Hot Tubs, Saunas and Fireplaces for Buckley, MI Homes
Homeowners in Buckley, Michigan turn to Phillips Lifestyles for hot tubs, saunas, swim spas, fireplaces, fireplace inserts and pellet stoves, along with the installation and service that go with them. Phillips Lifestyles has been in business in Northern Michigan since 1980 and operates two showrooms near Traverse City. Buckley is about 15 miles south of Traverse City on M-37. If you own a home in the farm country along M-37, this guide explains what the company offers and how its staff can help.
A Short History of Buckley
Buckley was founded in 1905 as a station on the Manistee and North-Eastern Railroad and incorporated as a village in 1907. It is named for the Buckley and Douglas Lumber Company. The Old Indian Trail between Cadillac and Traverse City once passed through.
The village is in Hanover Township, just south of the Grand Traverse County line, with M-37 running through the center. Each August the Buckley Old Engine Show draws visitors to see steam engines and antique tractors at work.
Out here the calendar is set by weather. There is snow to move, wood to stack and long dark evenings from November through March. A home that is warm and has somewhere to unwind makes those months something to look forward to.
Buckley is surrounded by farms, and many homes sit on acreage. People here are practical about how they heat and generous with how they entertain.
Heating a Buckley Home with Fire
In the country, how you heat is a serious question, and a good stove pays for itself in comfort. Phillips Lifestyles offers fireplaces and fireplace inserts from Heat & Glo, Quadra-Fire, Napoleon, Enviro and Mendota in gas, wood, pellet and electric versions.
Each fuel has its place. Gas gives instant heat from a remote. Wood suits owners with a supply on hand, and the Quadra-Fire Discovery II wood stove is a proven choice. Pellet stoves such as the Quadra-Fire Santa Fe feed themselves from a hopper and hold a set temperature.
Installation is done in-house by a crew led by Rob Horton, with Randy Johnson, Jason Jones and Ron Magee. Not sure what size you need? The blog explains how many BTUs a room requires.
A Hot Tub for Every Season
After a day of work outside, few things are as welcome as a soak under a dark country sky. The hot tubs at Phillips Lifestyles come from Hot Spring, Caldera Spas, Jacuzzi, Nordic, Sundance and Marquis. Models such as the Hot Spring Grandee seat seven, and the Hot Spring Aria suits a smaller group. All are built to run through a Northern Michigan winter.
Start with a free in-home consultation. A Phillips Lifestyles team member comes to your home, measures the area, plans the delivery, checks that the cover and lifter will operate freely and helps coordinate finishes with your siding or deck. Approved electrical contractors wire the spa, and the service includes startup and fill.
You can also try before you buy with a free test soak, or look at Endless Pools swim spas if you would like to swim at home.
Saunas Built for Buckley Winters
Heat, then cold air, then heat again: it is a ritual that suits a Buckley winter. Phillips Lifestyles offers Finnleo and Tylo saunas in traditional and infrared versions. Outdoor models like the Finnleo Patio Series arrive ready to set in place. The company is also home to the Traverse City Sauna Company, whose craftsmen, Don Ruff and Chris Champt, design and build custom saunas.
How a Project Works, Step by Step
Most projects follow the same path. You visit a showroom or send an inquiry. For a spa, staff arrange a test soak and then a free in-home consultation; requests made through the website are answered within 24 hours. Once you choose a model, the delivery crew brings it to the site, approved electrical contractors complete the wiring, and Phillips Lifestyles fills and starts the spa. Fireplaces and stoves begin with a site visit to check venting and clearances, followed by installation by the in-house crew.
On a country property, plan for how you will reach the spa or sauna in deep snow and where firewood or pellets will be stored under cover. If you are adding a stove, have the chimney inspected first so the installer knows what liner or venting is needed.
Game Rooms, Grills and More
Phillips Lifestyles also carries billiard and game tables from Brunswick and Olhausen, including shuffleboard, foosball and air hockey. There are premium grills for the deck and massage chairs for the den. Everything can be seen in person at the showrooms.
Maintenance You Do Not Have to Think About
When you live outside town, it matters that your dealer will come to you. That is the idea behind the Phillips Lifestyles Spa Maintenance Program. On each visit, a technician tests and balances the water, wipes the spa from the waterline up, cleans the cover, removes debris and replaces the filters with a clean set. Visits can be weekly, every two weeks or every four weeks.
Repairs and other work are arranged through a service request. The services page summarizes installation and maintenance for hot tubs, swim spas, fireplaces and game tables.
A Family-Owned Company Since 1980
Phillips Lifestyles has served Northern Michigan for more than 45 years. Owners Dennis and Debbie Riedel moved their family to the Traverse City area to take over the business and continue its community-minded approach, and Ryan Gubbins is general manager. The About Us page introduces the whole staff.
You will work with experienced people. Tony Fifarek is lead sales associate and head mechanical consultant, Tyler Hanna manages the Cherryland store, and Kenny Smith and Wesley Bonesteel round out the sales floor. Behind them are a warehouse and delivery crew and a service department led by Jim Eddy.
Frequently Asked Questions from Buckley Homeowners
How far is Buckley from a Phillips Lifestyles showroom?
Buckley is about 15 miles south of Traverse City. The Chums Corner showroom at 5161 US-31 in Grawn is the closer of the two, roughly a 15-minute drive north on M-37.
What does the free in-home consultation include?
A Phillips Lifestyles team member visits your home to choose a location, measure for the right spa size, confirm clearance for the cover and lifter, review delivery options and discuss steps, surrounds and colors. There is no charge.
What hot tub brands does Phillips Lifestyles carry?
Phillips Lifestyles carries Hot Spring, Caldera Spas, Jacuzzi, Nordic, Sundance and Marquis hot tubs, along with Endless Pools swim spas. Models can be seen at the Traverse City and Grawn showrooms.
Can I use a hot tub all winter in Northern Michigan?
Yes. Modern hot tubs are insulated for year-round use, and many owners use them most in winter. A fitted cover, a cover lifter and a clear path through the snow make cold-weather soaking easy.
Visit or Call Phillips Lifestyles
To get started, visit the Chums Corner showroom at 5161 US-31 in Grawn, (231) 888-0721, or the Cherryland showroom at 1151 W South Airport Road in Traverse City, (231) 412-1884. You can also contact the team online or send a product inquiry. Phillips Lifestyles looks forward to helping you enjoy your Buckley home.