This project was completed in late summer 2023. The home is situated on a 5-acre lot in Grand Traverse County, with over 300 feet of frontage on Duck Lake. It boasts a natural stream that winds through the woodland into the lake. Inhabitect was hired to provide a land use plan and landscape design for the entire estate and deliver conceptual designs for future phases of the project.

The drawing set provided to our client included numerous details, sections, and other elements to ensure the customer could visualize the plans we recommended for their home. We worked closely with them and their builder throughout the entire project.
Inhabitect started the first phase of this installation in late 2021 and installed native, adapted, and non-invasive plant material in early 2022. Our first phase included earthwork and the installation of several large limestone retaining walls, flagstone pathways, irrigation, landscape lighting and large perimeter plantings.

The phases that were finished in 2023 included an update to the grand entrance with upgraded lighting and automatic gate, low flow irrigation, numerous limestone outcroppings, additional walls & pathways, as well as an upgraded beach and fire pit area. The “crown jewel” of the project was the removal of the hard-armor steel seawall that stretched along this beautiful shoreline. Inhabitect removed this wall and replaced it with a bioengineered natural shoreline that allows wildlife and owners easier access to the lake. This change also included the addition of native shoreline plants and even fish structures (cedar trees) that extend into the lake itself.

Future phases will include a beachside tiki bar, changing room and an additional firepit area. 100% of the plant materials are non-invasive, adapted, or native to Michigan. Great care is being taken to protect the natural features of the site during construction. The entire site is being designed to be low maintenance and ecologically friendly.