The friendly town of Douglas, Mich., has long lived in the shadow of its resort-chic companion on the shores of Lake Michigan–Saugatuck. Sometimes the two towns, half a mile apart, are listed as “Douglas-Saugatuck,” other times as “Saugatuck-Douglas.” However you choose to refer to them, the two together are known as the “Art Coast of Michigan.”
But these days Douglas, which is trying to take on its own identity, is a destination for those looking for antiques as well as contemporary furnishings and accessories. It offers all the charms of a small town (population 1,200), with meticulously restored historic homes and buildings, many of which date to the mid-1800s. And its citizens are proud to share details of its heritage.
But it’s not caught in a time warp–striking examples of contemporary public art show the town is squarely in the 21st Century.
For nearly a century, this small niche of natural beauty has drawn artists to the picturesque surroundings–the steep rolling dunes and sugar-fine sand beaches of Lake Michigan and the lush green orchard country inland. The resort trade that began coming to the area in the 1800s really took an upswing when a group of Chicago artists established the Summer School of Painting on Ox-bow Lagoon in 1910.
Today, that artistic heritage persists through the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Summer Camp at Ox-bow.
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With so many artistic types in permanent residence, wielding their aesthetic sensibilities, there is a mushrooming profusion of art and antiques galleries and craft shops in the area. Also, many retirees from Chicago and Detroit are putting down roots here, generating a lot of building and remodeling. That, too, has contributed to the boom in home, garden and design-service shops in Douglas.
The town is about 140 miles from Chicago and offers a wide range of accommodations (see the Web site www.saugatuck.com).
Next weekend, the shops, galleries and restaurants of Douglas launch their Holiday Preview season, with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Here is a sampling of home and garden shops in Douglas’ downtown Center Street area:
Bud Baty Interior Design, 32 Center St., 269-857-2884, specializes in decorative accessories for the home, including wire tables ($500 to $950); ceramics by Mexican Indian artists ($325 to $800); and ebony-stained oak nesting tables ($460 for the set). Currently on exhibit are paintings from the Horizon series, new work by Max Matteson ($350 to $850). Seasonal hours (to Dec. 31): 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (closed Wednesdays). Bud Baty is an independent design consultant for residential, commercial and yachts, in Palm Beach, Fla., and Douglas.
The French Cottage, 33 Center St., 269-857-2705, is the charming shop created by Nancy Ayers and Sharrie Wellman. It is chock-full of delightful accessories for the home and a great place for gift ideas. One visit to the shop found a handmade garden-shed birdhouse ($285). The shop carries a variety of hand-painted furniture, lamps, mirrors, rugs and tabletop serving pieces in copper and brass ($12.50 to $45). For the holidays, the shop is decked out with glittery ornaments, from snowflakes ($2.75) to fabric snowmen ($19.25) to a burgundy Santa candleholder ($42). Also, look for the annual limited-edition Douglas ornament, which this year is a replica of the town’s newly restored Dutcher Lodge, built in 1867, created by Classics by Kurtis ($25). Seasonal hours (to Dec. 31): 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Elephant’s Trunk, 20 Center St., 269-857-4755 features antique British Colonial furniture and distinctive home and garden accessories, many from Asia, such as a set of nesting wooden boxes ($189); antique Chinese panels ($1,200 for pair); and a solid rosewood table ($950). Seasonal hours (to Dec. 31): 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays.
Olde House Antiques, 112 Center St., 269-857-1623, offers furniture “and appropriate accessories” in the front rooms of this historic 1872 home, owned by Gene and Dee Schoeneich. The shop specializes in American Victorian furniture and accessories from the late 1800s, as well as militaria, Waterford crystal and period art. The focal point in the shop is the handsome dark cherry cylinder secretary ($10,000) that is believed to have been used in Thomas Edison’s lab in Menlo Park, N.J. Seasonal hours (to Dec. 31): 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays.
Pacelli & Crews Ltd., 23 Center St., 269-857-5175, offers one-of-a-kind furnishings, from bedroom and living-room sets to lamps and accessories. It also will search for furniture and artwork. Seasonal hours (to Dec. 31): 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays.
Widlum’s Decorative Accessories, 36R Center St., 269-857-5256. Owner Walter W. Widdows offers homey, old-fashioned style goods, including small pieces of furniture, lamps, pillows, throws, small statuary and jewelry. He also carries the annual Douglas Christmas ornament. The shop offers “Redesigned Interiors,” a service specializing in rearranging and freshening up existing interiors. Seasonal hours (to Dec. 31): 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays through Tuesdays and Thursdays through Saturdays.
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After a full day of shopping, a good meal is in order. A standout among the many eating establishments in the area is Everyday People Cafe, 11 Center St., 269-857-4240. The mother-and-son-owned restaurant is popular among locals and for good reason. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. The menu is gourmet eclectic with the “freshest ingredients we can get,” says co-owner Matt Balmer. Dinner entrees are $14 to $22. Seasonal hours (to Dec. 31): 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays to Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; breakfast and lunch, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays.
And while in the area, visit Crane’s Orchard, Michigan State Highway 89, 269-561-2297, Fennville. Enjoy a meal in Crane’s Pie Pantry & Bakery, a nostalgically decorated recycled barn, or stock up on fresh-baked breads and pies, cider and more. The homemade doughnuts are irresistible. The orchard is just south of Douglas and about 5 miles east of Interstate Highway 196. Seasonal hours (to Dec. 31): 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.