When interior designer Kevin Serba and his husband, Tim Tamer, put in an offer on their lot in southwest Michigan’s Saugatuck, it was sight unseen. After searching for six years, they knew the area had everything they wanted — woods, proximity to Lake Michigan, ravines, sand dunes, and, most importantly, seclusion — so they made their move, and their bid was accepted.
They hired Lucid Architecture (of Zeeland) to engineer and design the four-bedroom home but didn’t need an interior designer, of course. Serba, whose design firm, Serba Interiors, is based in Birmingham, would outfit the vacation retreat with great art, contemporary furnishings, and an inviting outdoor space perfect for entertaining. It’s a 180-degree turn from where the couple would stay during their home search. “We bought and renovated a 57-foot boat and lived on that for six summers while looking for property,” Serba says.
The spectacular house is located on a road just off Oval Beach, which earlier this year was
rated one of Tripadvisor’s 25 best beaches in the U.S., thanks to surrounding bluffs, fine sands, and clear waters, not to mention its unique shape (yes, the beach is oval).
Here, Serba, whose home took 14 months to build and was finished six years ago, shares some of his favorite exterior elements and offers tips for those looking to create an inviting outdoor space.
Mix master
Serba selected aggregate for the patios and entry. Ipê (a tropical hardwood) was used for the decks, while the home’s exterior is a combination of cedar, Hardie board, and Corten (copper chromium alloy) steel. “The cedar was too red and I wanted it more brown so had it custom-tinted.”
Deck-adence
A cantilevered deck spans the front of the house so “one can go to the pool area without going into the house,” Serba says.
Swimmingly refreshing
The couple opted for a saltwater pool and a separate hot tub that adjoins it. “We like using hot tubs through the winter and had part of the patio that runs from the kitchen door to the hot tub heated so we wouldn’t have to shovel snow.” He chose saltwater for the pool because it’s “better for your skin and hair and easier to maintain.”
Soft surroundings
The cushioned seating and side tables all are from RH (formerly Restoration Hardware).
Fired up
Serba had a steel ring custom-made for the gas firepit, which features black lava rock.
Tree glee
Since some trees had to be removed to create the lot, quite a few trees were added, including oak, aspen, pine, and hemlock varieties. “When we planted the pine trees, they were 7 feet tall; now they’re 30 feet tall.”
Screen room
The alfresco dining area features floor-to-ceiling screens and a cedar ceiling.
Lawn? Yawn
“We didn’t do a lawn and decided to keep it all natural,” the designer says. He called on Craig Bergmann Landscape Design based in Lake Forest, Illinois. Ornamental grasses, ferns, and hydrangea adorn the property. Cutting gardens in sunnier areas pop with flowers such as dahlias, zinnias, and allium, which are great for making arrangements, Serba says. The one pictured on the patio table includes varieties he’s grown.
The views
“The home, which has a nature preserve on two sides of it, is 1,100 feet from Lake Michigan, and in the winter, you can see the water through the trees from the porch,” says Serba, who suggests considering how views will look throughout the four seasons when buying, building, or revamping your vacation home.
This story originally appeared in the July 2025 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Click here to get our digital edition.
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