Interior designer Dayna Rasschaert is a big-picture designer, but don’t think for a second that she’s not into soulful details, right down to the front doorknob — in this case a piece by Water Street Brass that has knurled detail around the edge.
The owner of Bloomfield Hills-based Dayna Flory Interiors is crazy about other detail elements, too, like the custom-colored wall-covering in this home’s foyer — a Quadrille wall-covering that turned both the homeowners’ and the designer’s heads. It also wowed judges in this year’s Detroit Design awards competition, winning honors in the wallpaper category. “We loved the motion of it, but I didn’t want it too strong, so we custom-colored it in gold. It’s more subtle,” Rasschaert says. Then there’s the charming flamingo wallpaper in a children’s bathroom. “It’s very fun. I mean, you don’t want flamingos in certain rooms, but it works here!”
Each room in the five-bedroom, 4.5-bath Bloomfield Hills Colonial features creative touches and well-thought-out furnishings that are both practical for a large family with three dogs and pretty. In fact, beyond the wallpaper, several spaces including the master closet, dining room, and laundry/mud room won awards in this year’s Detroit Design awards competition. One of the most unique elements is the Schumacher fabric dining table. “Schumacher will laminate fabric or treat it with a coating, so basically the table is upholstered. It works great and you don’t have to worry about scratching or wear and tear,” Rasschaert says. Color details also wow, like the rich Benjamin Moore black paint that coats the pantry cabinetry, the front door (inside and out), and the living room fireplace. “The color has a blue undertone; it’s a beautiful black,” the designer says.
“When I walk into each room I see details that spark happiness,” the homeowner says. The goal was to update the 1990s interior of the classic home and make the space function for a family of eight (including three grade-school-age kids) and a crew of pets. They had previously lived on a smaller lot in Birmingham and wanted more space for a larger yard and a pool, among other things.
Rasschaert started working with the family right before Covid hit. “After our first meeting, I knew we were going to be a great team. She (the wife) has a real strong sense of style.” The plan was to work on a few rooms, but “in the end, we renovated just about every space in the house,” Rasschaert says. The homeowner says her design style stems from her appreciation of the outdoors and wanting to bring a lot of those elements into her home.
Dog-friendly appeal comes in the way of several accents, including the rugs in the dining room and the den. “They’re cowhide and they’re indestructible. They’re also kid-friendly. You could spill anything on them and it would come out,” the designer says.
Although the team worked within the existing footprint, some of the layout was changed, including the dining room and stairway. “The staircase had a handrail with a newel on the right side and was partially in the dining room. We encased the opening and added an arch, so it looks more like an intentional wall. It gives the stairway its own look,” Rasschaert explains.
In the kitchen, Rasschaert and the team salvaged what they could. “We painted the perimeter cabinetry a brighter white before adding new hardware,” she says. New countertops, pendant lighting, and a handsome new island round out the beautiful space. “We built the island from scratch because we wanted seating at the end, and we wanted a warming drawer,” the designer adds.
A nearby nook features a darling banquette, designed by Rasschaert in a green Schumacher seating fabric treated for stain-resistance. The builder created drawers beneath, for storage. The bleached walnut table, from California, pairs well with the black-leather chairs the homeowners already owned. Special details are important here, too: Each of the children has their initial hanging on the wall in the way of a typewriter key photo, “And they sit beneath their initial,” Rasschaert says.
More makeovers occurred in the living room, where a striking black fireplace, which used to look like an “old-fashioned wedding cake with scrolls and moldings everywhere” takes center stage. Rasschaert added clean lines and moldings, and today the fireplace warms up the space considerably — as does the artwork, which once hung in the homeowners’ master bedroom, and is now placed above the mantel. “It fits there perfectly,” Rasschaert says of the striking black-and-white piece depicting what appears to be a winged woman. The living room’s settee is covered in an indoor-outdoor Schumacher fabric, “so the white is forgiving,” Rasschaert explains. Detailed drapes in a cream and smoky-blue hue feature embroidery and beads.
The den is one of the most unique rooms. Rasschaert says it was a blank slate and offered opportunity for whimsy. “It was fun to have a pattern on the sofa in an indoor-outdoor Schumacher fabric and then rich green block-print pillows. A shearling-style chair is a cozy spot for reading and I love the ball pillow in the chair and the newsprint wallpaper,” Rasschaert says. The fireplace received new tile and a limestone threshold.
