4 min readA vacation home is meant for those quiet moments when work falls to the back burner and relaxation takes precedence. When it’s close enough to your primary residence, it can function as a weekend escape—or a kind of “prepaid” holiday. For the homeowners of this Northern Michigan retreat on Torch Lake, the desire for everyday life to feel like a getaway became the impetus for a redesign.
To helm the project, they called upon James Dolenc and Tom Riker of James Thomas (reconnecting with Riker after working together years earlier) to transform their lakefront residence into a place that could support long-term, everyday living. While the designers loved the home’s existing architecture—with its dramatic volume, soaring ceilings in the family room, and generous windows throughout—the interiors told a different story.
“It just felt heavy,” Riker recalls. “All the trim, beams, and ceilings were different shades of brown, and they weren’t cohesive.” The solution was simple but not without its challenges: paint everything. The homeowners, a couple nearing retirement, had differing points of view. He was initially hesitant, concerned that painting the custom woodwork would erase its value. She, however, was fully on board. Once both sides agreed, the transformation was swift and dramatic. Those mismatched finishes were unified with a creamy white, creating a calmer, more cohesive backdrop. “The architecture was always great—we just needed to let it shine,” Dolenc says. “Painting the wood really breathed new life into the house.”
From an architectural standpoint, the renovation focused on function. “The house needed to better support full-time living,” says Lucas Goldbach, partner and design director at En Masse Architecture & Design. The team revised key areas to balance expansive gathering spaces with more intimate zones and expanded the main suite for everyday comfort.
Beyond lightening the palette, the house was reworked to improve circulation. A former patio transformed into a four-season dining room; the kitchen expanded to better accommodate a family that loves to entertain; and a glass-lined connector now links the home’s major living spaces. “Our aim was to create clarity and connection while allowing each room to remain distinct,” Goldbach explains. Today, it functions as a full-time residence rather than a seasonal escape—though, true to its vacation roots, there are still plenty of places to nod off while taking in those glorious lake views.
FAST FACTS
Designer: James Thomas
Architect: En Masse Architecture and Design
Location: Lake Torch, Northern Michigan
The Space: A six-bedroom lakeside retreat, reimagined with expanded gathering spaces and a new primary suite.
HALLWAY
Stripes elevate a simple passageway into something special.
A cheerful striped wallpaper by The Pattern Collective adds a touch of Americana, turning this simple pass-through off the upstairs bedrooms into a moment of levity that underscores the home’s relaxed soul.
FAMILY ROOM
Subtle nautical references nod to the home’s lakeside setting.
To complement sweeping views of Torch Lake, one of the home’s most special rooms was refreshed using two shades of Portola Paints limewash. A bowed ceiling echoes the hull of a ship.
PASSTHROUGH
Part landing zone, part gallery wall, the entry establishes the home’s easy sophistication.
A glass-lined connector links the great room to the kitchen, turning circulation into a place to gather. The petite room offers a cozy counterpoint to the home’s lighter palette and holds nearly 60 pieces of art.
SUNROOM
Now enclosed and heated, the former patio extends the entertaining season well beyond summer.
A dark, uninviting patio was transformed into a sun-flooded four-season retreat. “Even in winter, it has a vacation element,” Riker says.
BREAKFAST NOOK
Durable textiles and relaxed finishes make this a prime gathering spot.
Upholstered in a John Robshaw performance fabric, a custom banquette is the go-to spot for informal meals. An oversize rattan pendant and hand-distressed table by Palecek reinforce the spot’s lakeside appeal.
KITCHEN
Tabletop lighting reframes the island as a gathering spot, rather than a prep station.
Inspired by classic library tables, the designers wired lamps directly into the kitchen island—an unexpected move that gives the hardworking surface the warmth of a furnished room. “It has that kind of moody, slightly English feel; it’s just warmer and more surprising,” Riker says.
LAUNDRY ROOM
Everyday chores are unexpectedly joyful in this verdant space.
The homeowners asked for a utility space that felt “fun and special,” a brief that the designers fully embraced with checkerboard tile from The Fine Line and fresh green cabinetry.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Architectural adjustments and strategic paneling temper this bedroom's lofted scale.
“One of the challenges of this room was how to make it feel intimate,” Dolenc says. Originally designed as a double-decker lofted bedroom, the space takes on a treehouse-like quality that feels especially appropriate for Northern Michigan. Paneled wood walls help bring the scale down, creating a calm atmosphere.
PRIMARY BATH
Warm wood tones and tailored finishes carry the home’s refined sensibility.
To keep the vanity area usable while maintaining the light that floods the room, the design team hung the mirror in front of the windows, marrying form with function.
OFFICE
Retained wood paneling gives the study a cocooning feel.
Part of the primary suite, the study is one of the few spaces where the wood remains in its natural state. With subtle nautical references, it feels like a “cozy hug” before entering the bedroom. Paneling that stops short of the ceiling helps to visually lighten the room.
GUEST ROOM
A subtle color palette conveys rest and relaxation.
Designed to double as a room for the homeowners’ daughter, this space features a daybed beneath the window for lounging and reflection.
About the Designers
James Dolenc and Tom Riker are the principals of James Thomas, a Chicago-based design firm known for creating curated, deeply personal homes that feel both timeless and current. Dolenc draws inspiration from classic East Coast architecture and the openness of the American West, blending historic sensibility with light, airy warmth. Riker’s foundation in antiques and architectural training informs his layered, textural approach, rooted in careful listening and collaboration with clients. Together, they design interiors that balance nostalgia with modern refinement—spaces that feel collected, livable, and enduring.
