Delightful Open Kitchen Shelving Ideas - featured image

Open shelving in kitchens, most often stirs up one of two reactions: You either like or dislike them. We think that the open shelving we did for the owners of a Lake Michigan home turned out quite extraordinary. We can’t take all the credit however, as the homeowner beautifully organized the shelves. The result is visually appealing as you can see. The combination of warm white cabinets and shelves with natural wood counter tops give the kitchen an organic, cottage-like feel. The entire space exudes warmth and hospitality.

The reasons to like open-shelving is apparent. Open shelves provide an opportunity for one to display dishes and collectibles. They are a great design element that can make a room look and feel bigger. Some may say that open shelves tend to give a European flair to the room. They can be functional by eliminating the need to open and close doors as everything is clearly within sight and reach. People who like open shelves may find the necessity of keeping them tidy as an incentive rather than a deterrent. People who do not like the idea of open shelves normally loathe the idea, feeling that the necessity to keep them organized and clean is the source of their disdain. The visual effect of open shelves may also be seen as clutter rather than art to them. There are many open kitchen shelving ideas out their, you might just like it.

What side of the open kitchen shelving debate do you fall on?

Mason Construction is all about improving your quality of life. We genuinely care about people and our community. We have integrity. We specialize in building quality custom homes and home remodeling projects. If you are looking for a reputable custom home builder, please contact me at Mason Construction (231) 642-0724.

Winter’s Pleasures - featured image

As a custom home builder for Northern Michigan, Mason Construction clients often embrace cottage style and lake living. Our minds often relish in the visions of summer and beach activities. With winter just around the corner, we would like to offer a different perspective, one that includes soft fluffy snow, crystal ice-topped lakes, warm companionship, and winter recreational activities.

Traverse City and its surrounding communities have so much to offer the outdoor enthusiast during the winter months. Consider snowmobiling, skiing/snowboarding, cross-country skiing, tubing, tobogganing, and snowshoeing. Traverse City True North is a wonderful resource and great place to start when making your outdoor recreational plans. You can even download a mobile app called Experience 231 that offers locals access to over 300 year-round outdoor activities.

Winter is also a time to savor the comforts of home. Home is where family and friends can gather around the warmth of a fire, snuggle up in blankets, and sip on warm drinks. Home is where the candles are lit. It may be time to dust off your favorite boards games, or learn a new game perhaps cribbage, backgammon, or chess. Its fun to play the oldies but goodies like checkers, Monopoly, and Life. During the summer months you may not make reading a priority. Winter is a good time to visit our local Traverse City District Library or bookstores. We have a great selection of bookstores to choose from such as Horizon Books, Brilliant Books, and The Bookie Joint which is the city’s premier used book store. Why not indulge in a new book, something fictional just for fun, or non-fictional for personal growth?

Get into the kitchen to try out new recipes. Did you know that Oryana, Fustini’s and Northwestern Michigan College offer cooking classes? Why not take a class, then put on a new apron and utilize your own home kitchen creating a fabulous new dinner for your family and friends during the holidays.

Whatever activity fills your senses ~ do that!

Mason Construction is all about improving your quality of life. We genuinely care about people and our community. We have integrity. We specialize in building quality custom homes and home remodeling projects.

If you are looking for a reputable builder, please contact me at Mason Construction (231) 642-0724.

Cottage Style Eye Candy - featured image

Being part of the Glen Lake Cottage renovation has truly been a fulfilling experience for me as a contractor. Having the opportunity to renovate a home filled with memories dating back to 1927 brings a smile to my face.

The Glen Lake Cottage project was the epitome of preserving the vintage, while infusing the modern. It was a project where I was able to combine all of my trade skills from building, remodeling, to finish carpentry.

What started out as a summertime vacation spot for guests of the Glen Eden Resort in 1927 soon became a summertime sanctuary for White-Schilling family in 1940. The dwelling boasted of components that many would consider of a cottage lover’s dream.

A primary endeavor I was given working on this home was to preserve and refresh the existing beadboard cabinets, replicate them, adding additional beadboard cabinets in the same room. Attention to detail was of utmost importance as the room needed to look uniform.   This required excellent finish carpentry skills.

Beadboard cabinets have a history in and of themselves. Beadboard originated as an inexpensive millwork sheathing that was made from scraps commonly used in seasonal homes, beach houses and cottages dating back from the 1800’s.   The ridges between the planks are known as “beads”, thus the name beadboard was derived. The rustic elegance that beadboard provides today, still makes many swoon. It’s one of those building materials that just never goes out of style.

Overall, the completed project would be described by many as being “cottage eye candy”. The beadboard work was just one aspect of the overall transformation that took place at Glen Lake. As a team, we literally raised the roof, with over the top, artful combinations of vintage and modern elements.

If you are interested installing the beauty of beadboard or creating a vintage, modern milieu in your home or cottage, please contact us at Mason Construction by calling today (231) 642-0724.

Sincerely,

Chris Mason

Our New Website has arrived! Welcome and please let us know what you think. You can leave us a comment at the bottom of this post, we would greatly appreciate it.

Change can be good. It is our hope to use this website as a tool, not just a splashy brochure. Each of our clients are important to us. We would like to continue to educate and share with you information that can help with your home projects and maintenance. Look for a weekly update from us, which will cover all area’s of home construction and upkeep. We will also include a look at current projects that Mason Construction Inc is currently working on. We thank you for your coming to our website and hope that it can be used by you as a rescource in the coming months.

Sincerely, Chris Mason