What began as a builder’s spec home in Birmingham can now best be described as vibrant after a major transformation guided by Dan Davis and Paul Johnson, owners of Dan Davis Design in Ferndale. Their client, Joe Luther, who lives in the house with his wife, Sonya, says he discovered his love for color along the way. “I’m partial to nature and art,” Luther says. “Dan and Paul really helped me develop that theme in other ways, and I began to blossom with some of my decisions.”
The 4,200-square-foot home had fine features and finishes, but its neutral palette didn’t reflect the owner’s personality. Fortunately, his fondness for bronze, wood, and substantial objects like geodes, crystals, and sandstone would solve that problem.
“What Paul and Dan really did was to help me to get past my hesitation to buy art when traveling or in a gallery without knowing where it would go,” Luther says. “For instance, I saw the sandstone piece that’s now behind my desk in New York and thought, ‘I love this, but I have no idea where I would put it,’ so I wrote it off. Dan said, ‘If you love something, get it and we’ll figure it out.’ ”
Johnson says their client also came to know his aesthetic, which is eclectic, colorful, and naturalistic. “Colors have to feel natural for him, even if they’re bright,” the designer says.
Luther appreciates his design team’s creative approach to the living room/family room he calls a hybrid space. Rather than choosing to divide or unify the area, they suggested a custom rug that ties the entire room together, while allowing it to function as one space or two.
“Colors have to feel natural for him (the homeowner), even if they’re bright.” — Paul Johnson
In the dining room, leather chairs with velvet backs surround a custom table made from reclaimed wood from Detroit. Abstract artwork from Hawaii simulates a lava flow.
The expansive rug also connects the colors that awaken the long and narrow space, including orange and teal. On one side of the room, an amethyst geode sparkles on an old woodworker’s table, while native art from Sedona, Ariz., strikes a colorful note above the mantel.
The existing kitchen was beautiful, but neutral. “It had no color. It didn’t feel like Joe,” Davis says. “He likes rough metal and a rustic feel.” New light fixtures and some fresh paint in a mid-tone sea green for the island and hood, with a custom copper overlay, did the trick. Accents and art add more color, while metal counter stools with leather seats lend texture. “Joe was in the scrap metal business. He loves metal,” Davis says.
French doors lead to Luther’s home office, where a custom adjustable desk joins a chair he already had and the substantial sandstone displayed on the wall makes a great conversation piece. Urban art and a cowhide rug are among the highlights in the colorful seating area.
Distinctive guest rooms are defined by unique wall treatments, from woven wood to a mural wallcovering in soothing shades of blue. Existing furniture was incorporated into the mix whenever possible. “Just changing a few key things completely transformed (one of the guest rooms),” Johnson says. Davis adds: “The whole room was beige.”
In the master bedroom, warm gray walls act as the perfect backdrop for the new window treatments, a custom nightstand, and the bed. The designers stood in line to get first dibs on the walnut slab with a live edge, from Long White Beard, that became a handsome headboard.
A custom rug made from marine-grade fiber defines the luxurious space that was mostly white before blue was introduced to key features.
In the end, the team’s creative endeavor led to a special bond. “Joe is one of those rare people that, as you get to know him, it becomes less about the project and more about the friendship,” Johnson says.
Davis adds: “This was really just a journey. In the beginning, he didn’t know to trust himself. We really pushed him, and he pushed us, and we grew at the same time.”
The results speak for themselves. “When we walked in, it was a gorgeous home and we thought, ‘Why are we here?’ ” Davis says. “Now it’s gorgeous and has a very different vibe.”
Winter Haven
Other than the hot tub out back, Joe Luther says the sitting room, above, is his favorite winter retreat. A custom bookcase and a metal chess set that reflects his penchant for the material are among the details. Color comes from the warm gray walls, framed artwork, and a richly-hued rug.
