Few families have time to spend an entire summer at their lakeshore cottages.
But rather than leave the summer home unused, extended family can join in to multiply the fun. In Douglas, Mich., for example, six grown siblings worked together to construct their ideal. The Great Room Property was purchased with a period lakeside cottage set on a ravine. The existing structure could not handle the size requirements and activity-level of several families, and the decision was made to create a new house, retaining the romantic aspects of surrounding vintage cottages while adding space and conveniences. Spearheaded by one family member, new construction included six bedrooms plus five and one-half baths.