, sanded, and then stained brown. “They have an antique look, but the best part is that you don’t have to take off your shoes for fear of getting it dirty,” Landi explains. “I wanted people to enjoy the house and the lake, not worry about messing up the floor.”  When it came to making the final decorating choices for the home, Dominic had another “silent” partner: the windows. “Those windows and the view just outside them had some say in the decorating process,” according to Dominic. “It is a major focal point, and it had a lot of impact on what we did,” The combination of slate and tumbled glass accents give the house a contemporary edge, even though it maintains rustic feel.  Lazy Bay was built as a vacation home for someone looking for an escape from the ordinary. “I wanted them to know they were in the Montana mountains on a lake,” Landi says. “I set up the views and designed character into the house so anyone who comes here would know they’re  someplace special.”  Did he succeed? One look through the majestic windows will tell you everything you need to know. 

Square Footage: 4,800 square feet

Company: Edgewood Log Structures

Builder: High Country Builders

Silly Saturday Babies

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The Stone Cottage

Welcome to the "Stone". We're off to Northport, Michigan...to take the tour of this Beautiful Cottage right on the water!  Why 'The Stone'?: This is a very special, beautifully appointed home for the discerning client.  Designed by Think Design, voted West Michigan's Best Interior Design Firm 5 years running, ('Grand Rapids Magazine') it provides an ambience not often seen in...
rental properties.   The storybook esthetic and charm of this historic property make it a Leelanau County treasure. The stone and shake entry with travertine floors is a new feature this year, as is the stunning country

French kitchen with Carrara marble counters and new stainless appliances. The fine furnishings combine antiques with high end furnishings from Baker, Henredon, Tomlinson and more. If you are drawn to beauty and character in a vacation property, this is for you; on the other hand, if you prefer something rough-and-tumble that has 'bare-boat' amenities and can stand abuse, kindly look elsewhere.

There are two cozy bedrooms; one with a queen bed and one an antique full sized 4 poster bed that has a twin trundle underneath. A daybed in the keeping room provides overflow sleeping for one. The charming, light filled gourmet kitchen boasts Carrara marble counter tops, hand painted tile backsplash, custom cabinetry, all new hi end appliances, including an Electrolux range, dishwasher, coffeemaker, and just about every cooking implement needed for cooking gourmet meals in this foodie region. A wood burning stove is scheduled to make an arrival soon. There are 2 large, newly designed full baths and a laundry room with new washer and dryer. Please provide your own towels, bedding provided.

View Across the Street to Creature Filled Woods

Welcome...from the "Stone"

I love the stonework...plants and the welcoming Bench.  That door makes the cottage so home-y!

Now, allow me to introduce our HOSTESS at this Up-dated and Beautiful Cottage...

MELANIE ROGERS

Property Owner

Interior Designer - Think Design Studio

A few weeks ago, I wrote to Melanie...after seeing the Cottage on HomeAway.  I knew she didn't take pets, and with our 3 little ones, I knew we wouldn't be able to stay there...but I was so enthralled with the cottage and it's surroundings...not to mention all of the gorgeous Interior Design work Melanie put into it.  I was so pleased when she replied saying she'd happily accept my offer of featuring her cottage on Home Tour Monday.  Thanks again Melanie!

There is a link above, to Melanie's Design Studio and another directly below to her Magical Storybook HomeAway Listing, if you'd like to learn more. 

Now...sit back and enjoy the rest of the tour.

MAGICAL STORYBOOK CHARM ON THE BIG BAY LISTING ON HOMEAWAY

I designed the stone entryway myself, to avoid entering directly into the kitchen and add a front hall closet and a place for a hall chest. You can see, looking at the kitchen photos, that the kitchen cabinets are finished on both sides, creating an entry "hall". the cabinets have glass on both sides, and there is an actual window over the stove , all allowing for maximum light to pass and keeping a feeling of openness in a small space. 

I kept the knotty pine paneling behind the shelves (painted) and the horizontal bead board on the fireplace wall (painted white milk paint) but covered the rest with sheetrock, as the place was just too heavy handed with pine everywhere; fine for a hunters cabin, but not so much for a single lady's second home. The family room and master bedroom still have the pine, stained in a green tone, that I still kick around what I want to do with. I'll keep it up, but have been trying to devise ways to give it a lighter wash (easier said than done). 

There is also an interior bedroom with a window looking through the family room to the outdoors... a quirky feature created when the cottage was converted from a camp outbuilding (it was an arts and crafts room as well as a trunk storage room) in the early 60's.

A View from the Entry

Keeping Room Side of the Kitchen

A Day Bed - The Perfect Spot to Lounge

Perch Here With a Glass of Wine - and Cheer on the Chefs 

On the Homeaway site you can see the site line from the entry along the kitchen cabinet wall, leading to a wall of book cases. That back wall was the original exterior wall to this 100+ year old building, and when the porch-like addition was added, they, happily, left the windows in tact. The cottage has precious little wall space (many windows!) and I needed a lot of storage for my books and collections of antique objects. My solution, as you can see, was to build out 12" of shelving on the entire wall, further enclosing the windows. It maintains continuity of the concept of having large interior windows looking into other rooms and then outside views of water and woods, that I played up with the kitchen cabinets. The ceilings are 12 feet high in this room... it made for a LOT of shelving opportunities!