“I love to be able to sit in a comfy reading chair, look out the front window, and have the view outside and be cozy inside,” he says. “I like to read there and take phone calls. I want a place to feel grounded. It’s my favorite little spot, sitting on one of the chairs in the room.” — JM
Buyer’s Guide
INTERIOR DESIGNERS
Dan Davis and Paul Johnson, Dan Davis Design, Ferndale, dandavisdesign.com
BATHROOM, MASTER
Flooring – Custom, Delos Custom Carpet and Rugs, Ghiordes Knot, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Mountain Stream
Window Shade – Hunter Douglas, Trendsetting Window Trims, Southfield
BEDROOM 1, GUEST
Bedding – Custom, Trendsetting Window Trims, Southfield
Blanket, Animal Skin – Neiman Marcus
Lamps, Bedside – Jamie Young, Dan Davis Design, Ferndale
Pillows, Accent – Custom, Trendsetting Window Trims, Southfield
Table, Gold End – RH
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Revere Pewter
Wallpaper – Omexco, Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Window Shade – Graber, Trendsetting Window Trims, Southfield
BEDROOM 2, GUEST
Bedding – Custom, Trendsetting Window Trims, Southfield
Lamps, Bedside – Jamie Young, Dan Davis Design, Ferndale
Table, White End – Emissary, Dan Davis Design, Ferndale
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Revere Pewter
Wallpaper – Phillip Jeffries, Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy
BEDROOM, MASTER
Bed Frame – Custom, Long White Beard, Troy
Bedding – Custom, Trendsetting Window Trims, Southfield
Chest, Bedside – Custom, Long White Beard, Troy
Drapery – Custom, Trendsetting Window Trims, Southfield
Lamps, Bedside – Currey & Co., RJ Thomas Ltd., Michigan Design Center, Troy
Light, Ceiling – Hubbardton Forge, Herald Wholesale, Troy
Ottoman – Custom, Jones-Keena & Co., Birmingham
Rug – Nourison, Ghiordes Knot, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Table, Gold End – Currey & Co., RJ Thomas Ltd., Michigan Design Center, Troy
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Chelsea Gray
Window Shades – Custom, Trendsetting Window Trims, Southfield
DINING ROOM
Bowl, White – Astro Gallery of Gems
Candleholders – Albert Paley, Hawthorne Gallery
Chairs, Dining – Holly Hunt, RJ Thomas Ltd., Michigan Design Center, Troy
Island Paint – Benjamin Moore, Balsam
Table, Dining – Custom, Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit, Detroit
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Revere Pewter
FAMILY ROOM
Armchair, Orange – Bernhardt, RJ Thomas Ltd., Michigan Design Center, Troy
Armchair, Teal – Lee Industries, RJ Thomas Ltd., Michigan Design Center, Troy
Artwork – Timothy Allen Shafto, Tiffany’s Art Agency
Drapery Fabric – Jim Thompson, Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Geode – Astro Gallery of Gems
Lamp, Couchside – Albert Paley, Hawthorne Gallery
Lamp, Floor – Jamie Young, Dan Davis Design, Ferndale
Rug – Custom, Concos, Ghiordes Knot, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Sofa – Duralee
Table, Occasional – Crate & Barrel
Table, Slate Coffee – Custom, Andrew Ward, Line Studio Detroit, St. Clair Shores
Table, Wooden Display – Leon & Lulu, Clawson
Vases, Marbled – Scout, Royal Oak
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Revere Pewter
Window Shades – Graber, Trendsetting Window Trims, Southfield
KITCHEN
Backsplash – Jeffrey Court, Beaver Tile & Stone, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Bar Stools – RH
Lighting, Bar – Uttermost, Herald Wholesale, Troy
Hood – Custom, Smith Shop, Highland Park
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Revere Pewter
OFFICE
Armchairs – Precedent Furniture, RJ Thomas Ltd., Michigan Design Center, Troy
Artwork, Armchair – Cardiff, Danielle Peleg Art Gallery, Keego Harbor
Artwork, Cabinet – Nathan Thomas
Artwork, Sandstone – Astro Gallery of Gems
Cabinetry – Custom, JoBeck Custom Designs, Oxford
Desk – Long White Beard, Troy
Plant Stand – Long White Beard, Troy
Planter – Emissary, Dan Davis Design, Ferndale
Rug, Animal Skin – Roden Leather, Royal Oak
Table, Occasional – Uttermost, Dan Davis Design, Ferndale
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Revere Pewter; Accent, Benjamin Moore, Metropolis
SITTING ROOM
Armchairs – Michael Weiss, RJ Thomas Ltd., Michigan Design Center, Troy
Bookcase – Custom, JoBecks Custom Designs, Oxford
Chairs, Chess Table – Vanguard Furniture, RJ Thomas Ltd., Michigan Design Center, Troy
Chess Board – Gregory Hawthorne, Hawthorne Gallery
Light, Ceiling – Troy Lighting, Herald Wholesale, Troy
Planter – Telly’s Greenhouse, Troy
Rug – Anadol Rug Co., Ghiordes Knot, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Table, Chess – Custom, Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit, Detroit
Table, Hexagonal – Bernhardt, RJ Thomas Ltd., Michigan Design Center, Troy
Table, Square – Andrianna Shamaris
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Metropolis
TELEVISION ROOM
Lamp, Table – Surya, Dan Davis Design, Ferndale
Ottoman – Custom, Jones-Keena & Co., Birmingham
Pillows, Accent – Duralee
Rug – Anadol Rug Co., Ghiordes Knot, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Sofa – Precedent Furniture, RJ Thomas Ltd., Michigan Design Center, Troy
Tray – RJ Thomas Ltd., Michigan Design Center, Troy
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Revere Pewter
Wallpaper – Phillip Jeffries, Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy
ZEN ROOM
Artwork – Newman, Danielle Peleg Art Gallery, Keego Harbor
Cabinets – Custom, JoBecks Custom Designs, Oxford
Planters – Telly’s Greenhouse, Troy
Rug – Kalaty, Ghiordes Knot, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Revere Pewter
ADDITIONAL PROJECT CONTRIBUTORS
Cabinetry – James Becker, JoBecks Custom Designs, Lake Orion
Custom Furniture – Shelby Holtzman, Long White Beard, Troy
Custom Furniture – Andrew Ward, Line Studio Detroit, St. Clair Shores
Custom Furniture – Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit, Detroit
Metalworking – Amy Weiks, Smith Shop, Highland Park
Window Treatments – Barb Murfey, Trendsetting Window Trims, Southfield
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