Hot Tubs, Saunas and Fireplaces for Horton Bay, MI Homes
If you own a home on the north shore of Lake Charlevoix, Phillips Lifestyles can help you enjoy it more. The company provides hot tubs, saunas, swim spas, fireplaces, fireplace inserts and pellet stoves to Horton Bay, Michigan and the surrounding Charlevoix County area, and it installs and services what it sells. Phillips Lifestyles has served Northern Michigan since 1980 from two showrooms near Traverse City. Horton Bay is roughly 45 miles northeast of Traverse City.
Horton Bay at a Glance
Horton Bay was settled in 1876 by Samuel Horton as a lumbering community on the northeastern shore of what is now Lake Charlevoix. The post office opened in 1879 as Horton's Bay.
The Horton Bay General Store, the Horton Bay School and the Red Fox Inn are all listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the district became a Michigan State Historic Site in 1975. Ernest Hemingway camped and fished here as a young man and was married in Horton Bay in 1921. The village appears in several of his stories.
The seasons are sharply drawn here. July is for the water, October for color, and from December to March the snow piles up. A home that is set up for all four gets used far more than one that only works in summer.
Homes here are scattered along the lake and the wooded hills behind it. Many are summer places, and the bay is a favorite anchorage, so the season revolves around the water.
A Hot Tub for Every Season
Evenings by the water cool down fast, and a hot tub turns the hour after sunset into the best part of the day. 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.
After the Sale
Seasonal homes need attention even when nobody is there. Phillips Lifestyles stands behind its products with its own service department. An overview is on the services page.
For spa owners, the Spa Maintenance Program covers water testing and balancing, cleaning the shell and cover, debris removal and filter changes on a weekly, two-week or four-week schedule. Repairs begin with an online service request. Filters, covers and water care products are available under hot tub accessories.
Indoor and Outdoor Saunas
A sauna is a natural fit for the climate in Charlevoix County. Phillips Lifestyles carries Finnleo and Tylo saunas, including traditional heated-stone models and infrared rooms. The Finnleo Patio Series is a popular outdoor choice. When a standard size will not do, Don Ruff and Chris Champt of the Traverse City Sauna Company build custom saunas to suit the space.
Fireplaces and Stoves
Many lake homes were built for summer, and a modern heating appliance is what makes them comfortable the rest of the year. At Phillips Lifestyles you will find gas, wood, pellet and electric fireplaces and inserts from Heat & Glo, Quadra-Fire, Napoleon, Enviro and Mendota.
If you already have a masonry fireplace, an insert is usually the most effective upgrade. Options include the Quadra-Fire Expedition II wood insert and the Castile pellet insert, which is rated at 30,600 BTUs. If you do not have a fireplace, a freestanding gas, wood or pellet stove can be vented through a wall or roof.
The Phillips Lifestyles fireplace installation team, led by Rob Horton with Randy Johnson, Jason Jones and Ron Magee, handles the work from start to finish. The blog post on preparing for a fireplace consultation lists what to measure beforehand.
Planning Your Project
A little planning makes everything go smoothly. Begin by deciding what you want from the space: relaxation, heat, exercise or entertaining. Phillips Lifestyles staff then help narrow the choices. For spas, that means a test soak and a free in-home consultation, with online requests answered within 24 hours. The company manages delivery, uses approved electrical contractors for wiring, and includes startup and fill. For fireplaces and stoves, an installer checks venting and clearances at your home before the work is scheduled.
For a waterfront property, think about wind direction, the view from the seats and how sand and leaves will be kept out of the water. Ask about a cover lifter, which makes a spa far easier to use alone, and about scheduled care if the home is closed for part of the year.
Beyond Spas and Fireplaces
Phillips Lifestyles rounds out its range with billiard and game tables from Brunswick and Olhausen, premium grills and massage chairs. Spa owners will also find filters, covers and water care under hot tub accessories.
Why Homeowners Choose Phillips Lifestyles
Three things set Phillips Lifestyles apart: history, people and service. The company has operated in Northern Michigan since 1980. It is family-owned, led by Dennis and Debbie Riedel with general manager Ryan Gubbins.
It also employs the people who do the work. Sales consultants such as Tony Fifarek, Tyler Hanna, Kenny Smith and Wesley Bonesteel guide the purchase. The company's own delivery staff, fireplace installers and service technicians, managed by Jim Eddy, take it from there. You can meet them on the About Us page.
Frequently Asked Questions from Horton Bay Homeowners
Does Phillips Lifestyles serve Horton Bay?
Horton Bay is near the northern edge of the area Phillips Lifestyles serves from its Traverse City showrooms. Its dealer listings include Boyne City and Charlevoix. Contact the store to confirm availability for your address.
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.
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 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.
Get in Touch
Phillips Lifestyles is ready to help you get more from your home in Horton Bay. Reach the Chums Corner showroom at (231) 888-0721 and the Cherryland showroom at (231) 412-1884, or use the online contact form. Questions about a particular model can go through the product inquiry page.