Designer, Contractor Collaboration Curries Public’s Favor

HARBOR SPRINGS, MI —
Some homes are pure fantasy. Others are purely functional. Few strike the perfect balance. And fewer still do it in such a way that it still has broad appeal.

However, the home that was designed by Joe R. Blasius and Jenny Pytleski does just that. The spec home was a model of collaboration without compromising style or function.

Blasius and Pytleski built it to spark the imagination of the vacationer who buys property that captures the peaceful, woodsy, natural feel of this northern Michigan town and showcase the area’s distinct rustic style.

Simultaneously, it also needed to not only speak to the needs of a local family who would fall in love with the style and surroundings, but stand the test of time in terms of design, function and overall practicality.

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN

Their efforts not only struck the right balance between both design mandates, but struck the right chord with the public who toured it as part of the first Parade of Homes for Charlevoix/Emmet County in northern Michigan – so much so that it was named the Parade of Homes People’s Choice Winner.

Blasius and Pytleski decided to enter the house that’s set on a wooded lot into the Parade of Homes, which was sponsored by the Little Traverse Association of Home Builders (LTAHB), because they both felt that it “offers people something different. It offers warmth, beauty, comfort, texture, a smart design and great product selections to create a rustic, yet elegant home. The house is designed to accommodate couples with living space that is adaptable to current and changing needs of a family,” says Blasius, who owns Lake Front Contracting in Harbor Springs, MI, with his wife, Cindy. Lake Front is a design/build custom home builder that creates its own projects.

“Many of towns located in these counties are considered resort areas. Both counties are in the Great Lakes region, which provide plenty of outdoor recreation for people throughout the year. People from all over the world visit this recreational playground,” elaborates Blasius.

“The first goal of the LTAHB was to develop a marketing strategy to promote the builders of the area and provide an opportunity for the public to meet directly with the builders and see their product first-hand. The second was to create a great opportunity for both the local residents and visitors to see the diverse style of homes built in the area.”

The contest was judged by a panel of local professionals who specialize in specific areas in the construction industry as well as other members of home building associations in Michigan. The public was asked to judge their favorite home. The criteria used to judge the homes were based on design, appeal, quality and craftsmanship. The main award is the People’s Choice Award.

“Out of all of the awards we could have won, the People’s Choice is the one we wanted. It signifies that we did our job. It’s validation that the home is in keeping with that area, which is a mix of vacation and full-time homes, ranging from the mid-end to ultra high-end,” adds Pytleski, who owns Jenny Ann’s Cabinetry, which has two locations: one in Troy, MI featuring a 2,500-sq.-ft. showroom open to the trade only, and one in Lakeport, MI.

“The judges were impressed with the overall design, quality of selections in the home, quality of construction and attention to detail. The public agreed. Not only did they make mention of the quality of the home and smart layout, but they also liked the overall feel of the home – especially the kitchen and the master bath,” relates Blasius.

The Parade of Homes took place in mid-July last year. The public was allowed to tour the homes during an eight-day time period. Seventeen homes where showcased throughout the two counties. The locations of the homes provided the public with an opportunity to tour lakefront homes and homes in the middle of the subdivisions, open landscapes, gated communities, golf communities and new developments. Home prices ranged from an estimated $450,000 to $4.5 million. The builders who entered the contest ranged from high-end custom builders, production builders and large building companies to smaller companies and one-person builders.