Harbert Cottage

The project consists of the extensive remodeling of a 1950s vacation cottage located a block away from Lake Michigan in the tiny hamlet of Harbert, Michigan, which is just north of the Michigan-Indiana border. Sitting on Cherry Beach Road, the dilapidated 1950s structure had been dubbed the Cherry Pit. Its roof was on the verge of collapse and portions of its foundation were sinking into the sandy soils. More than one contractor argued for its demolition. A structure’s physical condition often tells just one part of a home’s story. The client bought the house with a group of friends in 1974 as a weekend getaway. For almost 40 years it served as a social hub of the small vacation community; as long as the owner was around, the house stood no chance of being torn down. Changes to the plan of the house were limited; the kitchen was moved to a more central location and the former kitchen and a series of back rooms were reworked into a master suite. The square footage grew by less than ten percent. The roof structure was completely rebuilt, which had a dramatic impact. Outside, the higher roof profile and metal roofing give the ...