As a third-generation builder, Rob Mossburg, owner of The Cottage Company of Harbor Springs, has a personal project in his portfolio that remains close to his heart. Lovingly called “Josie’s Cabin,” after his mom, the custom structure looks like it could be a postcard for the perfect northern Michigan lifestyle.
It all began when Rob and his wife, Vee, owner of Cottage Company Interiors, purchased a 100-acre property in Harbor Springs and The Cottage Company set out to build a log cabin for his parents, Josie and Bob Jr. The forested setting includes multiple perks — like its proximity to the Tunnel of Trees, a popular scenic route. Located across from Lake Michigan, the home has lake access, and the couple protected the land from further development with a conservation easement.
Intended for year-round usage, the casual home features idyllic scenery inside and out, and winter is no exception. “It’s beautiful up here,” Kelly Konoske, president and owner of Cottage Company Interiors, says about her grandparents’ cabin. “It snows until March or April, and it’s pretty pristine, so that makes it cozy. Who doesn’t want to gather with their family for euchre tournaments?”
The snow isn’t the only bright spot at the cabin, as half-log siding joins white beadboard and other light finishes on the interior and the exterior, and a double-sided stone fireplace heats the screen porch and the great room, keeping everyone toasty. “It’s an important feature that added a month (to the porch) before and after the warm-weather seasons, and you can stay outside in the middle of winter and have a cup of hot chocolate,” Rob says.
Although the home has since been sold, and Josie and Bob Jr. now live in the Mossburgs’ guest house, the memories remain for multiple generations. Some traditions Konoske fondly recalls are hunting, hiking, and picking out a Christmas tree on the wooded property, where seasonal celebrations were held in the comfort of the cabin. “Grandma made special meals that were always the same every year. There was holiday music and dancing,” she says. “We have a really tight-knit family and there were really feel-good holiday vibes.”
More Information: cottage-company.com
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