This family cottage on Sleeping Bear Bay was planned with guests in mind, featuring an open concept kitchen, dining and living area all with views out to the Manitou islands through windows stretching almost to the floor. The entry door in soft blue stain invites you in with a view through the glass all the way out to the blue waters beyond.  A spectacular wood-burning stone fireplace is the center of the gathering space. Two guest rooms and a boys “compound” upstairs are separated by another of the most dramatic yet welcoming features of the house, a bridge with views out to the water and islands. There is even room on the bridge for chairs to cozy up with a book, or simply to enjoy the view. Interior windows make the area even more open and offer other views to take in from this perfectly designed vantage. The homeowner was inspired to create the same sense of serenity felt on the beach inside the cottage. Locally milled custom floors, tongue-n-groove ceilings, and custom built-ins were stained to evoke the feeling of the driftwood found along the shore. Other accents of blue, or the greens and browns of the woods behind the house, pop up throughout in the tile, cabinetry and furnishings selected by the homeowner. Welcome to the beach.