“We’re seeing traditionalists wanting modern without the feeling of being cold or stark. [We accomplish that] by combining materials, colors, and textures.”
— Alisha Serras, Scavolini by Cucina Moda, Birmingham
“Ventilation hoods are becoming the stylish appliance.”
— Alisha Serras, Scavolini by Cucina Moda, Birmingham
“Stainless-steel appliances have a classic look that currently shows no sign of a retreat.”
— Heather VanderSlik, Bella Cucina Designs, Sylvan Lake
“Granite is always popular and fabulous, but we’ve seen an increased interest in quartz countertops — particularly Cambria, because it’s manufactured in the United States.”
— Heather VanderSlik, Bella Cucina Designs, Sylvan Lake
“People are trending to clean lines that are more timeless and more classic, an elegant look — using white marbles and finishes that stand the test of time. And people are more budget conscious, so those heavy, ornate details aren’t in people’s budgets anymore.
“We’re using a lot of stainless-steel cabinets and open shelving units in kitchens. And we’re also doing a lot of stainless details in oversized hoods.”
“Stainless-steel is still predominant. It’s clean. It can go either contemporary or traditional. It’s kind of like white — it blends in with everything.”
— Dorothy Barak, Specialties Showroom, Berkley
“In new construction, we see his-and-her bathrooms that tend toward one masculine and one feminine but both coordinating with the master bedroom. Heated floors are very ‘hot.’ Limestone is still very popular and, for a more traditional look, the 3-by-6 white subway tile along with little hexagons, basket weaves, and pinwheels are still great coupled with Carrara and Calcutta marble.”
— Lynne Moran, Virginia Tile
“What’s becoming a thing of the past is building tubs into tile decks. In its place are sleeker, cleaner freestanding tubs that create a light, open atmosphere. We also see our clients steering away from standard overhead lighting.”
— Jodi Caden, Caden Design Group, Birmingham
“Heated floors are a must in our Michigan climate. It’s low in cost and heats up your bathroom and your feet. When using heated floors, timers are essential to be functional for each client’s lifestyle. Also, we’re now putting heated towel racks and warming drawers for warm towels in master baths along with refrigerator drawers so that our clients can have chilled bottled water or fresh fruit at the ready.”
— Jodi Caden, Caden Design Group, Birmingham
“Our customers are moving toward man-made materials that look natural but are extremely durable, such as Caesarstone or quartz. These materials are more stain resistant than a granite or marble. This means the coffee cups won’t leave a ring and the spilled wine won’t be an issue.”
— Jodi Caden, Caden Design Group, Birmingham
“Induction [cooking] has been around for a long time; it just was really expensive and took a lot of space. Now, they’ve brought it down. I’d say in the last two or three years, it’s really taken off for us.”
— Dorothy Barak, Specialties Showroom, Berkley
A small, bright painting of a house by Cheboygan artist Rick Kolb hangs on a wall just outside Pam Cumberland’s sunny kitchen. Full of crayon-box colors and simple lines, it has the same playful yet contemporary feel found throughout the early 1950s Bloomfield Township ranch. Open to the nearby living and family rooms, the clean-lined kitchen is one of the homeowner’s favorite spaces.
“I really wanted it to feel connected to the rest of the house,” Pam says of the room. When she and her husband, Glenn, purchased the approximately 3,000-square-foot home in the 1980s, the tiny kitchen had dated white-laminate cabinets and an awkward layout. Working with Royal Oak architect Jon Sarkesian (jonsarkesian.com) on exteriors and some interior space planning, the couple undertook a whole-house renovation. Down came unnecessary walls; up went paint colors in a spectrum ranging from cheery yellow to tangerine and chartreuse. Pam did the interiors herself, turning a nearby laundry room into a pantry, customizing Ikea cabinets, and turning a former pantry into a convenient bar. She never considered a more neutral palette.
“I’ve always loved colorful spaces,” she says. “I also like glossy, shiny, iridescence, and lots of Lucite. Twenty years of looking at books and magazines before we renovated gave me lots of ideas, many of which ended up in my house.”
