Checking In Special Guests
Retirement should feel like a permanent vacation, right? Tony and Fran Fortuna certainly thought so. That’s why they decided that when the time came to leave their jobs, they wanted to commute home to a lakeside resort — where the couple, their friends and their family were the only guests.
The Fortunas had the land: an idyllic, wooded property in northern Michigan along the shore of a 10-acre spring-fed lake. All they needed was a log home to turn it into their own rustic retreat. After touring a Town + Country Cedar Homes model, Tony and Fran decided we were just the company to entrust with their “nest egg.” Not only did they like our turn-key log home package, but they also appreciated our hybrid wall system, which allows for greater design flexibility and creates a stronger log structure.
That ability to adapt and modify was important to the Fortunas as they customized the model floorplan into a 6,300-square-foot home with the amenities of a grand lodge, including two kitchens (one for cooking, the other for canning), a two-story turret, bedroom-bathroom suites, a downstairs bar, and even a home theater. You feel like you’re on vacation the minute you pull up to the Fortuna residence, which features White Cedar accented with chinking for a rustic look. Step through the intricately carved door into the foyer and you’re greeted by a grand, half-log staircase that connects to a lofted catwalk complete with twig railings. The other side of the catwalk overlooks the great room, which features a massive river rock fireplace (one of two in the home) and dramatic king post trusses.
Town + Country stuck by the Fortunas throughout the entire construction process, working not only as the log producer, but also as the general contractor and project manager. When it was time for us to check out, the Fortunas were able to check right in to their very own lakeside resort. We hope they’ve enjoyed their stay.
