10/16/2026
How A Narrow Lot Becomes a Lake House That Lives Far Larger Than Its Footprint
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On a narrow lot in Holland, Michigan, Amory proves that a home’s generosity has little to do with its square footage. At 2,775 square feet, this updated traditional lake house is a study in restraint on the outside and invention within.
The façade is composed around two vertical gestures. A tall stair tower clad in shake siding rises beside the entrance porch, its rusticated stone base grounding the composition. A stone chimney bookends the left side of the front elevation in quiet counterbalance. Against the palette of stone, siding, and roofing, blue doors and window sashes land like a well-chosen accent, while asphalt and metal hip roofs with clipped corners, deep eaves, and thick rafter tails lend the profile a handcrafted, settled air.
Inside, the plan unfolds with equal intention. A built-in bench with drawers greets guests in the foyer, a small landing place before the house opens up. Just beyond, the dining table sits on a raised floor, folded into the architecture of the stairs and washed in light from the tower’s oversized windows. The living room, anchored by a stone fireplace, opens through large glass doors to the front porch and extends the floor plan’s entertaining range.
Upstairs, the lake house spirit comes fully into focus. Two pairs of bunk beds occupy the transitional space between the stair tower and the rear bedrooms, and a lounge adjoins them, making room for a houseful of guests. Three further sleeping quarters follow, including a private primary suite with a dressing room of custom built-ins and a double-vanity bath. The final flourish is the rear porch, broad, deep, and screened, a place to linger well into the evening, undisturbed by insects.
“This is a great example of a small home on a narrow lot that we still managed to jam-pack with creativity and unique features.” - Wayne Visbeen

Architect: Visbeen Architects
Builder: David Olsen 
Photography: mbuckstudio
