BY WHEELER KEARNS ARCHITECTS
Overlooking the shores of Lake Michigan, the St. Joseph Beach Residence is designed around a series of outdoor rooms that encourage gathering throughout the day. Among them, a covered terrace overlooking the pool and lake brings together dining, conversation and a custom Kalamazoo outdoor kitchen, making cooking an integral part of the home's connection to the landscape.
Composed of cedar-clad volumes, the home balances familiar residential forms with a restrained contemporary expression. Weathering wood, black steel windows and expansive walls of glass create a quiet material palette that responds naturally to the lakeshore. The street-facing elevation offers privacy and a measured sense of arrival, while the lake-facing facade opens to sweeping views and fills the home with natural light. Warm wood finishes continue throughout the interior, creating a strong visual connection between the home's living spaces and the landscape beyond.
Integrated beneath the terrace canopy, the Kalamazoo outdoor kitchen is designed with the same attention to proportion, materiality and detail found throughout the residence. Kalamazoo cabinetry pairs with the Hybrid Fire Grill, allowing the homeowners to cook with gas, charcoal or wood, individually or in any combination. Positioned alongside the dining terrace rather than apart from it, the kitchen keeps cooking connected to family and guests while taking full advantage of the home's lakefront setting.
Throughout the residence, architecture and outdoor living are carefully intertwined, creating spaces that respond to the changing character of the Lake Michigan shoreline. The result is a home where thoughtful design and exceptional outdoor cooking come together to enrich everyday life.
Photography by Steve Hall | Hall + Merrick Photographers.
