Michigan Lake Cottage - Spring Fling 2012

My project is titled Michigan Lake Cottage; it was inspired by the beautiful Grand Traverse Bay area, which I am lucky to call home.

The solar panel on the roof of the cottage powers the lights; there are two basement window wells on the side of the house which aren't visible in the pictures, which are lit and look fantastic in the dark. The solar panel, LED lights and their mechanics are from a disassembled yard light; the circuit board and battery are under the house, accessed through the bottom of the base. The light fixtures were made from scratch.

The tiling in the kitchen was done by hand, the 1/4" by 1/8" tiles were punched from paint sample cards. The 3/4" scale furniture is refinished vintage Lundy, with the exception of the modern chair, which I purchased and sized down, and the tables and plant-stands in the living room and the butcher block cabinet in the kitchen, which I built. I also made the tree, as well as all the shrubbery, flowers and houseplants; most of the flowers and houseplants were assembled from kits, a few were made from scratch. I whittled the split rail fence from a fallen branch, the brick walk and the brick on the foundation were made with egg cartons, the gate was fashioned from strips of leftover wood, and the fire pit from a candleholder. The fire pit was actually set ablaze in order to give the logs inside a proper charred look.

Because of the large windows I cut into the front of the house and the sun room made from the greenhouse addition, I fashioned a back wall for the cottage to keep one from seeing all the way through the house. The back wall is held on with magnets.