THE WHOLE JOURNEY

From preservation to renovation to furnishing, the couple followed the vision already laid out by the home’s architect. Here’s an overview of the entire project in each of its phases:

1. FOUNDATIONAL: After Michael and his partner purchased the house, there was a first wave of renovation to preserve the home and make it more functional. This included replacing all the roofs and window panels, installing new energyefficient HVAC systems, installing a whole- house water- softening and filtration system, and switching out old kitchen appliances with their new counterparts while preserving the existing cabinetry.

2. DAY- ONE LIVING: Once the home was move- in ready, the couple furnished all the rooms with a mix of vintage and new pieces. “However, the curating of our home continues, with ongoing inspiration from travel, art galleries, local artisans and new vintage finds,” Michael says.

3. WATERFRONT SUITE LIVING: After living in the house for a few years, and with an understanding of how they wanted to use the bedrooms, the couple set out to renovate the bathrooms with a more open plan to create a waterfront experience for guests throughout the suite. At the same time, they repainted all of the house’s rooms with the same neutral ivory tone to unite all four floors.

4. OUTDOOR LIVING: Once the interiors were furnished, the couple set its sights on the exterior living areas. “We chose only durable furniture pieces for the rear decks and balconies that are easy to quickly hose down for our weekend visits,” Michael notes.

5. SCULPTING THE LANDSCAPE: “The final phase— although I’m sure there will be fun updates made to the property over time— was the landscaping overhaul,” Michael says. He and his partner love the natural setting of the home among 2 acres of forest, but they wanted to soften the “chaos” by planting native evergreen species in ordered arrangements to echo the order of the modern building. To further anchor the house to the site, the couple installed a 5- foot- wide band of gray river jack rock around the perimeter, creating the platform on which the house stands.

NO CHANGES WERE MADE ON THE REAR DECK, WHICH FACES THE WATER. “I KEPT THE FURNITURE PLAN VERY SIMPLE AND NOT OVERCROWDED TO ALLOW THE VIEW TO BE THE FOCUS,” MICHAEL SAYS. THE CHAIRS ARE LIKE OBJECTS OF ART THAT CAN BE MOVED AS NEEDED WHEN THE COUPLE ENTERTAINS. THE CHAIR ON THE LEFT IS A MAGIS SPUN CHAIR BY THOMAS HEATHERWICK; THE CHAIR ON THE RIGHT IS A ROLY POLY CHAIR BY FAYE TOOGOOD.