6074 Columbia St, Haslett, MI 48840
Refresh // Rework
Redefining room roles in this 100 year old lake home.
the area
This house sits on Lake Lansing, an all sports lake nestled in a densely populated, top tier school district.
Vacant lots are nearly non-existent here. Potential owners are generally left with renovating old cottages to meet their contemporary needs.
the lot
This particular house has been on the market for quite some time, and the price was recently dropped. My first impression is that the lot is fantastic. It features a two-tiered grassy area, peppered with mature trees and a gorgeous evergreen all while leaving a great view of the water. There currently isn’t much of an outdoor living area, so the buyer could create whatever outdoor living space they prefer.
the house
The inside was updated probably around the late 90’s and early 2000’s. While livable as is, a little reimagining of the space and interior refresh could really make this 100+ year old cottage shine.
If you want to know more about what I do and why, you can read a little more here.
If you’re interested in the details behind the redesign, read on. If you love before and after images see the gallery below. To walk-through the virtual design click on one of the buttons to explore the dramatic transformation with a 3D or VR tour.
Current floor plan
Too many spaces for eating, small living area
Currently the house features casual dining in small room adjacent to the entry, and an eat-up bar in the kitchen. The largest room is being used as the formal dining area. While convenient to the kitchen, its size could be better utilized. The room with the view is the living room, with a small TV wedged in between a room full of windows.
Before and after | plan 1
Plan 1 - Minimal changes, for cost effectiveness
This option does not involve much remodeling, but rather opts for cosmetic changes and utilizing the space in a different way.
A wall with french doors divides the small room off the entry. This creates two distinct spaces; a dedicated entry, and a cozy office or den.
The current living room becomes a lovely dining space with a view of the lake.
The large room currently serving as the dining room, becomes a living room with a large tv hung above the fireplace, and a generous sectional.
There are two different designs for the kitchen with this plan. The one featured here is very close to the current layout, but relocates the stove and adds a prep sink.
Contact me for more images of the alternate kitchen design, or check out my TikTok - @indecisivedesign.
current floor plan
proposed floor plan
Plan 2 - Remodel, refresh
This plan is more involved. It creates more logical flow and builds out features that make sense for a lake house.
The first major change involves relocating the entry. The new entry features an immediate view of the lake. A small bump out captures the warm southern sun and offers a space to take off shoes with a convenient built-in bench.
Because the old entry can now be closed off, this area becomes much more useful. In this plan it becomes a dining room with banquette seating. If one wanted the dining room in the sitting room (room with the view), this new area could also be used as an extra bedroom or office.
The kitchen layout changes to create a tight functional work triangle. The original mudroom entrance to the kitchen is closed off allowing a large continuous counter and an uninterrupted work space. A large island with built in seating for 5 is a great spot for prep and would likely be a popular gathering place for guests.
A new hall directs traffic through the former full bath. This trades a full bath for a half with access to an outdoor shower. The outdoor shower area allows people to rinse off during the summer months and is great for keeping lake mess and towels outside.
current floor plan
proposed floor plan
Explore the dramatic transformation
There is more content to browse. “Walk” around the space virtually on your computer or device. For an immersive experience do a virtual reality walk through. You can do a 3D tour affordably with a Google Cardboard VR headset or for an even more realistic experience, use a Meta VR headset.