Perched along Lake Michigan, this quintessential Harbor Springs cottage, which now serves as a primary residence, began as a modest summer dwelling. Nearly untouched after 100 years, a recent renovation and addition blended classic features with modern amenities as original details were restored and replicated to create a cohesive outcome.
Homeowners Brad and Wendie Keen have a passion for hospitality and wellness. Brad, a classically-trained chef, serves as COO of several Boyne resorts. Wendie, vice president of Spa and Owner Services for Boyne and a licensed real estate agent with Christie’s @properties in Harbor Springs, also specializes in residential rehabs and builds that are luxurious and livable. From the saltwater hot tub to the symmetrical chef’s kitchen, their personal retreat emphasizes rejuvenation and connection.
Jenna Campbell, director of design and founder of Oak Street Design, an architectural design firm in Rochester, completed the architectural design for the project. “It was a summer cottage built 100 years ago for a couple of people to use a few months a year. What it had in abundance was charm, but two levels of compartmentalized rooms wouldn’t do for these owners. Their dream for themselves, their kids, and grandkids was to have a comfortable gathering place,” Campbell says. “We wanted to seamlessly blend the historic elements with the renovation and addition, for a cottage that was aesthetically cohesive and proportionate and looks like (it’s been) one piece of architecture from day one.”
Wendie, who lent her design sense to the interiors, had a vision. “Her passion to celebrate and preserve the original charm was clear from our first conversation,” Campbell recalls. “She and Brad had admired this cottage for a long time, and maintaining (its) character was a priority. Equally important was to take that small, uninsulated cottage and use it year-round to comfortably entertain their wide circle of family and friends. That was the goal from the beginning.”
An addition includes all of the homes’s primary spaces such as a walkout basement, open kitchen, dining room, pantry, a living room, and a second story. Taking up the footprint of the entire original cottage, the airy great room lives up to its name with arched windows that capture the natural light and provide spectacular views. “Alongside such a passionate client, (the) background made the whole (project) very rewarding. The process was really collaborative, and it’s a really unique piece of architecture,” Campbell says.
The great room flows into the kitchen and dining areas, and Campbell says they “bring that modern lifestyle (Brad and Wendie) really needed.” She explains that the builder refinished the original radiused windows, and made sure the motif feels cohesive with different archways and exposed rafter tails and architectural brackets.
Simple natural finishes and hardwood floors were used throughout the cottage. “Everything that happens on the interior as a nod to the exterior doesn’t compete with the view and complements the site,” Campbell explains. “Great effort and care went into preserving and replicating the exterior features. They all flow seamlessly as you approach the house.”
Campbell credits the couple and their son, Andy Keen, the general contractor and builder, for the creative collaboration throughout the build process. “This house really is a testament to a piece of thoughtful architecture with a very engaged client. It’s so personal and customized to them; it’s a very special design. We specialize in inheritable homes, and this is a testament to that.”
Wendie, for her part, praises Oak Street Design. “Jenna was the only one who could have solved how to maintain the integrity of a cute little cottage and add onto it. Six-hundred square feet wouldn’t have worked, but she was able to keep that authentic look in what is now an over 3,400-square-foot generational piece,” she says.
The couple previously lived down the road, and Wendie recalls they “walked down here all the time, and the house was so darling. It was a carriage house for the Inn at Idlewild in the early 1900s that was disassembled and rolled half a mile to its current location. It was the Orr family cottage for 100 years.”
Original features include the classic fireplace, made with stacked stones from the shore. Antique family heirlooms from Wendie and Brad, as well as from the Orr family, further personalize the home. “We wanted a layered look, like it was collected over time,” the homeowner says.
Multiple generations, including 10 grandchildren, can now enjoy the home, which has a bunkroom and a lakefront garden for picking flowers and berries. The chef’s kitchen, meanwhile, has a special extension. “We created a pantry that has all of the snacks for the little ones,” Wendie says. “It has all the fun stuff.” Come fall, she says her husband’s exquisite dishes include beef bourguignon, soups, homemade breads, and pies made in cast iron pans.
Wendie says their home comfortably hosts dozens while maintaining an intimate, restorative atmosphere that makes guests — and the owners — never want to leave. “Last weekend, with just family, we had 44 people,” she says . “It’s an easy house to be in, inside and out.”
Behind the Design
Director of Design
Jenna Campbell, Oak Street Design, Rochester, oakstdesign.com
Homeowner
Wendie Keen, Christie’s @properties, Harbor Springs, atproperties.com
Project Contributors
Builder/Contractor: Keen Build, Harbor Springs
Cabinetry: Wolverine Cabinet Co., Wolverine
Custom-Routered Siding: Wimsat Building Materials, Traverse City
Soapstone Counters: Petoskey Granite, Petoskey
Soapstone Sink: Vermont Soapstone
Windows: Andersen Windows & Doors
Fior Di Pizzo Pendant Lumens, lumens.com
“The handcrafted Italian brass-and-glass pendants bring warmth and artisanal character to our kitchen island,” says homeowner Wendie Keen, who was responsible for selecting many of the interior finishes. “Their soft glow creates an intimate gathering spot that feels both sophisticated and welcoming.”
Sawmill, Matelski Lumber, Boyne Falls, matelskilumbercompany.com
“The detailing on the addition (right) echoes the original cottage detailing — including gable end roof overhangs, exposed rafter tails, divided lite windows, traditional trimwork, and architectural brackets,” says Jenna Campbell, Oak Street Design’s director of design. The over 100-year-old fir joists from the second floor were repurposed and milled by Matelski Lumber to create these rafter tails on the exterior.
Aged Brass Ionian Tap, deVOL, devolkitchens.com
“We chose these statement brass faucets in the kitchen and pantry for their perfect balance of traditional craftsmanship and modern functionality,” Keen says. “They anchor the kitchen with their substantial presence while developing a beautiful patina over time.”
“The Primrose and Purple Path” Grand Hotel, Kevin Barton Original Oils, Harbor Springs, kevinbartonartist.com
“Kevin Barton is a local artist whose work is stunning,” Keen says. “His work speaks to our love of the area. In the piece (hanging in the Great Room), he painted the secret garden at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. His artwork brings the bold color and creative energy that reflects northern Michigan’s vibrant arts community right into our living space.” Here, a new piece from the artist inspires.
Seda Sofa, Cisco Home, ciscohome.net
Keen loves this sofa for its “clean lines, length (100 inches), and luxurious comfort.” She adds: “It’s a perfect foundation for the living room, and it’s sophisticated and yet inviting enough for everyday family life. Most importantly, it’s slip-covered — which is essential with this large family and our sofa-loving pups. The company also has a great story; its products are made in the USA, it’s family-owned, and it is an environmentally conscious company.”
Radiused Archways, Oak Street Design, Rochester, oakstdesign.com; Soapstone countertops Petoskey Granite, Petoskey, petoskeygranite.com
“The butler’s pantry (right) is accessible through charming arched openings; it’s a motif that was continued throughout the home and was inspired by the arched upstairs windows of the original cottage,” Campbell says. “Repeating the motif in several architectural details continues thoughtful design moments throughout the home, from arched openings to rear deck brackets to countertop backsplashes.”
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