When residential lots become available in historic downtown Northville, they’re snapped up quickly. Leighanne LaMarre, interior designer and owner of Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, was delighted to be involved from the beginning of a new construction project on a coveted lot in this desirable community.
“It was an ideal situation to have the blank canvas of new construction. I was hired alongside the architect, so I was able to collaborate with the architectural designers prior to construction, to help create a home that met the goals of the homeowner. I’ve also worked with the builder before,” LaMarre says. In addition to the designer, the homeowners hired Presley Architecture and Mike Miller Building Co., both of Northville.
The homeowners were very familiar with the neighborhood, as they and their young family lived down the street from the new home’s location. This proved to be convenient during the two-year project.
According to the Brighton-based designer, one of the challenges of the project was the location. “The home is situated in a great area with so much to offer, next to the hustle and bustle of downtown Northville. Making the home feel private was a challenge, but one we were able to achieve.”
Entertainment was an important factor for the homeowners, and they admit that was part of the draw to the location. “The owners love to have fun and entertain. The interior and outdoor spaces reflect this,” LaMarre says. “The house is built on a double lot, which helps with space and privacy. The detached garage in the backyard includes a walkout lower-level entertainment space. In the backyard, there’s a beautiful hot tub and lots of seating. The front porch also has seating.”
As the designer explains, the overall goal for the 6,700-square-foot residential project was to create a Contemporary-style home that’s warm and inviting but also edgy and modern, with an emphasis on clean lines and upscale details. “A challenge with transitional and contemporary design is to make it feel warm, cozy, and comfortable — like a family lives here,” LaMarre says.
Of the homeowners, LaMarre says, “She prefers contemporary and concrete, while he likes warm and welcoming. They have young children, so wear and tear was a consideration. It was a happy dialogue to create that polished but approachable look for them.”
The designer says concrete (“and lots of it”) was another challenge, especially with delays due to the pandemic affecting many construction materials needed for the project. Concrete was utilized in unique ways in the home’s design, giving off a slightly industrial vibe. The main level features a concrete range hood in the kitchen and a suspended concrete sink in the powder room adjacent to the mud room. The lower-level flooring is made of polished concrete.
Another important element to the home’s design is an artistic mix of metals, which adds visual interest throughout the house. Weldwork, a local custom builder of steel doors, fashioned distinctive metal designs for the office doors and lower-level bar area wine cellar enclosure. The house also features hardware and light fixtures with a striking blend of metal finishes, including notable hardware on the kitchen island and wet bar from Armac Martin, a luxury brass hardware company in England.
LaMarre says wood also played an important role in the home’s design, with unique millwork and a mix of warm, rich wood tones and finishes. The primary wood used for the floors and doors is white oak, while the painted wood cabinetry is maple. The kitchen features white oak-stained cabinets with a contrasting island. “There’s very little crown molding in the house — the emphasis was on clean lines,” the designer says. “All interior doorways and passageways throughout the house are warm and simple, but had complicated engineering using a matte-washed, dry-rub cerused white oak.”
Since there’s not a strong presence of pattern in the home’s décor, warm tones in wood, metal, and leather, as well as plush fabrics, were used to add texture and warmth. One area that boldly showcases pattern is the lower-level bar area, where geometric tile provides contrast to the bleached walnut elements and concrete floors.
The den adjacent to the kitchen is a favorite of both the homeowners and LaMarre. “Hands down, it’s my favorite room in the house,” LaMarre says. “It’s a smaller, more intimate space that the owners use all the time, and it’s a wonderful retreat for small gatherings. The room has a different feel; it’s very warm and relaxing.” The walls are lined with stained oak shiplap, which adds an element of coziness to the space. The comfortable seating includes a traditional Eames lounge chair.
“Projects are successful when there’s a trust relationship between the client and designer. This was especially important due to COVID-19, when quick decisions had to be made to get materials in and keep things moving, to give the clients the home they wanted,” LaMarre explains. “Despite any challenges, this home has a distinctive look and feel that was specifically designed for this family and the way they live.”
