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monoprint.
The owners first began collecting the Charlevoix artist's work dur-
ing trips to art fairs in the early 1970s. This print, which hung in their
downstate home for nearly 25 years, is a favorite.
The walls are bare except for carefully selected art. Another print,
Tom Christopher's Red Nude Dreaming of Trout Fishing in Michigan,
was a gift from one of the husband's fishing buddies.
Fish and fishing items are scattered through the house. Whimsi-
cal fabric and metal fist sculptures from the husband's office collection
add a light touch, as do the wrought-iron fish chairs near the kitchen.
The wife found the fish-shaped chairs during a theater and shopping
weekend in New York with a friend last winter. `We spotted them in
Macy's Cellar," she says, describing the wrought-iron fish standing on
their tails with woven reed seats. 'They just went with the other fisher-
abilia' that we have, and I had to buy them."
Birdhouses and feeders are another theme. A hummingbird feeder
hangs outside in view of the dining table. Other bird feeders are scat-
tered throughout the property.
One special birdhouse remains indoors. "I liked it too much to let
it deteriorate outdoors," says the wife.
The small wooden house with the copper roof has a special spot
on a ledge in the great room next to the split fieldstone fireplace, which
reaches to the top of the cedar ceiling.
The ceiling itself is a masterpiece, constructed of select knotty-grade
cedar paneling — some of the highest quality cedar available. The light-
ly varnished boards complement the home's other wood trim, and lend
a rustic, yet sophisticated air to the room.
The owners marvel at how smoothly the building process went. "In
our business we work with the tradesmen," says the husband. "We
know the difference between bad and good. Gordon is just outstand-
ing. The detailing is just as a tradesman would do for himself."
Gordon Converse attributes the special touches to the trust he felt
The dramatic loft in this bedroom offers a spectacular view of the lake. The from the owners. "They were so appreciative and amazed; we kept
black leather recliner is perfect for relaxing.
wanting to do a better job for them."
Around the corner from the great room is a compact kitchen. The
The home's interior imparts the same sense of calm. Unlike their
wife describes it as "small, but large enough for one of everything."
contemporary Oakland County home, this second home mixes mod-
The kitchen actually feels larger than it is, primarily because of a cut-
ern furniture with antiques the couple collect during leisurely after-
out wall that looks out onto the dining area and water.
noons at antique marts and auctions in the area.
The home is built for ease of care. The owners like to relax during
At the entrance to the home, weathered verdigris wind chimes swing
their visits and don't want to be both-
slowly in the breeze.
ered with scrubbing and dusting.
The entry contains antique wood-
Kentile Terresque tile lines the
en crates for muddy shoes and gar-
kitchen, bathroom and foyer floors.
dening tools. A reproduction of a
The floor covering looks like quar-
Farmer's Almanac cover from 1792
ry tile, but is much easier on the feet
hangs on the wall across from the
and easier to clean.
front door.
A hallway leads from the kitchen
Through a window in the front en-
to two back bedrooms. Along one
tryway, visitors catch a glimpse of the
wall, an old-fashioned telephone sits
lake as they walk in, but the most spec-
on a shelf, with its ringer box on the
tacular indoor view is around the cor-
wall. A stackable washer and dryer
ner, through the windows in the great
rest discreetly behind folding doors.
room.
The first bedroom is the more sub-
The showcase of the house, the
dued of the two, complete with a pastel watercolor bed ensemble and
great room features a bow-window front with a full wall of glass from
natural wicker headboard. An antique dresser and standing lamp com-
the main floor up to the second-story ceiling.
plete the decor.
The dining table is in a corner of the great room so that diners can
The lamp, with its delicate curving design, is toped with a reserve-
see the lake. The table and matching sideboard are Scottish oak from
painted glass shade. 'This lamp is unusual because the original shade
the turn of the century. A Sears and Roebuck treadle sewing machine,
is intact," the wife says. 'They're usually reproductions."
also from the early 1900s, sits across the room near an early Sue Bolt

"When I got to the top of the hill
and saw the lake for the first time,
I knew this was it"
A balcony off the northern doonNall
provides an ideal spot to sit and
drink coffee or watch the birds.

14 • FALL 1993 • STYI-E.

