Michael Seitz spent three years renovating a 1918 stone cottage in Charlevoix, Michigan, and now it’s on the market for $4.5 million. The house was originally constructed by a local builder named Earl Young, who was known for his whimsical, fairytale-like stone cottages. His homes have been referred to as “mushroom homes.” Young lived in the house until the 1940s with his wife and children. Seitz, who lives in Houston, first spotted the home during a vacation in Michigan, but couldn’t get the house out of his head. After buying the house, he went to work on remodeling the inside. He wanted an open-plan layout, creating a medieval theme using stone and wooden furniture. He estimates the remodel cost him around $2.6 million. Almost everything inside the 7-bedroom house was made by hand — right down to the solid pine doors. After realizing he really couldn’t afford to live in the house, he decided to rent it out. Prices start at $1,100 per night for weeknights, jumping to between $1,300 and $1,900 a night on weekends. Although the house is on the market, Seitz isn’t in a rush to sell it. He’s well aware that this house is not for everyone. He considers the house art, and art often takes a long time to sell.
