31 michigandesign.com Bay in Harbor Springs, a winsome town in northwest Michigan where many metro Detroiters and Chicagoans own vacation retreats. The home, designed for a family of four from Bloomfield Hills, is spacious without being sprawling, elegant without feeling stiff. Serba had a vision, but it took some work to unfold. After looking at plans for the house, the homeowners were dismayed by the daunting scale and turned to Serba for advice. “They wanted comfortable, cozy spaces that were not too large, but the original plans called for huge rooms with 12-foot ceilings. The house was something like 11,000 square feet and filled the entire lot,” Serba says. “The kitchen also had two islands; it wasn’t cozy and the house had lost its charm.” It was precisely what the clients didn’t want, so Serba worked with a builder to devise a plan with a more intimate feel. As a result, the home has a timeless yet fresh quality. Originally built in the early 1900s, the structure was partially razed, though most of it is new. It was once home to a bishop, and an architectural detail left no doubt about its owner’s vocation. “A room that was torn off that is now the master bedroom had an altar at the end of the room,” Serba explains. “We worked with an amazing builder,” he adds. “He took what I had sketched and then went further with space planning and added a second story, making it look as though the house had been there for a very long time.” As a result, the home has a timeless yet fresh quality. The interior feels An antique Scandinavian tall-case clock and antique bench lend whimsy to the foyer. Toss pillow fabric: LEE JOFA, SUITE 105 | Toss pillow welt fabric: KRAVET, SUITE 105 Seat cushion fabric: LEE JOFA, SUITE 105 OPPOSITE PAGE | The dining room leads into the sun porch through French doors. The blue-hued room has gorgeous views of the water. Wicker furniture cushion fabric: PINDLER, SUITE 69 | Valance fabric – Cowtan & Tout: TENNANT & ASSOCIATES, SUITE 61 | Valance tape trim and cord – Samuel & Sons: TENNANT & ASSOCIATES, SUITE 61 | Dining chair seat cushion fabric: DURALEE, SUITE 38 Dining chair cushion cord and tie fabric – Glant: TENNANT & ASSOCIATES, SUITE 61
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