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These cozy summer lake cottages in the heart of Sleeping Bear Dunes are viewed against a backdrop of early summer tourism in the first half of the twentieth century in Michigan. Each cottage is shown in its glory and reveals its importance in the lives of its owners and the community
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She works one-on-one with the architect and/or builder on the blueprints and she’s involved in the design from the ground up. She’s there on the property, helping determine which way the home should face in order to best meld with the property, She even consults with the landscapers, and considers the landscape when picking out all the exterior colors and materials, she really ensures the entire project has a "cohesive flow" ”
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Dorina has worked on projects with us for the past 8 years. She brings much design and warmth to every home. The clients have truly enjoyed working with her from start to finish. She may start as early as the blueprint stage or as late as decorating with furniture and window treatments but, whichever stage she has started the project at, the end result is always the same – Attention to Detail.
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One of the most distinguished homes in Traverse City, the 1905 built W. Cary Hull House has been painstakingly restored to its previous splendor, due to the creativity of local designers and decorative artists. Dorina’s vision brought colors, decorative finishes, rugs, fabrics and accessories together creating a warm and inviting step back in time. These rooms in the Wellington Inn are unique in that she incorporated original furnishings and finishes, utilizing items that were purchased for the home.
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She specializes in cottage style, whether New England, Adirondack, Sea Side or Vintage. From rooflines, windows and light fixtures to flooring, cabinets, color and texture, to drapes, furnishing and landscaping, Dorina can help create what many can only imagine.
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Retreats such as these are most often referred to as “the cottage,” though depending on where you live in the Great Lakes area, they may be called the cabin, camp or just “the lake.” Many of these enchanted places have witnessed the love and caring of several generations; others are newly discovered or created treasures.
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A flower lined flagstone path graced by a wrought-iron arbor and stone planters meanders from the driveway to the cottage. She lives and gardens here, where thousands of beautiful flowers pay tutelage to her grandfather, to a friend’s inspiration, and to her past.
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The place exudes charm and deserves the name given: The Enchanted Cottage. She chose materials that reflect the cottage’s roots. She used specialized divided light windows that match those in the old kitchen, and matched the cottage’s warm knotty-pine interior with the lowest grade of pine for the stairway, trim, baseboards and kitchen cabinets. She scoured the markets for deals, reused old materials and found bargains. Her home drew the attention of three contractors who liked her ideas so much, they offered her jobs. She opted instead to open her own design business called “Design Strategies.”
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