Forest Edge Escape

The “Forest Edge Escape” is tucked along a winding drive near the lakeshore in Holland, pairing a striking storybook silhouette with a warm, modern interior. Steep gables, a row of dormers and charcoal siding give the exterior a quiet confidence among the trees, while black-framed windows draw the forest into every room. Inside, the great room rises to a vaulted shiplap ceiling, anchored by a floor-to-ceiling tiled fireplace and custom built-ins. The open plan flows easily into a dining area and a kitchen finished in rich walnut cabinetry, natural stone and handmade tile.

Thoughtful craftsmanship carries through the rest of the home. A sunroom wrapped in deep green paneling and a wall of windows offers a fireside retreat in every season, and an oak staircase climbs beneath a cascade of globe pendants to a loft overlooking the great room. Upstairs, a book-lined library hall ends in a built-in reading nook, a space as inviting as it is unexpected. The primary bath completes the picture with a deep soaking tub set in blue tile, a serene finish to a home built by Vander Meulen Builders to feel at once dramatic and deeply livable.