Owner-specific modifications:
Flip-flopped oven and sink in kitchen
Separated windows on "east" wall of kitchen
Altered deck to wrap around nook
Replaced door in nook with window
Did not build greenhouse
Nestled into the scenic valley of the beautiful St. Joseph River, Niles, Mich., offers a picture-perfect setting for a community that combines the intimacy and charm of a small town with the convenience of a major city—Chicago—only 90 miles away.
This is the setting of Lari Jo and Dan Kulwicki's new home, an attractive farmhouse-style design, boasting Craftsman-like details and a comfortable and unique layout.
In addition to being versatile enough to be built just about anywhere, updated farmhouses, like Plan DW-1999, are becoming more and more popular, alluring home buyers with their handsome, cozy facades and modern, stylish layouts.
Dan and Lari Jo chose Plan DW-1999 because it had nice features on both the front and the back of the home, including a big front porch. In addition, they liked the layout, especially the main-floor master suite, the large windows lining the rear of the home, and the open kitchen and living room.
They also appreciated how accurate and easy-to-read the blueprints were, especially since Dan and his brother constructed the home themselves! "[It was] just the two of us," said Dan. "It was fun." This wasn't Dan's first building project, however. He built the home that he and Lari Jo had previously lived in, as well.
They began building this home in November of 2003, and on Christmas Day of 2004, Dan and Lari Jo received the wonderful gift of moving into their brand-new home. With plenty of windows and relaxing outdoor spaces, the home allows Dan and Lari Jo to enjoy the extraordinary views of their woodsy surroundings.
A vibrant red door invites visitors into the home's foyer, which leads to a bright, octagonal study, where the Kulwickis have displayed two oversized chairs, creating a great space to read or capture a little solace.
On the other side of the foyer, the elegant formal dining room is set off by beautiful columns. A sweeping staircase makes the foyer even more dashing, and leads to a balcony overlooking the whole area.
Highlighting the rear of the home, the wide-open living room is accented by French doors and windows overlooking the backyard and a creek beyond. A handsome stone fireplace warms the room. Perhaps the most astounding part of this room, however, is a unique, 15-foot pipe fan attached to the vaulted ceiling above. The pipe fan was inspired by a similar one that Dan and Lari Jo had seen on a trip to
Las Vegas.
Boasting a wing of its own, the master suite is a romantic haven featuring a stepped ceiling and a wall of windows. Its posh private bath hosts one of the Kulwickis' most-appreciated features of the home: the tile work. Diamond-shaped tiles blend around the whirlpool tub and into the floor, creating a natural look.
The Kulwickis also love the special touches they added to the kitchen, including bloodwood flooring, marble countertops and stainless-steel appliances. The nearby breakfast nook is hugged by a sparkling bay window, making it a fabulous spot for the Kulwickis to enjoy a casual meal.
Two additional bedrooms and a full bath lie upstairs. In the future, Dan and Lari Jo hope to finish the future area, which they currently use as a walk-in attic, and expand the laundry room. Right now, though, the couple is enjoying the fruit of all their labor—their impressive new home.
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