BUYER’S GUIDE
INTERIOR DESIGNER
Leighanne LaMarre, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton, leighannelamarreinteriors.com
BAR
Bar Stools – Moe’s Home Collection, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Cabinetry, Wooden – Natural Walnut Finish, Emery Design|Build, Northville
Countertop – Caesarstone, Pure White, Detroit Stone & Tile, Shelby Township
Flooring – Concrete
Lighting – Hudson Valley Lighting, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Shelves, Hanging – Natural Walnut Finish, Emery Design|Build, Northville
Tile, Bar – Zia Tile
Wallcovering – Phillip Jeffries, Vinyl Belgian Linen II
Wine Storage – Custom Iron, Weldwork, Royal Oak
DEN
Armchairs – Lee Industries, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Chair, Reclining – Herman Miller, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Drapery – Custom, Fabricut, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Flooring – Naturally Aged Flooring, Medallion Collection Arroyo, ProSource, Wixom
Lamp – Visual Comfort, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Light, Ceiling – Visual Comfort, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Pillows, Accent – Schumacher, A. Darling, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Rug – Loloi, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Sofa – Lee Industries, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Table, Coffee – Oly Studio, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Table, Occasional – Gabby, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
DINING ROOM
Backsplash – Icon Starry White, 5-Studio Gazette, Beaver Tile & Stone, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Cabinetry – Emery Design|Build, Northville
Centerpiece – Carved Teak Root, Arteriors, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Chairs, Dining Host – Hickory Chair, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Chairs, Dining Side – Vanguard Furniture, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Chandelier – Visual Comfort, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Countertop – Caesarstone, Mike Miller Building Co., Northville
Faucet – California Faucets, Advance Plumbing & Heating Supply Co., Walled Lake
Flooring – Medallion Collection Arroyo, Naturally Aged Flooring, ProSource, Wixom
Rug – Endless Knot, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Table, Dining – Vanguard Furniture, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Chantilly Lace
KITCHEN
Cabinetry – Emery Design|Build, Northville
Countertop – Caesarstone
Faucet – California Faucets, Carbon, Advance Plumbing & Heating Supply Co., Walled Lake
Flooring – Medallion Collection Arroyo, Naturally Aged Flooring, ProSource, Wixom
Hardware, Cabinet (Blue) – Armac Martin, Cloth & Kind, Ann Arbor
Hardware, Cabinet (Brown) – Top Knobs, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Hood – Custom, Origins Concrete Design, Ferndale
Lamp – Regina Andrew, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Lighting, Bar – Visual Comfort, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Sink – Blanco, Advance Plumbing & Heating Supply Co., Walled Lake
Stove – Wolf
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Chantilly Lace
LAUNDRY ROOM
Cabinetry – Emery Design|Build, Northville
Door, Sliding – TruStile, Mans Lumber & Millwork, Canton; Color, Benjamin Moore, Cheating Heart
Flooring – Ice White Matte Trapezium, WowUSA, Virginia Tile, Farmington Hills
Light, Ceiling – Hudson Valley, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Shelves – Emery Design|Build, Northville
Wall-covering – Phillip Jeffries, Suit Yourself, Ready Wear Grey
Window Treatment – Schumacher, Andromeda, Smoke, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
LOWER LEVEL
Armchairs, Swivel – Vanguard Furniture, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton; Fabric, Stroheim, Cavell Check, Moondust
Chests, Display – Made Goods, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Flooring – Concrete
Lights, Ceiling – Visual Comfort, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Ottoman, Cocktail – Vanguard Furniture, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Pillows, Sofa – Custom, Clare Louise Frost, Block Print in Black Domino, Cloth & Kind, Ann Arbor
Rug – Milliken, Independent Carpet One Floor & Home, Westland
Sofa (right) – Lee Industries, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Sofa 2 – Vanguard Furniture, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Stools – Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Table, Display – Vanguard Furniture, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Chantilly Lace
Wall Treatment, Marble – Calacatta Gold Porcelain Slab, Envi, Detroit Stone & Tile, Shelby Township
Window Treatments – Fabricut, Michigan Design Center, Troy
MUD ROOM
Cabinetry – Emery Design|Build, Northville
Flooring – Love Affairs Concrete Light Grey Hexagon, WowUSA, Virginia Tile, Farmington Hills
Hardware, Cabinet – Top Knobs, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Pillows, Accent – Loloi, Lee Industries, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Runner – Summer Classics, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Chantilly Lace
Window Seat Cushion – Custom, Schumacher, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Window Shade, Fabric – Schumacher, Fauna, Natural, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
OFFICE
Chair, Desk – Herman Miller, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Desk – Hickory Chair, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Flooring – Medallion Collection Arroyo, Naturally Aged Flooring, ProSource, Wixom
Lighting, Shelf – Visual Comfort, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Rug – Stark Carpet, Troy
Shelving, Built-in – Emery Design|Build, Northville
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Midnight Blue
PATIO
Chairs – Lillian August for Hickory White, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Fan – Monte Carlo, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Ottoman – Made Goods, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Rug – Dash + Albert, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Sofa – Southern Home, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Table, Patio – Summer Classics, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Table, Stone Coffee – Currey & Co., Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
POWDER ROOM
Flooring – Love Affairs Concrete Light Grey Hexagon, WowUSA, Virginia Tile, Farmington Hills
Light – Visual Comfort, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Mirror – Renwil, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton
Sink – Custom, Origins Concrete Design, Ferndale
Tile, Wall – Delray White Caps Subway Tile, Ceramic Tiles International, Virginia Tile, Farmington Hills
Towel Bar – Kohler, Matte Black, Advance Plumbing & Heating Supply Co., Walled Lake
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Chantilly Lace
Text by Tracy Donohue, Photography by Martin Vecchio
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