Vineyard Vibes

Set high on a hillside above Little Traverse Bay, this is the home McBride co-owner Aaron Cummings built for himself and his wife, Ashley, on a site a previous builder and architect had deemed unbuildable. The land falls away steeply on both sides, and the road sits above any practical floor level. Rather than impose a plan on the land, the team let the house follow it, guided by a single priority: the view.

The site demanded careful engineering. The foundation steps down the slope at least five times, three-foot floor trusses raise the main level to its full vantage, and a precast concrete plank garage floor keeps the garage level with the living spaces while creating finished rooms beneath. An insulated concrete form foundation and a steel moment frame are built to withstand the full force of Northern Michigan's seasons.

To the west, walls of black-framed glass open the home to the bay, and a wraparound deck with frameless glass railings carries the living space out into the treetops. Inside, a boldly veined waterfall island anchors the open main level, tempered by light oak cabinetry, black accents, and brass fixtures.

Daily life unfolds on a single level, with no stairs between the garage, kitchen, and principal suite, while a finished walkout below adds nearly 4,000 square feet for guests and gathering. The result is a modern home shaped around the way Aaron and Ashley intend to live for the next twenty years.

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