Michigan’s Newest Lakeside Inn Is Giving Gilmore Girls Traditional, But In The Midwest
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I was born and raised in the Midwest (specifically outside of Chicago), which means I spent summers exploring Lake Michigan’s shores for family vacations. So when I pulled up to the newly renovated Wickwood Inn in Saugatuck, Michigan, why did I feel like I was suddenly starring as an extra in an episode of Gilmore Girls?
Courtesy of Wickwood Inn Stoffer Photography
That magic is partly due to the charming town, but also thanks to Martin Horner and Shea Soucie of Soucie Horner, their Chicago-based design firm, who bought the 1937 home two years ago and refreshed it into a modern inn befitting of Stars Hollow.
Vintage desk with four bird prints above
Before the pair could make any cosmetic changes, they first had to consider the building’s history: Since the ’90s, the colonial structure was already a beloved inn, run by adored cook Julee Rosso, author of The Silver Palate Cookbook. “When we bought the inn, we were very conscious of [Rosso’s popularity and returning guests], but we also had to make it our own,” Horner says. So instead of taking down walls and turning the 11-room space into a sleek Scandi hotel, they paid homage to the legendary former owner by working in details that were already there, like the art and furniture, which they reupholstered or repurposed. (The bathrooms however? Those were gutted and replaced with new tile and marble.)
Courtesy of Wickwood Inn Stoffer Photography
Courtesy of Wickwood Inn Stoffer Photography
The rest of the inn’s “jewelry,” as Horner calls it, like the bamboo bed frame in my room when I stayed, came from epic vintage-shopping trips, Facebook Marketplace hauls, and even Horner and Soucie’s own homes. In fact, no two guest rooms are exactly the same, other than the lighting, bedding, and Waterworks faucets. To further keep consistency, they also kept to a soothing neutral Benjamin Moore paint palette. (Fan favorite White Dove was their go-to in most areas.) New Vispring mattresses appear in each guest room, too.
Courtesy of Wickwood Inn Stoffer Photography
In the lobby and dining room, a fireplace and wood-paneled walls, adorned with one of Rosso’s original tapestries, create cozy spaces in which to convene before a day spent exploring the area’s wineries and art galleries (prioritize Ox-Bow, trust me). Plus, the backyard and screened-in gazebo are the perfect place to sip cocktails or indulge in the lobby’s complimentary chocolate chip cookies.
Courtesy of Wickwood Inn Stoffer Photography
Courtesy of Wickwood Inn Stoffer Photography
The result almost feels delightfully non-Midwest, and certainly not beachy, even though the inn is just steps from the Kalamazoo River, where you can rent a candy-colored retro boat for an afternoon (highly recommend). Instead, the quiet luxury vibe, paired with former Oprah chef Rose Duong’s refined menu and warm welcomes from general manager Susan Michele make the whole experience decidedly Midwest. The only thing missing is Luke’s Diner.