When Kevin Toukoumidis first spotted his Saugatuck property, the architect envisioned a custom structure on the site that would respect the landscape and have a minimum impact on the environment. With that goal in mind, the founding principal of dSPACE Studio in Chicago and Los Angeles designed a highly-personalized house that he and his partner can use year-round. “We explored this as a four-season home for health, wellness, and adventure,” he says.
The couple first came to the area 20 years ago. “It’s a four-season wonderland for hiking, biking, swimming, and, in winter months, snowshoeing,” Toukoumidis says. “It was really a moment finding this beautiful piece of land that never had a house on it. The dune grass creates a spectacular vista on the property.” Still, there were limitations due to the property’s location between critical dunes, and that restricted the potential footprint of the home.
The challenges didn’t deter Toukoumidis. “This is a true testament of design and architectural constraint, to create a home that works on a very restricted property,” he says about the one-of-a-kind house with a steel superstructure that features an ultra-thin roof with overhangs for passive solar design that can withstand harsh conditions. Durable low-maintenance materials include a stucco exterior, and triple-paned glass windows and doors.
The couple’s understated home appears to be integrated into the dunes, and its terrace and decks are layered to fit the undulating topography. “One aspect that makes it extremely unique is that the site is beautiful and rugged,” the architect says.
Toukoumidis describes the complementary aesthetic as organic modernism. “We wanted a house that was artful and respects the land, and promotes wellness and outdoor living. Architecture can impact your life, your health, your wellness,” he explains. “This home has a modern warmth and organic quietness to it, with expansive planes of glass, clean lines, and an open floor plan. There’s a multisensory connection to nature through the use of warm materials, like the wood soffits.”
The home’s refined features keep the focus on the views. “That was our goal. It was about how to integrate the home with the site, and embrace the landscape, and harmonize it with the environment,” Toukoumidis says. He explains that the natural plants, including juniper and dune grasses, will become even more harmonious as they mature.
Toukoumidis handled the architecture, interior design, and landscape design. “It allows the property to have a cohesive dialogue with the design,” he notes.
It’s no surprise that guests savor their stay. “When we entertain, we open the glass window wall facing the lake,” Toukoumidis says. “We love how the great room flows out to the 40-foot-long balcony. It creates this feeling that we’re living in an infinity house on Lake Michigan.”
The dream home easily adapts when just the residents are home, too. “We have a lot of guests on weekends, but the house works well with just two people,” the architect says. “The outdoor kitchen was designed with Kalamazoo Grills. It’s an ideal place for preparing group dinners year-round, and it’s such a special place for just the two of us. It feels right-sized. Every room has a sliding door that takes you outside.”
For quieter moments, Toukoumidis favors the screen porch, which also connects to nature and biophilic design. “It’s a real private place, a refuge overlooking Lake Michigan for reading or having morning coffee,” he says. “Designing your own home is one of the most exciting things you can ever do in life. I (was able to) take more risks, like the entry courtyard and the lap pool. We invested in outdoor spaces because we like to be outside.”
The lap pool features impressive proportions and an elegant orientation. “You look down the lap pool and it draws your eye out to the lake, which is the grand finale. It’s a beautiful perspective,” Toukoumidis says. “The home has a quiet background with an edited palette of materials that has a respect for nature, and the landscape, and the views. It’s timeless and calm. It lets you focus on what’s around the house, not on the house.”
Indoor spaces showcase natural wood and warm finishes like durable porcelain floors and countertops. “Unifying the interior and exterior spaces makes the house feel bigger, and there’s always a way to be outside,” he says. “The courtyard overlooks the dunes, with postcard-like vistas. The rotating steel panels with an oxidized finish can shift like sails on a boat.”
Visitors know to look for refreshments in the generously sized pantry. “We call it our hospitality center. You can help yourself,” Toukoumidis says. Photos taken in waterfront locales fill a gallery wall. “A lot of our friends who come to the house are in the photos,” he adds.
The haven continues to warm people’s hearts. “We’re grateful to have this home. Still, to this day, we feel joy and happiness when we walk into this house, which will stand the test of time and require little maintenance as time goes on,” the architect says. “It’s a place for memories, for family and friends — a home to be your best self in.”
Behind the Design
Architect
Kevin Toukoumidis, AIA, dSPACE Studio, Chicago and Los Angeles, dspacestudio.com
Additional Contributors
Builder: Zahn Builders, Holland
Cabinetry: ARMAZEM.design, Chicago; and Scavolini, Detroit
Glass: Studio G, Holland
Plumbing: Luca Lanzetta
Pool: Sunset Pools
Windows & Doors: Panoramah!
Noctambule Suspension Cone Flos, flos.com
For architect and dSPACE Studio founder Kevin Toukoumidis, “this light is a fusion of innovation and elegance — its glass modules appear almost invisible by day, then transform into glowing columns of light when illuminated at night.”
Sensi Tile in Ivory Florim, florim.com
“Florim evokes the elegance of stone and concrete with a matte finish that creates tranquil spaces,” Toukoumidis notes. “Beyond beauty, it offers durable construction and eco-conscious manufacturing.”
Windows Panoramah!, panorama.com
“These operable glass panels offer expansive glazing that dissolves the boundary
between interior and exterior, maximizing
the natural light and views of nature.”
Wilderness Front Facing Gas Fireplace Ortal, ortalheat.com
“With clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic, Ortal artfully brings the warmth of a traditional fire into contemporary spaces.”
Katan Suncloth Lounge Chair and Table Brown Jordan, brownjordan.com
“Brown Jordan complements architecture with sculptural forms that blur the line between form and function,” he says of these pieces in the entry and screened porch.“Refined materials and minimalist profiles reinforce a contemporary aesthetic.”
Hybrid Fire Grill Kalamazoo Gourmet, Galesburg, kalamazoogourmet.com
“The Kalamazoo Grill allows you to cook with gas, charcoal, or wood. With precision engineering and heavy-duty materials, it offers professional-grade performance for everyday use,” Toukoumidis says.
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