Hot Tubs, Saunas and Fireplaces for Norwood, MI Homes

Phillips Lifestyles is a Northern Michigan dealer for hot tubs, swim spas, saunas, fireplaces, fireplace inserts and pellet stoves, and it serves Norwood and the rest of Charlevoix County. The company was established in 1980, is family-owned, and has showrooms in Traverse City and Grawn. Norwood is roughly 38 miles north of Traverse City. For a home on the Lake Michigan shore south of Charlevoix, Phillips Lifestyles offers products, installation and long-term service from one local team.

What Makes Norwood Different

Norwood was founded in 1867 when Orvis Wood, Lucius Pearl and Orin Adams built a dock and a sawmill on the Lake Michigan shore. The name was chosen for its place in the northern woods.

The former Norwood School was restored as a museum in 2004 and dedicated as a Michigan State Historic Site in 2017. The editorial cartoonist and conservationist Ding Darling was born here. US-31 runs just east of the community, between Eastport and Charlevoix.

Winter is long this close to the big lake, and lake-effect snow is part of the bargain. The reward is quiet: frozen shoreline, clear night skies and a house that feels like a retreat when it is warm inside.

Norwood is small and quiet, with homes spread along the shore and the farm roads behind it. Sunsets over the open lake are the main attraction.

Find the Right Hot Tub

Evenings by the water cool down fast, and a hot tub turns the hour after sunset into the best part of the day. Phillips Lifestyles stocks spas from Hot Spring, Caldera Spas, Jacuzzi, Nordic, Sundance and Marquis, shown on the hot tubs page. Smaller households often start with a model like the Hot Spring Jetsetter LX, and larger ones look at the Caldera Palatino.

Phillips Lifestyles removes the guesswork in two steps. First, a test soak: a free, by-appointment session in a filled spa at the showroom. Second, a free in-home consultation, where staff measure your space, check access for delivery, confirm the cover lifter will clear, and discuss steps, surrounds and color choices. Electrical work is done by approved contractors, with startup and fill included.

Households that want exercise as well as relaxation can add an Endless Pools swim spa to the shortlist.

Maintenance You Do Not Have to Think About

Seasonal homes need attention even when nobody is there. 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.

Add a Sauna

More homeowners are adding a sauna alongside, or instead of, a hot tub. Phillips Lifestyles sells Finnleo and Tylo saunas for indoor and outdoor use, with both traditional and infrared heat. The Finnleo Patio Series can be placed on a deck or pad. Custom work is available through the Traverse City Sauna Company, where craftsmen Don Ruff and Chris Champt build saunas to order.

The Right Fireplace for Your Home

Many lake homes were built for summer, and a modern heating appliance is what makes them comfortable the rest of the year. Phillips Lifestyles sells fireplaces, fireplace inserts and pellet stoves from Heat & Glo, Quadra-Fire, Napoleon, Enviro and Mendota, in gas, wood, pellet and electric.

The right choice depends on how you use the home. For short visits, a gas insert gives heat at the press of a button. For everyday heating, a pellet insert like the Quadra-Fire Castile, which heats 700 to 1,800 square feet, or a wood stove like the Discovery II keeps running costs in check. Electric fireplaces suit rooms where venting is not practical.

Installation is handled by the company's own crew: lead installer Rob Horton and installers Randy Johnson, Jason Jones and Ron Magee. See the guide to choosing a fireplace insert on the blog.

The Phillips Lifestyles Process

Phillips Lifestyles keeps the process simple. First, talk with a sales consultant in person, by phone or online. Second, for a hot tub, take a test soak and schedule a free in-home consultation; requests submitted through the website get a response within 24 hours. Third, the company delivers the product, arranges wiring through approved electrical contractors, and fills and starts the spa. Fireplace, insert and stove projects include a site visit to confirm venting and clearances, then installation by the company's own crew.

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.

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.

The People Behind Phillips Lifestyles

A company that has been in business since 1980 has seen a lot of Northern Michigan winters. Phillips Lifestyles is owned by Dennis and Debbie Riedel, who moved to the Traverse City area with their family to lead it, with Ryan Gubbins as general manager.

The staff of roughly 30 includes sales consultants Tony Fifarek, Tyler Hanna, Kenny Smith and Wesley Bonesteel, a warehouse and delivery team, a dedicated fireplace installation crew and a service department managed by Jim Eddy. That depth is why the company can install and service what it sells. Read more on the About Us page.

Frequently Asked Questions from Norwood Homeowners

Does Phillips Lifestyles serve Norwood?

Phillips Lifestyles serves Northern Michigan from two showrooms near Traverse City, and its dealer listings include Charlevoix. Contact the store to confirm delivery, installation and service availability for Norwood.

Does Phillips Lifestyles install the fireplaces and stoves it sells?

Yes. Phillips Lifestyles employs its own fireplace installation crew, led by Rob Horton, and installs gas, wood, pellet and electric fireplaces, inserts and stoves across Northern Michigan.

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.

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 Norwood project.