“The homeowner’s distinctive style means the overall look is layers of elevated fun,” Rasschaert says. “Just like the family, the design is playful and energetic. It’s a happy house.” Adds the homeowner: “Dayna and her crew have done an amazing job morphing our house into a bright, fun, livable home for our family and friends to enjoy.”
BUYER’S GUIDE
INTERIOR DESIGNER
Dayna Rasschaert, Dayna Flory Interiors, Bloomfield Hills, daynafloryinteriors.com
BATHROOM
Art – France & Son
Bathtub – Kravet, Universal Plumbing Supply, Oak Park; Tile, Kravet, Virginia Tile Co., Troy
Chandelier – Kravet, Regina Andrew Detroit, Wyandotte
Flooring – Virginia Tile Co., Kravet, Troy
Wall Treatment – Cole & Son, Kravet, Kravet|Lee Jofa |Brunschwig & Fils, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Window Shade – Julia Knevels Interiors, Birmingham
BREAKFAST NOOK
Art – Roy Barloga, Barloga Studios
Booth – Custom, Dayna Flory Interiors, Bloomfield Hills and MAC Construction, Royal Oak; Fabric, Schumacher and Pollack, Schumacher and Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Centerpiece – Mr. Brown
Chairs, Dining – Grayson Living
Chandelier – Regina Andrew Detroit, Wyandotte
Table, Dining – Noir
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Super White
Den
Armchair – CB2
Art – Natural Curiosities
Chest – Hickory Chair
Drapery – Julia Knevels Interiors, Birmingham
Lamp, Chest – Visual Comfort, City Lights Detroit, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Mirror – Horchow
Ottoman – Crate & Barrel
Rug (Green) – Kyle Bunting
Rug (White) – Professional Rug Works, Troy
Sconces – Visual Comfort, City Lights Detroit, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Sofa – Custom, Dayna Flory Interiors; Fabric, Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Table, Occasional – CB2
Tables, End – Worlds Away
Tray – Spring Sweet, Holland
Wall Treatment – Kravet, Kravet|Lee Jofa|Brunschwig & Fils, Michigan Design Center, Troy
DINING ROOM
Chairs, Dining (Teal) – Ballard Designs
Chairs, Dining (White) – Janus et Cie
Chandelier – Oly Studio
Drapery – Julia Knevels Interiors, Birmingham
Lamps, Table – Visual Comfort, City Lights Detroit, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Mirror – Regina Andrew Detroit, Wyandotte
Rug – Professional Rug Works, Troy
Shelf – MAC Construction, Royal Oak
Table, Dining – Custom, Dayna Flory Interiors, Bloomfield Hills; Fabric, Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Wallcovering – Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy
DRESSING ROOM
Armchair – Grayson Living
Chair, Vanity – Amazon
Countertop – Ciot, Troy
Flooring – Kravet, Virginia Tile Co., Troy
Lamp – Visual Comfort, City Lights Detroit, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Mirror – Chelsea House
Sconces – Visual Comfort, City Lights Detroit, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Shelving and Cabinetry – MAC Construction, Royal Oak
Vanity – MAC Construction, Royal Oak
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Super White
Window Shade – Conrad, Holly Hunt
FOYER
Fixture, Ceiling – Visual Comfort, City Lights Detroit, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Flooring – Refinished White Oak
Planter – Crate & Barrel
Rug – Vintage
Runner – Stark Carpet, Troy
Sconce – Visual Comfort, City Lights Detroit, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Wall Treatment – Quadrille, Rozmallin, Michigan Design Center, Troy
KITCHEN
Countertop – Ciot, Troy
Drapery – RH
Faucet, Sink – Waterstone, Universal Plumbing Supply, Oak Park
Lighting, Island – Hudson Valley, Lighting Resource Studio, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Stools, Counter – Made Goods
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Super White
LIVING ROOM
Armchair – Hickory Chair
Bench – Custom, Dayna Flory Interiors, Bloomfield Hills; Fabric, Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Bench (Occasional Table) – Made Goods
Drapery – Julia Knevels Interiors, Birmingham
Fireplace – MAC Construction, Royal Oak
Lamp, Floor – West Elm
Pillow, Accent – Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Rug – Vintage Beni, Etsy
Sconce – Visual Comfort, City Lights Detroit, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Table, Occasional – CB2
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Super White
PANTRY
Bowl – Home Goods, Bloomfield Hills
Cabinetry, Countertop, and Shelving – MAC Construction, Royal Oak
Flower Pot – Trader Joe’s
Gumball Machine – Carousel, Amazon
ADDITIONAL PROJECT CONTRIBUTOR
General Contractor – Shane McClure, MAC Construction, Royal Oak
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