A Sense of Peace
Lakesha Rose creates a refuge in Saugatuck.
In the living room, Lakesha Rose and her dogs, Petey and Coco. Chairs by Kravet, with trims and pillows by Samuel & Sons, and an ottoman by Avery Boardman are designed to withstand lots of use, by both people and pets. Paint by Benjamin Moore, tile fireplace surround by Ann Sacks, and flooring by Exquisite Surfaces.
When Lakesha Rose, of L Rose Interior Design, and her husband James, a sports anchor for ABC 7, decided to build a second home in the country, their mission was to create a place where they felt at peace. The process began with searching for an architect to build a dream home on a piece of property in idyllic Saugatuck, Michigan, a town with about 942 year round residents.
“We really dreamed up this home,” Rose says. She looked through approximately 1,000 architectural plans over the course of several hours, and narrowed it down to two favorites. “Without realizing it, I selected two plans from the same architect, and that was it.” The architect, Wayne Visbene of Visbene Architects, worked with them to create a house that was perfect for their needs. “Form and balance is key to how a house flows,” says Rose. “When I’m not working, I’m cooking and entertaining, so we wanted the house to be a perfect backdrop for that.” She continues, “The best part of this house is how it makes me feel when we are in it. And when we have guests over they say the same thing. It’s such a peaceful place.”
In the kitchen, Dornbracht plumbing through K&B Galleries, and appliances by Sub-Zero and Wolf are set off by Exquisite Surfaces stone and wood floors, and wallpaper and window shades by ROMO.
The home has an open floor plan, with an eight-foot covered porch that leads into a welcoming foyer. The 2100-square-foot first floor includes the spacious, open living room, a centrally located kitchen with a large island, and a formal dining area that can accommodate 10 people. The master bedroom includes a large picture window to let light in, and makes the view of the countryside the main attraction. A covered patio, accessible from both the living and dining room, is a cozy place to curl up in all seasons. “Sometimes I sit out there and before I know it, the day has gone by. It’s such a serene spot.” The porch has a fireplace and can be enclosed by weatherproof clear shades, making it perfect in both summer and winter. “We can maintain that room at 68, even when it’s 25 degrees outside. When the snow comes, we have a front row seat to a winter wonderland, complete with deer and wild turkeys.”
Adjacent to the kitchen, the home has what Rose calls her “grill porch,” which includes an outdoor kitchen and is perfect for outdoor entertaining, which the couple does frequently. “What’s very satisfying to me is that when people come here they always tell me that they
love the way this house makes them feel. We always had a vision of a country farmhouse, and Wayne’s vision incorporates the best of that style, even incorporating some elements of Southern Low Country style into the design.”
The screened porch can be used all year, because of the fireplace and the weatherproof screen or plastic sheeting that closes off the room. Cozy furnishings by Skyline Furniture make this a perfect place to read and relax, or entertain.
“At the end of the day, the only thing you can really control is what happens inside of your home.” —Laksha Rose, L Rose Interior Design
“Our mindset is different when we come out here from Chicago.” Rose sets the mood in the house with a soundtrack that includes French jazz during the day, but she amps up the mood when the couple prepares to go out in the evening. “When we are getting ready to go out to dinner, I switch over to some heavier dinner jazz, and I change the lighting in the bedroom while we get dressed, so that it’s a more sensual atmosphere. Pin lights over the bed, candles, I love creating a mood.”
The color palette in the home, mostly white with touches of green, adds to the mood. “The colors, fabrics, and tones were very important to how I wanted to present this home. It’s sophisticated, but also very comfortable and that is how I want to live.” Rose says that the serenity of the color scheme continues to be popular with her clients as well. “The soft green really attracts people, it appeals to the senses.”
In the all-white master bath (left), an elegant freestanding tub, knobs and pulls by Katonah, and soothing white marble floors complete the spa-like feel. A guest bedroom (top right) on the upper floor is decorated with floral Scalamandré wallpaper. Pillow trim by Samuel & Sons, and paint by Benjamin Moore. The Master bedroom (bottom right), is a personal sanctuary, including neutral fabrics by Schumacher, and Samuel & Sons. Wallpaper by Scalamandré, and drapery by ROMO.
She and her husband plan to retire in this home. “We wanted a place that is designed to have longevity. At the end of the day, the only thing you can really control is what happens inside of your home.”