How we Designed a Vacation Rental Home in South Haven, Michigan in 2020

After numerous requests for paint colors at our property named "LuxErie," I opted to write a blog of the design choices! 

How it started: 

In January of 2020, we invested in a house that sat on two city lots.  The home was built in 1875 and had structural issues and couldn't be repaired.  Since the land was in a prime location a block from Lake Michigan and near downtown South Haven, we decided to sub-divide the lots and build two new homes. As we were working on the plans, the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the world. The pandemic contributed to a few months of delay on the project. After staying safe during the Covid-19 lockdown, we finally began the build of our property at 106 Erie Street, which is now named "LuxErie." 

Once we closed on the property, we began working with the architect John Hurst and Associates. By March, we had a plan in place.  We drew up a plan based on a home that was previously built in Saugatuck, MI.  Due to our city lot size, we had to be meticulous about the dimensions.  The house had to be narrow and there were restrictions on lot coverage.  We interviewed builders and found Patrick Murphy Builders out of Douglas, Michigan. It was summer 2020 by the time this was all in place and they were ready to break ground.   

Our vision was to create a higher-end vacation rental property purpose built for guests seeking a vacation rental at the beach.  We had already self-managed two short-term rental properties in the area for 13 years, so we knew the majority of our guests were multi-generational families taking a week's vacation on Lake Michigan. We understood the importance of having large gathering areas, a great kitchen for cooking, outdoor space, and also private space for multiple families or large friend groups.  The pandemic's emphasis on separate spaces and improved sanitation inspired our decision to incorporate several ensuite bedrooms, totaling 6 bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms. 

Our goal was to have the property ready before spring 2021 so we could book guests for the summer, which is the peak season in Michigan.  The build was supposed to take 9 months, which put us on target for this due date.  However, after material delays, it took much longer and wasn't ready until June 2021. We scrambled to get in summer guests for their stays once it was ready.  

Once the LuxErie house was complete, people would stop us at the house to ask, "what is the exterior color?"  Everyone loved it! Four years later, I still have people stop and ask me.  The exterior of this property is composed of LP Smart Side Shake and Board and Batten.  I chose to use a custom color, which is Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue (HC-147).  I have not once regretted that choice! It is a very beachy color and people can never quite distinguish if it is blue or green.  

BM Woodlawn Blue (HC-147) on the exterior 

Now for the fan favorites!  We had recently repainted the interiors of our older homes with SW Sea Salt (SW 6204) and received many compliments on it.  I knew it was an easy choice to utilize at this home as well.  Because the exterior color pulled both blue and green, and Sea Salt has a green hue to it, I wanted a light blue shade as well. I thought SW Topsail (SW 6217) would be the perfect choice to add a more coastal vibe. It is a soft light blue color that goes with everything.

The interior colors are as follows: 

SW Topsail (SW 6217) - Main floor areas, main floor bedroom, and basement

SW Sea Salt (SW 6204) - Upstairs bedrooms

BM Atmospheric (AF 500) - Main floor half bathroom

BM Silver Cloud (BM 2129-40) - Upstairs bathrooms

SW Topsail (SW 6217) in the main floor areas. 

SW Sea Salt (SW 6204) in the upstairs bedrooms. 

BM Silver Cloud (BM 2129-40) in an upstairs bathroom

Cabinets and counters: We knew we wanted a very large island for families who cook together.  The island seating would also provide an additional gathering space.  We chose a mid-range brand of cabinets, Homecrest.  The island and range hood are hickory with fallow stain.  The rest of the cabinetry is alpine white maple with the Sedona style door. The upper cabinets were prepped for glass.  The counters throughout the house are Jasmine White Quartz by Dal Tile.

Light fixtures: The pendant lights are Pottery Barn Flynn Recycled Glass Pendant.  The light above the table is Golden Lighting Haiden Light pendant in burnished chestnut. 

Backsplash tile: Annie Selke Artisanal cream ceramic wall tile. I liked the slightly brown edge on the tiles that made it look aged and would bring together the white and brown details in the cabinetry. 

Hardware: Satin nickel handles on doors, satin nickel knobs on glass uppers, satin nickel cup pulls for the white drawers and bronze cup pulls on island.   

Flooring: Most of the flooring throughout the house is Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) Flooring.  This was an easy choice since it is so close to the beach, the floors are always wet and sandy! We actually had a specific color of Provenza LVP chosen and on order, but then it wasn't in stock when it was time to install.  To keep the project moving, we needed to choose a new color online at the last minute (without seeing it in person!!). It needed to be in stock so the crew could receive and install it as soon as possible. We chose Provenza LVP Jet Set and luckily it turned out great!

The backyard is appointed with pavers that lead to a seating area, firepit, and built-in grill.  We were sure to build a sitting wall near the firepit to allow for plenty of seating in the backyard.  Both the firepit and the grill are on a gas line to ensure the grill is always ready to cook for the guests! 

To curate the lakeside atmosphere, we went to a shop downtown called Shooting Star and we filled the kitchen glass cabinets with South Haven specific decor. We also displayed a nice Great Lakes map in the basement recreation room (pictured below).

One of the unique features about the LuxErie property is the bunk room! Built in bunks were curated straight from my Pinterest favorites list!  I found the perfect navy and white anchor blankets to fit the theme (pictured below).

How it's going: 

We receive many repeat guests at our LuxErie property!  We are currently a "Guest Favorite" and in the top 10% of homes on Airbnb.  On Vrbo, we are rated "Exceptional."  One guest left in their review: "The name says it all. Luxurious, lots of space to relax and talk with friends and family..."  Another review stated: "This was our second stay at Anchor Point and we're already planning our third. The home is absolutely stunning and situated on a lovely street. Pour a cup of coffee and enjoy views of Lake MI from the upper balcony or front porch rocking chairs. So peaceful. There is ample seating and gathering space in the main floor living room and downstairs TV/game room (complete with wine fridge!). Our group enjoyed the comfy couches and cozy fireplace on the main floor as well as the well-equipped kitchen. Walks to the beach and town are easy. This really is the perfect vacation house. The bathrooms in each bedroom are beautiful, clean, and a huge plus! As if the house isn't perfect enough...the hosts are an absolute delight..." 

A guest rated LuxErie their favorite place in South Haven: "We had an absolutely wonderful stay! This beautiful home is a quick walk to the beach and also downtown SoHa. We loved the location. Michael was an awesome host, and the home provided everything we needed. We have been to South Haven several times before, and this was our favorite place by far that we have ever stayed. We will be back!" 

One more review to highlight LuxErie: "By far, this was THE nicest VRBO we have ever rented! To have a six BR, 6.5 bath new home, so well designed and furnished made our group of six older women very happy. Every detail has been thought of with this property - the beds are super comfy, high-quality sheets and towels, the kitchen is stocked with everything you could ever need for a very large gathering. We loved the back patio with the gas fire pit. The easy walk to the beach, a lovely neighborhood to walk around, easy access to great bike trails, lots of places to eat and many cute shops in South Haven, a short ride to Saugatuck--all in all, an OUTSTANDING trip staying at a beautiful home that will be a very hard rental act to follow." 

Building and decorating a short-term vacation rental property can be both fun and challenging! The biggest problems we ran into were general delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic including the flooring being out of stock and the second level deck railing being out of stock, so we weren't able to get the railing I preferred. Looking back, the stress was worth it because we've been able to share the property with many happy guests who were able to create memories and enjoy a great vacation!!  To see the listing for our LuxErie property and all the properties we manage, click here.