A three-foot-tall, carved-in-wood stallion standing on its hind legs greets visitors to this 16-room Freeland home in The Grove.  

Carved in Rome, it is one of a dozen horse sculptures throughout the two-story home overlooking the 16th hole of the Apple Mountain Golf Course. Owner Marcy Chermside loves horses -- and even owns a real one -- and husband Brian, a Dow Corning executive, loves buying them for her in their travels around the world. 

There’s a glass horse from Venice. An onyx one from Mexico. A third in jade and from China. Others from Ireland, Vietnam and Thailand as well as the United States. 

“My grandfather had horses,” says Marcy. “And we bought a real horse, a Westphalian, when we were in Belgium and brought it back. I visit my horse every day.” 

As the story goes, the couple built their 17 Grove Court house 11 years ago, with 3,300 square feet of living space. Two years ago, right after spending three years in Belgium as part of his job, they added an in-law suite, their master bedroom, his office overlooking the golf course and with a porch, and her office/laundry room area -- all to the first floor. 

The in-law suite? “It is totally wheelchair accessible, and even has its own wheelchair ramp entrance which is hidden from view,” says Marcy. The home now contains 5,300 square feet of living space and sports an outdoor pool and a covered patio with a wood-burning fireplace (one of five fireplaces). 

Four  interesting focal points in the home are its memory hall, kitchen area with its granite countertops,  son Rhy’s music studio on the second floor and the finished basement in the lower level. 

The narrow two-side memory hall contains five levels of shelves containing mementos of family trips and exchange students who have crossed their lives. The kitchen features a sitting area with a fireplace, bookshelves and stuffed chairs.  

The music studio is where the 18-year-old writes and produces his own music, plays guitar and drums, and is teaching himself piano. Several of Rhy’s  original works of art (oils, pen and ink, charcoals)  also are on display throughout the house. 

And in the lower level is a large wet bar with kitchenette, a game area with a pool table, an antique shuffle board table, a putting green, a golf cart garage and changing rooms for the outdoor pool. 

During the Holiday Housewalk, visitors also will see a Christmas tree decorated with ornaments the family has collected from throughout the United States. 

Marcy is a Saginaw native while Brian grew up in Detroit and Philadelphia.