This Historic Family Summer House Couldn't Be Saved – But Its Brand New Blue-and-Green Rooms Are an Ode to Nostalgic Summers Gone By

Not every historic home can be saved – but its story can. When a beloved turn-of-the-century summer house overlooking Lake Michigan proved structurally unsalvageable, the only way to preserve its legacy was to begin again. Rather than cling to what remained, the decision was made to start afresh – preserving the spirit, scale, and character of the home while creating a retreat ready to welcome another century of family summers.

For designer Tom Stringer, the result was never about creating a typical new-build. Instead, he envisioned what he calls 'a highly idealized and architecturally similar copy' of the original, layering antiques, treasured family heirlooms, and breezy shades of blue, green, and white to create interiors that feel 'intentionally nostalgic and colorful' – 'a bit of an ode to summer houses from an earlier time period.' Looking around, it's hard to believe this isn't the house that has always stood here.

Although the intention was to renovate the family's beloved summer house, it soon became clear that decades of alterations had taken their toll. 'We began the project with the understanding that this was to be a home renovation, although a significant one,' Tom explains. 'After some exploratory demolition, we came to the understanding that much of the primary structure had been compromised in a series of earlier minor renovations. 'At the end of the day, there just wasn't much worth saving,' he adds. It was a disappointing discovery, but one that opened the door to a more thoughtful way of working.

Rather than attempting to prop up a failing structure, the team set about creating what Tom describes as 'a fairly reasonable replica of the original structure,' making only a handful of carefully considered changes, including the addition of a wraparound porch that would better suit modern family life. The challenge, however, wasn't simply to build a new house. Nestled among Harbor Springs' collection of Victorian-era summer residences, the home needed to feel like it had always belonged. 'It was important that this home blend seamlessly into the fabric of this neighborhood,' Tom says, noting that strict local architectural controls reinforced that ambition.

While the exterior pays tribute to the past, the inside is absolutely designed for the present. The home sits among a cluster of neighboring houses owned by the client's siblings and extended family, making it a natural gathering place throughout the summer. Designed for the fifth generation of the same family to enjoy the property, every room was planned with the ebb and flow of long, carefree summers in mind – from impromptu sleepovers to large family dinners overlooking Lake Michigan.

'The primary need was to modify the existing residence to meet the needs of a young family with three children,' Tom explains. To do that, almost every aspect of the layout was reconsidered. 'We made some critical decisions to relocate the staircase for all four floors, excavate a full-height basement where there had been a crawlspace, and re-order the use of rooms, placing the kitchen in the center of the house where the dining room had been,' he adds. Now, the kitchen enjoys sweeping views across the lake while connecting two distinct dining spaces. 'The more formal dining room faces east and has great morning light, so it is used primarily for breakfast,' Tom says. 'The more casual dining space faces west and overlooks the veranda and view to the water. It has ended up being used primarily for dinners as the early evening light over the lake is beautiful.'

That same thoughtful zoning continues throughout the house. The second floor is anchored by the primary suite alongside guest accommodation, while the third floor belongs almost entirely to the children. Downstairs, a media room, games room, bar, and bunk room create the ultimate destination for rainy afternoons and sleepovers. As Tom puts it, 'There are two floors designed around kids, so that they can be free to do kid things, and there are two floors that center around adults from the two previous generations.'

Tom describes the aesthetic as 'a young traditional point of view.' Painted Swedish Gustavian antiques bring a sense of history, but they're deliberately paired with clean-lined upholstery and furnishings. 'This house was built for summer fun,' he says, 'and we wanted the color palette and overall feeling to be lighthearted and fresh.'

That same carefree spirit runs throughout the home. 'The theme is intentionally nostalgic and colorful,' Tom explains. 'A bit of an ode to summer houses from an earlier time period.' Fresh shades of blue, green, and white form the foundation of the color scheme for the house, while playful moments of pink and golden yellow provide what he calls 'punctuation.' The result is a home that feels unmistakably summery, echoing the shifting hues of Lake Michigan just beyond the windows.

Rather than filling the rooms with decorative objects chosen simply for effect, the family chose to weave generations of their own history into the design. 'Each room contains little collections of nuggets of family history in the form of inherited objects,' Tom says. In the living room, California plein air paintings inherited from the client's father hang above contemporary furnishings and antiques. Shelves in the media room display a cherished collection of Catalina pottery, while the boys' bedrooms celebrate summers past with antique tennis racquets and vintage fishing rods gathered from the family's archives.

If there's one room that perfectly captures the spirit of the house, it's the living room. 'I think it's the living room where the old and new come together more viscerally,' says Tom. It's easy to see why. Occupying half of the main floor, it features a large marble fireplace and doors that exit onto the generous veranda, blurring the line between indoors and out. The palette remains true to the rest of the home, with crisp whites layered against soft blues and leafy greens that echo the landscape beyond.

'The second floor is anchored by the primary bedroom suite, which includes a small office and a private terrace,' Tom notes of the upper floor. Even up here, there's an unmistakable sense of summer. The same thoughtful palette flows into the space, where soft blues, gentle greens, and warm whites create a calming retreat. Vertical paneling wraps the walls and ceiling, adding subtle texture, while woven lamps, tailored upholstery, and crisp linens keep the room feeling relaxed rather than overly formal.

Although the home's palette remains reassuringly consistent, Tom resisted the temptation to make every bedroom feel the same. Instead, each space has its own personality, united by a fresh, summery palette that ties back to the rest of the house. One bedroom embraces a softer, more whimsical mood, with delicate butterfly wallpaper and a turned four-poster bed painted in the palest sage green. While next door, a calmer retreat is built around a sunny window seat dressed in leafy green florals and soft yellow accents – a cozy corner made for relaxing after a day on the lake.

The bathrooms reveal a more playful side of the home's personality. Here, Tom turns up the drama without losing sight of the home's relaxed, lakeside aesthetic. The powder room is perhaps the boldest jewel-box moment in the house, wrapped in an inky blue with a statement accent ceiling. A sculptural mirror takes center stage above the marble basin on vibrant legs. Elsewhere, a family bathroom returns to the home's signature palette with powder blue cabinetry, plaid marble flooring, and playful boating wallpaper – a subtle nod to life outdoors.

Perhaps the most special thing about this project is that it isn't trying to pretend it's old. Instead, it honors everything that made its predecessor so loved, while quietly making space for new traditions to unfold. From sun-filled breakfasts overlooking Lake Michigan to family sleepovers and lazy afternoons spent on the porch, this is a home built with summer in mind. 'Ultimately, it’s the gorgeous views of the lake that feel iconically like summer in Michigan,' Tom says of the soul of the home.

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