Hot Tubs, Saunas and Fireplaces for Hardwood Acres, MI Homes
Phillips Lifestyles is a Northern Michigan dealer for hot tubs, swim spas, saunas, fireplaces, fireplace inserts and pellet stoves, and it serves Hardwood Acres and the rest of Benzie County. The company was established in 1980, is family-owned, and has showrooms in Traverse City and Grawn. Hardwood Acres is roughly 12 miles west of Traverse City. For a home in the woods east of Lake Ann, Phillips Lifestyles offers products, installation and long-term service from one local team.
What Makes Hardwood Acres Different
Hardwood Acres is a residential community in eastern Almira Township, bordered by the village of Lake Ann on the west and the Grand Traverse County line on the east. Maple Street runs along its northern edge. Most of the neighborhood is in the Traverse City Area Public Schools district.
It is a commuter neighborhood in the best sense: wooded lots, quiet roads and a short drive to work in Traverse City. Families here use the lakes and trails around Lake Ann all year.
Four full seasons are a fact of life in Northern Michigan. Summers are spent outside, and winters send everyone back indoors for months. Upgrades that make the home more enjoyable in cold weather pay off every year.
Homes on wooded lots have privacy that makes a backyard spa or sauna especially appealing. Many also have the space for a finished basement or bonus room, which is where a stove, a game table or a massage chair fits in.
Choosing a Hot Tub in Hardwood Acres
A hot tub is one of the simplest ways to turn an ordinary backyard into a place the family uses every week. At Phillips Lifestyles you can compare several leading brands side by side, including Hot Spring, Caldera Spas, Jacuzzi, Nordic, Sundance and Marquis. See them on the hot tubs page. The Caldera Palatino and the Hot Spring Aria are two mid-size models worth a look.
The best way to decide is to get in one. A free test soak at either showroom lets you try a spa before you buy. After that, the free in-home consultation brings a Phillips Lifestyles consultant to your property to measure, plan the delivery path, check clearance for the cover lifter and talk through steps and surrounds. The company uses approved electrical contractors and includes startup and fill.
If fitness is the goal, ask about Endless Pools swim spas, which let you swim in place year-round.
Stay Warm: Fireplaces and Pellet Stoves
A fireplace or stove makes the main living area the warmest room in the house and takes pressure off the furnace. Phillips Lifestyles carries hearth products from Heat & Glo, Quadra-Fire, Napoleon, Enviro and Mendota. Browse fireplaces and inserts and pellet stoves online, or see them burning in the showroom.
Gas fireplaces such as the Novus nXt offer convenience and a realistic flame. Pellet models such as the Quadra-Fire Santa Fe pellet stove burn compressed wood pellets and need far less tending than a wood fire. Wood stoves and inserts remain the choice for anyone with their own firewood.
Every installation is completed by Phillips Lifestyles staff. Rob Horton is the lead fireplace installer, supported by Randy Johnson, Jason Jones and Ron Magee. The blog covers the benefits of a gas fireplace if you are weighing fuel types.
From First Visit to First Use
Here is how a typical purchase goes. Start at a showroom, where you can see spas filled and fireplaces burning. If a hot tub interests you, book a test soak and a free in-home consultation; the team responds to online requests within 24 hours. When your order arrives, Phillips Lifestyles delivers it, has approved electrical contractors connect it, and fills and starts it for you. Hearth products follow a similar route, with a site check for venting and clearances before the in-house crew installs the unit.
In a neighborhood setting, look at how close a spa will sit to the back door, since a short walk means more winter use. Confirm any association rules, and decide early whether the electrical panel has capacity for a 240-volt spa circuit.
Saunas, a Northern Michigan Tradition
Sauna culture runs deep in Michigan. Phillips Lifestyles offers saunas from Finnleo and Tylo in traditional and infrared styles, plus outdoor units such as the Finnleo Patio Series. For a one-of-a-kind space, the Traverse City Sauna Company, part of the Phillips Lifestyles team, builds custom saunas. Craftsmen Don Ruff and Chris Champt can design around a basement, a bathroom addition or a spot in the yard.
More Ways to Enjoy Your Home
A finished basement or bonus room comes to life with a pool table or game table from Brunswick or Olhausen. Outside, a premium grill makes the patio a second kitchen. And for quiet evenings, Phillips Lifestyles offers massage chairs you can try in the showroom.
Maintenance You Do Not Have to Think About
Busy households appreciate having maintenance taken off the list. 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 Hardwood Acres Homeowners
Which Phillips Lifestyles showroom is closest to Hardwood Acres?
The Chums Corner showroom at 5161 US-31 in Grawn is generally the closest, roughly a 20-minute drive. It is open Monday to Friday from 9 to 6 and Saturday from 10 to 4.
Can I try a hot tub before I buy one?
Yes. Phillips Lifestyles offers a free test soak by appointment at its Traverse City and Grawn showrooms. Bring a bathing suit and a towel, and staff will answer questions while you try the spa.
What is the difference between a fireplace insert and a pellet stove?
A fireplace insert fits inside an existing masonry fireplace and can burn gas, wood or pellets. A pellet stove is a freestanding heater that burns compressed wood pellets. Both give efficient, controllable heat.
Where are the Phillips Lifestyles showrooms?
Phillips Lifestyles has two showrooms: Chums Corner at 5161 US-31, Grawn, MI 49637, and Cherryland at 1151 W South Airport Road, Traverse City, MI 49686. Both are open Monday to Saturday, with Sunday visits by appointment.
Plan Your Showroom Visit
Seeing products in person is the quickest way to decide. The Chums Corner showroom is at 5161 US-31 in Grawn and the Cherryland showroom is at 1151 W South Airport Road in Traverse City. Both are open Monday to Saturday. Call ahead, contact the team or submit a product inquiry so staff can prepare for your visit to help with your Hardwood Acres project.