When the Louis Kamper-designed Book-Cadillac Hotel opened in 1924, the 31-story skyscraper towered over Washington Boulevard (“the Fifth Avenue of the West”) as Detroit’s most lavish hotel and the tallest hotel in the world. Recently, the Westin Book Cadillac underwent a spectacular multimillion-dollar transformation for its 100th anniversary. The redo includes 65 luxury condominiums atop the historic hotel.
During frequent visits to Detroit from their lakefront home in Bay City, Alan Gurski and his wife, Renee, often mused about buying an apartment in the city where Alan was born so they could more fully enjoy the city’s culture, arts, and restaurants. When the opportunity arose in 2023 to purchase a condominium at the Book Cadillac Residences, they jumped at the chance and quickly engaged Rachel Nelson, CEO and principal designer at Concetti, based in Detroit, because they appreciated the company’s bold interior design expertise.
“When the Book-Cadillac (Hotel) was built it was the Roaring Twenties and the heyday of Detroit,” Gurski says. “We looked at a number of buildings and chose Book Cadillac due to the beauty of the building, the location, and access to the hotel’s amenities. Our condo is one of four nestled on the corner, so we have the best views of Capitol Park, the stadiums, Greektown, and the river.”
“WE ADDED MOLDING, COLUMNS, AND SCONCES, AND MADE EVERYTHING LOOK PURPOSEFUL, LIKE IT HAD ALWAYS BEEN THERE.”
— RACHEL NELSON
The couple has three children (two adults, one teen) who visit the family’s city home frequently. While there are only two bedrooms, Gurski says they use the hotel for “overflow” when needed.
In the year it took to redesign and renovate the couple’s 1,200-square-foot condo, the Concetti design team transformed the uninspiring original space into a rich and moody Art Deco-influenced city retreat that plays well with the building’s Neo-Renaissance architecture.
“Through the discovery process, we get to know the client and their design style, so we can create a space that reflects them and their vision,” Nelson explains. “In this case, they had antiques, artwork, and some quirky pieces like the jaguar statue on the dining table that fit better in their urban sanctuary than in their lake home, so we integrated these items into the design.”
Since the condominium is in an iconic building above a historic hotel, there were limitations such as fixed plumbing, immovable electrical, structural constraints, and architectural challenges. Nelson says she viewed it as an opportunity to devise creative solutions to meet the clients’ wishes while honoring the building’s history.
The designer was inspired by ornate molding details found in the hotel’s elaborate Venetian Ballroom, and added similar adornments in the condominium’s interior. “We leaned into ornamentation and applied it to areas that were a bit unsightly, such as inconvenient bump-outs in the ceilings and walls. We added molding, columns, and sconces, and made everything look purposeful, like it had always been there.”
In the primary suite, Nelson and her team faced several challenges including removing the tub, adding a toilet room in the bathroom, and creating a suitable wall for a bed. “We ended up covering a window with beautiful drapery to create an elegant headboard wall,” she says.
The use of eye-catching wallpaper as well as color-washed ceilings and walls throughout the home adds beauty and drama — which, according to Nelson, “was fully embraced by the clients.”
The stunning main living areas were color-drenched in a sultry aubergine hue with contrasting hints of black, white, gold, and brass; the result is a cool, swanky vibe.
Nelson was able to offer a sustainable and cost-effective option for the kitchen renovation by using the original cabinetry, countertops, and refinished flooring.
“The cabinets were painted and open shelving was added. Black-and-gold patterned marble tile was installed to anchor the kitchen and make the outdated countertops look current,” Nelson says. Other special enhancements to the cabinetry include brass mesh inserts, stylish hardware, and picture frame molding with mirrors.
The alluring emerald tones in the guest bedroom and bathroom were inspired by the green copper corbels that became a focal point in the dining area, and seamlessly pulled both color stories together.
Since Gurski recently retired, the couple is excited to spend even more time enjoying their Detroit home. “We love our place and living in the city — the people, the history, the vibrancy, the stories unfolding, and the energy. It’s a great place for entertaining family and friends,” he shares.
BEHIND THE DESIGN
1. Flint 3 Light Multi Drop, Kalco, kalco.com
“This specific fixture was selected due to the versatility of the placement of each pendant,” Nelson says. “(The client) loves the chain feature that drapes to the canopy from each pendant to serve as ‘jewelry’ for the space.”
2. Vern Floor Lamp, Sunpan, sunpan.com
“This floor lamp is one of my go-to selections because it offers an adjustable height rod. I also really enjoy the large arch, as it extends from the outlet where I plugged it in to the spot (where) it hovers over on the sofa,” designer Rachel Nelson says.
3. Cabaret, York Wallcoverings, yorkwallcoverings.com
“The wallpaper in the bathroom creates a division between the aubergine tile wainscoting,” Nelson says. “(The client was) drawn to the ’20s-inspired pattern, which is reminiscent of peacock feathers. The shape of the feathers coming together gives an elevated feel to the space. We wanted to emphasize the pattern by continuing it up onto the ceiling so it really encapsulates the overall vibe, rather than taking a back seat.”
4. Sedes Bar Stools, Noir Furniture, noirfurniturela.com
“This floor lamp is one of my go-to selections because it offers an adjustable height rod. I also really enjoy the large arch, as it extends from the outlet where I plugged it in to the spot (where) it hovers over on the sofa,” designer Rachel Nelson says.
5. Blair Red Marble Accent Table, Moe’s, moeshome.com
“To play up the luxe factor of the primary suite, we focused on an eclectic use of materiality — not your typical wood nightstands. Thus, we selected a unique natural stone nightstand from Moe’s in a pop of color (not your typical Carrara marble!).”
6. Warren Platner Armchair, Eternity Modern, eternitymodern.com
“The Platner is a classic Mid-century Modern piece,” Nelson says. “I like complementing the curved sofa with a chair that features a curved back. I also love that the base of the chair ties into the Art Deco influence that’s been incorporated throughout the residence.”
7. Flight in Deep Emerald, Phillip Jeffries, phillipjeffries.com
“I wanted the bedrooms in this condo to feel like you’re in a hotel suite. Each room needed to have a statement,” Nelson says. “For this bedroom, (the client and I) wanted the overall vibe to be tonal — and the clouds do just that, while also offering relief through the lighter portions of the design.”
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