Brand New Gourmet Kitchen - High End Appliances, Marble Counter Tops & More

Unique Window Above the Stove Allows You to Look Into the EntryWay

See the Chair?  There's a Wood Burning Stove There Now - Picures Soon

Antique Filled Living Area Seats 6 Comfortably

Baker Dining Table Seats 6

Cozy and Comfy Seating Area

Queen Sized Bedroom

The Bird Bath - Master Bath Room

Master Bathroom - Vessel Sink - Dual Head Shower & Steuben Crystal Chandelier

Full Size Antique Tester Bed - Circa 1850

Newly Tiled Second Bath, with a North Woods Theme

General Description: From 'The Stone', explore the peninsula dubbed 'The most beautiful place in America' by ABC in 2011! The cottage's name is derived from the original name of the structure when it was part of 'Camp Cahoe', 100 years ago.

We are situated on a double lot in the woods with 120' of private beachfront. A detached deck overlooking the low (7') bluff is the world's best morning coffee-and-paper wake up spot, as well as cocktails or dining al fresco.

2 person Kayak, 2 bicycles, Cable TV, phone and WI-FI! Situated in a woods of pine and hardwoods, the cottage and detached deck look over a private beach of sand and pebbles (the worlds best Petoskey stone hunting!), at the northwest end of Grand Traverse Bay. The village of Northport is 6 miles south, and the historic lighthouse and museum are only 2 miles north.

The fantastic view from the cottage looks across the bay to the town of Charlevoix, with Lake Michigan and the Fox Islands to the north. The typically calm waters on this side of Leelanau Peninsula makes for safe swimming and a small boat can be launched directly from the beach or a boat launch a short distance away.

Looking out the Cottage Windows - to the Deck

2009 - the Beach looking North - Open Waters of Lake Michigan

Un-Doctored Shot of Sunrise from our Beach - Purple Snow - December 2011

A Petoskey Stone Hunters' Paradise - abosolutely Addictive

Exploring the fantastic and unique Leelanau peninsula is a must and offers so much it's hard to name it all. Choose from a variety of spectacular golf courses, including an Arnold Palmer designed course south of Leeland...the famous fish town known for it's fine dining, historic wharf, waterfall and shopping. Fantastic scenery.

For wine lovers, this is the region of Michigan that is producing an amazing variety of fine wines from dozens of producers now gaining national recognition. You can spend days discovering them all.

Activities: There are deep woods hiking/bicycling trails with groomed paths and unexpected boardwalks just seconds from the cottage. More extensive hiking trails going up to a spectacular platform overlooking Lake Michigan and the Manitou Islands are just 2 mikes south.

For 'Foodies', this is the place that renowned chef Mario Batali calls his second home; he lives just a couple miles away and is a regular at the Northport Farmers Market. We all appreciate the locally raised produce and meats found on the Leelanau Peninsula, and each little town has it's own Farmers Market on successive days.

A perfect day consists of a drive through Northport, stopping at Barb's bakery for coffee and baked goods, then on towards Leland, stopping at wineries along the way. Shop in Leland's historic Fish Town, exploring the shops in the old fish shanties and smoke houses. Go on to Glen Arbor and stop in any one of it's gourmet restaurants or local pubs for lunch (And don't forget to stop into Cherry Republic) before embarking onto Sleeping Bear Dunes. Take in Pierce Stocking Drive, and explore this legendary, breathtaking spot. Hike, bike, or see the scenery from the car, it is unforgettable. A 40 minute drive will take you to Traverse City for a little night life or a feast after a good hike at one it the famous restaurants there. From fine gourmet food to the best burgers and home brew, it's all available here. A 40 minute drive up the coast takes you back to The Stone, where lazy, leisurely relaxation and beauty awaits.

The Stone provides Cable TV, DVD, WI-FI, 2 bikes, a 2 seater kayak, deck, large beach, playground and tennis nearby.

Activities: There are deep woods hiking/bicycling trails with groomed paths and unexpected boardwalks just seconds from the cottage. More extensive hiking trails going up to a spectacular platform overlooking Lake Michigan and the Manitou Islands are just 2 mikes south. Swimming, kayaking, biking, hiking, fishing, wine tasting, golf 20 min. away, eagle watching, nearby playground, art galleries, large marina 6 miles south in Northport, Petosky stone hunting, beach fires permitted during low hazard times. Don't forget to read about the history of The Stone in our information book, and view the photos from a century ago!

One of our favorite 4 person activities is a combination kayak/bicycle trip to the lighthouse. 2 people paddle the 2 miles (as the crow flies) in the kayak, while the other 2 bike the distance. After a lovely picnic (BYO) and tour of the historic Northport lighthouse, trade equipment and paddle / bike back!

This property is ideal for 2 couples or a family of four who appreciate finer things. Maximum occupancy limited to 5, no pets, please.