Northern Michigan is exceptionally lovely in the summertime with its long, warm, sunny days, and many gorgeous beaches and vistas. In order to be able to enjoy everything their property has to offer, many of our client families have focused on extending their living spaces outdoors. In this blog we will highlight some of the ways that Eastmark Construction has made outdoor living rewarding in the beautiful homes we build.
Building Homes that Best Use Their Natural Settings
Part of the process of planning your dream home build is determining how you will use your home. This revolves around deciding what is truly important to include in your home based on the needs of your family and your lifestyle. Often collective spaces like kitchens and living areas are a focus because that’s where people spend the most rewarding parts of their days. This is true with outdoor living spaces as well.
Adding a gathering space like a patio is a very popular choice for most families. It’s common to organize this space around a fire pit and near water so that people can experience the excitement of all the elements – earth, wind, fire, water – together. There’s nothing like roasting weenies or making smores over a big fire while watching the sun go down and hearing the water lap up on the shore. It makes for perfect summer nights.
When the sun is shining and the breeze is warm, dining al fresco is the best way to experience a meal. We have built many spacious decks with plenty of room for dining and entertaining. Other families design their dream homes to include porches or gazebos with more shelter from the wind or rain. We built this large covered porch area on our Glen Arbor home. It features multiple seating areas to accommodate guest or family groups as well as a built-in grill for outdoor cooking.
Another dining possibility that more people are choosing is adding a NanaWall door and window system. This allows for a seamless indoor/outdoor transition. NanaWall bi-folding glass doors and windows can be opened when the weather is nice so that traffic can flow smoothly from kitchen or living room to porch or patio without banging doors or a crowd bottleneck. For families who love having larger parties but don’t love carrying food and drinks in and out through a narrow doorway, it’s a great choice.
Water sports are another huge draw for those who love the lake life. Some people can’t wait for spring when they can take that first cold swim or get the boat installed for boating and waterskiing. Others prefer to dangle their legs over the end of a dock or to soak in a clean, warm hot tub. We can build any number of features that will allow all the members of your family to fully enjoy the waterfront. If you can dream it, we can build it.
In the summer moving from indoor to outdoor living should be seamless. Whether cooking, eating, recreating, socializing, or just relaxing and enjoying the view, lake life is outdoor living at its finest. The slower, more relaxed lifestyle of Northern Michigan – where the towns are small, the people are friendly, and the natural environment is stunningly beautiful – is so rewarding. If you’re thinking about building your dream home here, please contact us at Eastmark Construction. We would love to talk with you about your ideas and how we can make them a reality.