Whittle House is the name of the residence owned by my good friend Michelle Siterlet. In my opinion, Michelle is a decorator like no other! Of course, I could be a little prejudiced because I like her a whole lot...but I do know that her last home in Rockford was also very beautiful and tastefully done and Michelle has worked free-lance as a decorator for an upscale realty firm in Cadillac. Michelle also helped me select the color palette for my home when I repainted the entire interior last fall. She has promised to return for a pull-together session at my house very soon for which there will be before and after photos-I swear I will share those with you on this blog!
The very first time I visited at Whittle House I just knew I'd end up doing a story about it.I loved the house the minute I saw it.I've been increasingly impressed ever since. The transformation from run-down old farmhouse to it's current state of beauty is a tribute to the hard work, talent, vision, and labor of love that Michelle has poured out to create this home.
Michelle has always loved cleaning, organizing, decorating, restoring, designing-in general, she gets joy out of making things better than they were before. I met Michelle and became friends with her when Tyler and her son Shawn were in program schools at the same time. We were in the same family support group and Michelle and I became fast friends. That friendship has lasted long past the old program days. Our sons are now grown young men. We have seen each other through thick and thin in the years since becoming friends.
Back to Whittle House...somewhere around 2005, Michelle began to look for a home to restore. On one of her drives, she discovered Whittle House. It looked a lot different than it does now to be sure! Michelle could see past all of that to the incredible potential there.
Once Whittle House was purchased, Michelle spent a lot of time researching the history of the house and the building trends and detailing common to houses built during this period. She sought out craftsmen who could replicate the original woodwork where the original could not be restored.
Michelle also put in some creative little niches of her own and unique window configurations.
She chose and oversaw the use of the motifs used on the wood turnings for the exterior of the house.
All the paint colors, tile, flooring and kitchen design were to her individual specifications.
The conservatory, not part of the original home, was also her idea.
After the house was reworked inside and out, Michelle set about decorating. Being a friend of Michelle's and knowing her quite well, I can honestly say that I have never seen a house before that so reflected the very being of the person who lives within the walls. Every nook and cranny, every room, every hall, every picture or piece of furniture reminds me of Michelle to the nth degree! If you want to really know who Michelle is as a person, all you have to do is look around this home. You will come away with a sense of peace, warmth and family.
Michelle also put in some creative little niches of her own and unique window configurations.
She chose and oversaw the use of the motifs used on the wood turnings for the exterior of the house.
All the paint colors, tile, flooring and kitchen design were to her individual specifications.
The conservatory, not part of the original home, was also her idea.
Last fall I stayed overnight at Whittle House so that we could go to the Plaid Festival in Cedar Springs. I slept like a rock in the guest room and felt very much at home. The guest room faces a pasture area across the road where many beautiful horses run and play in the early morning hours. It was so picturesque. It was hard to convince myself to go home!
In case any of you out there reading this are interested, circumstances beyond Michelle's control have forced her to place this gorgeous home on the market. If you are interested or know someone who might be, feel free to call her. Michelle does offer her decorating services free-lance for a reasonable fee. If you would like to talk to Michelle about your decorating needs, you can contact her at 616-874-1554H., 616-293-4982C. or email her at capri3@hughes.net.
I hope you have enjoyed this pictorial tour as much as I have enjoyed bringing it to you. We all have our own hopes and dreams regarding our sacred spaces called HOME. Looking at the beautiful pictures of Michelle's Whittle House has inspired me to dream a little bigger!
If you would like to see the entire web album on picasaweb, put this address in your browser: http://picasaweb.google.com/baker.lana9
OR click on my picasa web link at the side of this blog under the heading, "i likes it, i likes it a lot"
If you would like to see the entire web album on picasaweb, put this address in your browser: http://picasaweb.google.com/baker.lana9
OR click on my picasa web link at the side of this blog under the heading, "i likes it, i likes it a lot"
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