The Dexter by Kasa

Created by the former creative director of Shinola and built by Shore North Development in collaboration with Kinship Hospitality founders Daniel Caudill and Kamron Bijeh-Apple, Dexter Hotel reimagines a former apartment-style building in the charming waterfront town of Elk Rapids, just minutes from Traverse City and its recently expanded Cherry Capital Airport. The vision centers on material honesty, regional production and a design language rooted in Michigan’s influential Mid-century furniture legacy. 

A Contemporary Reflection of Michigan Heritage 

Rather than a themed experience, Dexter Hotel offers a modern, sophisticated aesthetic rooted in place through carefully sourced materials, custom fabrication by Michigan makers and curated vintage furniture that honors the state’s design legacy. The aesthetic palette emphasizes natural, durable finishes designed to age beautifully: custom white oak furniture anchors the guest rooms, while copper and warm metals define the Noble Lounge bar and reception desk. 

Guest rooms are designed to feel like warm, peaceful apartments with muted tones, natural materials, woven textiles, and soft upholstery, with gallery walls featuring a mix of artistic styles. Handcrafted Serta mattresses paired with down bedding and Frette linens complete the sleeping experience.

Every Detail, Michigan-Made 

What distinguishes Dexter Hotel is its comprehensive commitment to regional production. Nearly every element—from custom sofas and lounge chairs to the Kinship lighting collection, reception desk, bar, beds, nightstands, and even drapery sewn by a local Traverse City seamstress—was designed by Kinship Studio and fabricated by Michigan craftspeople. 

Dexter Hotel features: 

• Kinship Ceramics Collection: Bowls, trays, cups, plates, soap dishes, and lamps created specifically for the hotel by local Traverse City ceramicists 
• Custom Lighting: Flush-mount ceiling fixtures designed for Dexter Hotel and manufactured by Britten Inc. in Traverse City 
• Gallery Walls: Salon-style artwork featuring original pieces by Michigan artists including Martyna Alexander, Pier Wright and Jesse Hickman 
• Custom Millwork: Handcrafted reception desk and Noble Lounge bar highlighting regional woodworking tradition 
• Signature Scent: Custom Kinship scent creating a fully immersive sensory experience 
• Salt & Stone Amenities and ClaySpace Ceramics: Thoughtfully curated to complete the    regional craft story 

Noble Lounge: The Living Room of Elk Rapids 

Noble Lounge is designed as a lively, welcoming space for both guests and locals, offering a thoughtful and approachable food and beverage experience set just above the pristine Lake Michigan waterfront, specifically on the Grand Traverse Bay. The bar program, led by Beverage Director Anthony DiMaria, balances classic technique with more original compositions that lean into creativity within a structured, ingredient-driven approach. The program draws on molecular mixology techniques, including clarified juices and fat-washed spirits, to transform familiar ingredients into unexpected, layered tastes. An opening menu of six to seven cocktails will be complemented by a robust non-alcoholic program, reflecting the growing demand for premium alcohol-free options.

In tandem, Executive Chef John Korycki’s menu features refined, shareable plates rooted in seasonal Northern Michigan sourcing, with a focus on thoughtful composition and a bar-forward sensibility. Sourced from celebrated local farms and artisans, including internationally award-winning cheesemakers from Suttons Bay and Northport, the kitchen will launch in early to mid-June with 9 to 12 seasonal small plates.

Central to both programs is a spirit of cross-collaboration: the bar and kitchen teams will work in tandem to maximize every ingredient. Together, they offer guests something distinctly Northern Michigan—familiar in feeling, surprising in execution. 

Chef John Korycki — Executive Chef

Chef John Korycki brings more than three decades of experience rooted in Italian tradition and Mediterranean-inspired, ingredient-driven cooking. A graduate of Kendall College School of Culinary Arts and an alumnus of the Bartolotta Restaurant Group under James Beard Award-winning chef Paul Bartolotta, Korycki has led acclaimed kitchens across the Midwest and founded a collegiate culinary program.

Anthony DiMaria — Beverage Director

Anthony “Tony” DiMaria brings a distinguished background in craft cocktail programs, including a key role at the acclaimed Sugar House in Detroit and a tenure redefining the bar experience at Otis Harbor Springs in Northern Michigan. At Dexter Hotel, DiMaria builds a program that balances creativity with precision and anchored by an in-house beer created with Arbor Brewing Company in Ann Arbor and a series of bottled signature cocktails developed specifically for the hotel.

Architectural Innovation 

Dexter Hotel utilizes advanced modular stacked-box construction, fabricated off-site and assembled on location within days. This approach creates exceptional soundproofing, no rooms share connected walls, ceilings, or floors, while maintaining structural precision and quality. Future exterior enhancements will add a warm cream façade with black metal hardware, shutters, and planter boxes. 

A Region on the Rise 

Dexter Hotel’s opening aligns with a significant moment for Northern Michigan. A $120 million expansion at Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) in Traverse City, with groundbreaking in April 2026 and completion expected by spring 2028, will triple the airport’s capacity and add more direct flights from LaGuardia, making the region increasingly accessible from major cities. 

The area offers a rich calendar of experiences: the Traverse City Horse Show (June–September), the National Cherry Festival marking its 100th anniversary in July 2026, 40+ wineries across Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsulas, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Dexter Hotel sits with direct access to the public waterfront park via stairs from the hotel patio—a natural gateway to Northern Michigan’s outdoor and cultural scene. 

Visionary Collaboration 

Shore North Development brings expertise in identifying properties with transformation potential and reimagining them as elevated hospitality experiences. The partnership with Kinship Hospitality has created a property that celebrates Michigan’s design legacy while establishing a new standard for boutique hospitality in the region. 

Access & Availability 

Dexter Hotel is located in Elk Rapids, approximately 15 minutes from Traverse City's Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) and three and a half hours from Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW). 

For more information about Dexter Hotel and to make a reservation, please visit https://www.dexterhotel.com/.