Even renovations can be subject to the domino effect, says designer Ann-Marie Anton, of It’s Personal Design in Grosse Pointe Woods. The perfect example is a classic Colonial in Birmingham she recently completed for a professional couple.
Built in 1901, the historic house had plenty to recommend it — it was within walking distance of downtown, with a spacious double lot and a serene backyard. Inside, the approximately 5,000-square-foot floor plan included a first-floor primary bedroom, three additional bedrooms, and an office — as well as four full and two half-baths. A bonus room over the garage offered another room and bath; the cabana next to the pool had yet another bath.
Because of the home’s landmark status, changes to its exterior were limited. The new owners, who purchased the property in 2019, were just looking to make a few interior upgrades when they contacted Anton early in 2020. “Parts of the house were dark and choppy, and the flow wasn’t great,” Anton explains of the reasons for the modest remodel the couple originally planned.
Then things snowballed. “When we first met, they only wanted to redo a few rooms on the first floor, mainly the kitchen,” Anton says of the renovation, which also included some upgrades to the sunroom and the main bedroom. “It became very obvious, as we designed the spaces, that there were a lot of inconsistencies from one room to the next that needed to be addressed. The scope of the project became larger than anticipated in order to create a harmonious flow throughout the house.”
Before they knew it, the team had gutted most of the home’s interior, playing a game of musical chairs with some of the rooms to bring the period home into the present. “We ended up moving the kitchen to where their dining room and sitting rooms were, and turned the original kitchen into a sunroom with two walls of windows and a mud room that (the couple) enters from. We ended up tearing out the entire house on all three floors and starting from scratch,” Anton says.
Once they had a blank slate, the real work began. “Walls were moved, floors were brought up, all of the systems and wires were redone,” she says. “It was basically a new build in an original footprint.”
Once the space was to the couple’s satisfaction, Anton started on the interiors. The homeowners wanted “a relatively clean and somewhat modern environment” — a goal that guided everything they did, the designer says. “They wanted neutral and textural, which is what I do the most, anyway.”
During construction, the wife was doing her residency out of state, so Anton and the husband worked together on the initial choices. “We would FaceTime her for her approval when we made decisions,” Anton remembers of the process, which she says went surprisingly smoothly despite the pandemic and other circumstances.
She’s especially pleased with the kitchen and primary bath. “Both came out exquisitely, especially with the challenging spaces we had to work with,” she says. “The kitchen was very long and narrow, and we ended up with a design that’s not only beautiful, but functions really well. We also took the hall coat closet directly across from the kitchen and turned it into a hidden pantry. Since it’s in the main hallway and we didn’t want it to look like just a closet, we worked with Bill Higgins at Architectural Kitchens and designed a very large custom oak door with oversized hardware and two lit glass and metal display cabinets on either side. Because of the footprint of the kitchen, storage was an issue, so converting the closet to a pantry worked out beautifully.”
In the lower level, they also added a home gym, a powder room, a large sitting area with a custom TV wall, a bar, and a built-in bench seat for eating or playing cards. Behind the sectional, Anton placed a custom oversized console table made by Designer Furniture Services, to provide barstool seating. Outside changes included a new covered patio with a built-in barbecue, cabana bath, and a pool. “There was an existing pool on the site but the homeowners wanted it to go in a different direction, so they filled in the original pool and had a new one put in,” Anton explains.
The project took approximately two years; the homeowners moved in in November 2021. Anton says there were challenges along the way, but there’s nothing she’d do differently. “I have no regrets at all. The house is amazing, functions incredibly well, and with the footprint we had to work with, I feel like we were very creative with our use of space.”
She says new-builds can be easier to work on, but remodels can be very satisfying. “When you’re done with a successful renovation there’s a great sense of accomplishment,” the designer adds.
She praises the team, which also included Lakes Development Group, Architectural Kitchens, and Spire Integrated Services. “Everyone put their heart and soul into it,” she says of the project. “The process can be long and stressful, so putting yourself in the hands of very competent, caring people makes all the difference.”
BUYER’S GUIDE
INTERIOR DESIGN
Ann-Marie Anton, It’s Personal Design, Grosse Pointe Woods,
itspersonaldesign.com
FEATURED BUSINESSES
Advance Plumbing & Heating Supply, Bathtub, Faucets – Master Bathroom, locations in Detroit, Walled Lake, www.advanceplumbing.com.
Tennant & Associates, Romo Wall Color – Family Room, showroom in Michigan Design Center, Troy, www.michigandesign.com
Virginia Tile Co., Walker Zanger Backsplash – Powder Room, locations in Farmington Hills, Livonia, and Troy, www.virginiatile.com.
BATHROOM, MASTER
Bathtub – Advance Plumbing & Heating Supply, Detroit, Walled Lake
Cabinetry – Premier, Architectural Kitchens, Troy
Countertop – Geolux, Ciot, Troy
Doors, Glass – Reid Glass, Southfield
Faucets – Advance Plumbing & Heating Supply, Detroit, Walled Lake
Flooring, Bathtub – Mud Brickchip, Ciot, Troy
Flooring, Vanity – Helsinki White, Cercan Tile, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Mirrors – RH
Towel Bars – Foresteel
Wall Treatment, Bathtub – Essentia Sonata, Ciot, Troy
Wall Treatment, Vanity – Helsinki White, Cercan Tile, Michigan Design Center, Troy
BEDROOM, MASTER
Bench – Custom, Designer Furniture Services, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Flooring – Stark Carpet, Troy
Wall Treatment, Marble – Ciot, Troy
Wall Treatment, Wood – Premier, Architectural Kitchens, Troy
Wallpaper – Winfield Thybony, Kravet, Kravet | Lee Jofa | Brunchswig & Fils, Michigan Design Center, Troy
DINING ROOM
Chairs, Dining – Olivya Stone
Chandelier – Christopher Boots, Jean de Merry
Flooring – Everlast Floors, Troy
Table, Dining – Italmoda, Royal Oak
Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Crushed Ice
FAMILY ROOM
Armchairs, Gray – Christopher Guy
Armchairs, Pattern – Boiler
Cabinet – Premier, Architectural Kitchens, Troy
Fireplace – Ciot, Troy
Flooring – Everlast Floors, Troy
Sofa – Boiler
Table, Coffee (Round) – O’Hara Studio, A. Rudin
Table, Coffee (Square) – Berman Rosetti, Ferrell Mittman
Wall Color – Romo, Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Window Shades – Spire
KITCHEN
Backsplash – Ciot, Troy
Cabinetry – Premier, Architectural Kitchens, Troy
Countertop – Ciot, Troy
Flooring – Everlast Floors, Troy
Runners – The Ghiordes Knot, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Crushed Ice
POWDER ROOM
Backsplash – Walker Zanger, Virginia Tile Co., Troy
Cabinet – Premier, Architectural Kitchens, Troy
Countertop – Ciot, Troy
Flooring – Everlast Floors, Troy
Wallpaper – Innovations, Rozmallin, Michigan Design Center, Troy
THEATER AREA
Artwork, Booth – John Richard
Bar Stools – RH
Booth and Table – Custom, Oakland Woodworking, Ortonville
Flooring – Everlast Floors, Troy
Rug – Lee Jofa, Kravet | Lee Jofa | Brunschwig & Fils, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Sculptures, Wall – Porto Romana, Holly Hunt
Sofa, Sectional – TCS Designs
Table, Bar – Custom, Designer Furniture Services, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Table, Coffee – Custom, Designer Furniture Services, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Crushed Ice
Text By Khristi Zimmeth & Photography By Beth Singer
|
|
|
