The thatch house in Charlevoix, Michigan, has gotten a lot of attention. It became this week’s most popular home after receiving tens of thousands of hits a few weeks prior.
“I knew it had gone crazy, but I didn’t know it was the most popular home—that’s crazy,” said Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices listing agent Nate Granata. “This thatch house is essentially the face of Charlevoix; when it was put up for sale, everyone went crazy, and there was a frenzy.” Our community just blew apart once it became crazy.
The $4.5 million listing includes the guesthouse and the house with the unusually curved roof.
The magnificent main house, which is around 4,000 square feet in size, was constructed in 1918 by Earl Young, whose stone walls still remain today.
Granata says, “Those stones originated from Lake Michigan, which is directly across the street from the property.” Through the living room, the lake is visible. In the winter, when the trees are partially fallen, the vistas are excellent.
Designed by Young, there are a few dozen mushroom-style residences in the Charlevoix area, including this one.
Every house is unique since Young was known for not following plans. All together, they give a touch of whimsy with their curving lines, uncut stone, plenty of wood, and the enchanted mushroom-shaped roofs. He built each one to complement its natural location.
After being abandoned in 2012, the current owners paid $349,00 to purchase this home. Home enthusiasts from coast to coast were drawn to the feature they added: the thatch roof. Their massive renovation was a labour of love that started small: they used napkins to design the house and preserved Young’s stone walls.
The proprietor, who holds a Ph.D. in engineering, decided to take on the project as a passion project. Granata recalls, “He completely renovated the house—from the ceiling to the floors—and it’s stunning. “Everything was imported and made to order.”
Granata says, “He had a master thatcher come out and install the roof,” using thatch that was “imported from Europe.” It used to have a mushroom-shaped roof, but it wasn’t covered in thatch. It was your typical shingle.
Granata calculates that the renovation will be quite expensive.
There are six bedrooms and five complete bathrooms in the main home. The guesthouse has over 2,000 square feet of living space, including a loft and a main bedroom.
Although they may be included into the agreement, the furnishings are not part of the transaction. Every piece was thoughtfully picked to enhance the house’s distinct character.
“The house is devoid of any Home Depot doors. Granata remarks, “I think I really enjoy the uniqueness of that house and that everything in that house has been meticulously thought of. Everything has been imported or custom-made for the house.”
The owner both rents it out and lives in the house. It may be rented for between $1,100 and $1,900 per night, according to one website.
According to Granata, the buyer will probably value the home’s creative features and distinctive flair.
You could practically build or purchase anything you wanted for $4.5 million. Spending that much money on a house like that would need a genuine love for the design, he adds. It’s really lovely. It is exquisite from top to bottom.
