Tucked at the end of a cul-de-sac surrounded by leafy, oak-covered hills sits this charming 1964 Edward Hawkins custom home. From the outside, it appears to be a humble-sized midcentury ranch- but once inside, the interior unfolds into a generous midcentury enclave. Today, it pairs incredible original 1960s build quality with modern design and updates by nationally recognized AD100 interior designer Sarah Sherman Samuel. This fully updated and move-in ready property in Forest Hills Central can be seen on the tv show 'Inspired Interiors with Sarah Sherman Samuel' (streaming on HBO Max) and was recently published in the designer's new monograph for Abrams.
The home is set on a large, private, wooded 1.25 acre lot with 190 feet of meandering Schoolhouse Creek frontage- and in a friendly, established neighborhood near Cascade shopping and dining and close to naturally beautiful parks, the Thornapple River, and downtown Ada. Exceptional construction quality- 16" footings, a 10" cement floor, and 8" thick slab walls- a worthy base for its 2023/24 gut renovation.
The best of the original features were saved- like the wood-clad family room with high ceilings and a unique curving brick wall that sculpturally delineates the space between the kitchen and family room. The dated areas were updated, with some spaces reconfigured for modern living and flow.
Just inside the front door is a living room with recessed window seating that frames a view of the front yard. The adjacent foyer leads to a grasscloth-lined formal dining room, which frames beautiful views of the wooded back yard and creek via floor to ceiling windows.
The kitchen, now a central hub, features a monolithic blue marble island sitting center stage while new floor-to-ceiling windows dissolve the divide between the indoors and the surrounding landscape. The spacious kitchen features a practical drop zone, white oak cabinetry and flooring, and integrated appliances including a Dacor column freezer and refrigerator, Bosch dishwasher, and Cafe range. The curving brick wall hugs a custom eat-in banquette; the kitchen also has a door that opens to the back patio- the perfect placement for grilling. There is a full house filtration system by Gordon Water Systems, with full reverse osmosis water filtration- the refrigerator water is double filtered.
Step down from the kitchen into the original mid-century modern wood-paneled room, where built-in bookshelves flank a limewashed brick fireplace and hearth. New sliders by Marvin lead out to the upper patio, and new hardscaped steps lead from the main level down to the lower walkout patio. All new retaining wall and landscaping.
Since most of us in Michigan enter through the garage in daily life, a practical and aesthetic mud room with heated flooring was added just inside the garage entry- along with a jewel box of a powder room.
The main level bedrooms are on the opposite wing of the home from the kitchen. The primary suite was reconfigured into a spacious bedroom with a terrace, en-suite bath with heated travertine flooring, a marble-topped vanity with dual sinks, a soaking tub, zero step marble shower, designer lighting fixtures, ample closet space, and a convenient laundry stack just out in the hall closet. There are two additional bedrooms on the main level bedroom wing, plus a second full bath with a pistachio-painted vanity, cheerful checkerboard tile, and a terracotta toned floor.
The walkout lower level has a wide hallway leading to the fourth and fifth bedrooms, plus a third full bath and a third living room. There is expansive unfinished, high-ceiling storage in the basement, including charming original built-in cabinets and a second laundry area.
This home has plenty of living space, with natural separation to the spaces, but also room for gathering/hosting and connection to nature. It's a low traffic cul-de-sac in a mid-century neighborhood, and the non-motorized paved trail is just up at Thornapple River Drive.
It's a great location in Cascade- peaceful and secluded but not isolated- located just .9 miles from Harvest Health, 3.3 miles from Costco, 2.2 miles from Thornapple Elementary, .8 miles from Frosty Boy, 1.4 miles from the KDL Cascade Library; convenient to Ada village shopping, dining, and recreation; and an 18 minute drive to downtown Grand Rapids.
The design and construction are done- skip the planning, hiring, quoting, ordering, and renovation phases, and move right in and enjoy this gem!