The owner of a Westin Book Cadillac penthouse wanted a kitchen that didn’t look like a kitchen, says Gary Fried, who designed the entertaining-oriented space in association with MDG Design and interior designer Roxanne Whitter Thomas. Dark mahogany cabinets flanking a 50-inch TV conceal two Sub-Zero refrigerators and a bar. The island houses a sink, dishwasher, warming drawer, microwave, gas cooktop, and oven. The existing column, part of the old hotel structure, could not be removed. “I saw it as an opportunity,” Fried says. The mirrors with crisscross moldings are repeated throughout the unit. The thick granite countertop has a double DuPont edge, and the 6-inch rise from counter to bar was mitered to give the appearance of one solid piece of stone. Gary Fried; 248-703-8460.
In this home on Lake Michigan, the large, open space was given a sense of multiple rooms through the use of beams and ceiling treatments. In this blend of new and old, the dining area feels traditional but reflects the contemporary trend of being open to the kitchen. Blue appliances add to the fresh interior. A 2011 Detroit Home Design Awards winner. Visbeen Associates (architect/interior architect); 616-285-9901. Julie Holmes (interior designer); 616-633-2807.
In response to the strong sunlight that bathes this Florida beach house, the designers used saturated color in the kitchen. Tile walls in the main cooking area are turquoise, which is carried through to the eating area. A 2011 Detroit Home Design Awards winner. Kathleen McGovern Studio of Interior Design; 313-331-4600, Mark Johnson and Associates; 248-543-5411.
Deep-paneled archways lend architectural interest in this expansive kitchen with 10-foot ceilings. Light cabinetry and millwork contrasts with rich wood flooring and cool stainless steel-surfaces. Features include a recessed flat-screen TV and built-in coffeemaker with a pull-out shelf for preparing drinks. A 48-inch Wolf range and matching stainless countertop complement the Calcutta marble backsplash. The island, topped with 3-inch thick marble, houses a microwave and warming drawers and includes flip-down drawer fronts that conceal outlets. A 2011 Detroit Home Design Awards winner. Caden Design Group; 248-203-6006.
A blend of traditional and contemporary is achieved by mixing such elements as a crystal chandelier and classic marble surfaces with contemporary lines, materials, and colors, such as the mosaic glass tile on the floor and walls. A skylight was added to provide natural light and anchor the focal point of the tub, window, and chandelier. A 2011 Detroit Home Design Awards winner. Arik Green Design; 248-496-2792.
During a home remodel, the powder room was updated with a striking paint finish and a new countertop and sink for the existing vanity. The gleaming, lacquered walls are painted in Benjamin Moore’s “Wales Gray” (No. 1585). The vanity, topped with white onyx, is set with a floral-pattern Sherle Wagner “Summer Garden” sink. Interior designer: Lucy Earl, Jones-Keena & Co., Birmingham; 248-644-7515.
Pure-white cabinetry and ample use of mirrors helped create a glamorous 1920s elegance. Design elements include marble countertops and a touch of baby blue. The vanities sit on feet, which creates an airy look. Creature comforts include heated floors and Sub-Zero drawers in the vanity for cold-drink storage. Mirrors surrounding the windows unify the room and create a sense of depth and extravagance. A 2011 Detroit Home Design Awards winner. Caden Design Group; 248-203-6006.
Residential interior designers sometimes find inspiration in high-end hotels. Because hospitality décor is often more adventurous, the look can be bold. This image from a hotel installation features Honeycomb-pattern tile in “Icicle, Milk, and Smoke” by Paccha. Available at Ann Sacks, Michigan Design Center, Troy; 248-643-3393.
Satchmo Sticks in “Fats Brown” from the Artistic Tile Jazz Glass Collection reflects the popular trend in glass, especially elongated thin strips, says Jan Grudzen, of Beaver Tile & Stone, several area locations; beavertileandstone.com. The look lends texture as well as color.
