Designer Lisa Petrella felt like she had arrived in her career when she was asked to do the interior and exterior design on a vintage 1898 farmhouse near downtown Birmingham.
For Petrella, who founded her award-winning interior design firm in 2003, the thrill of working with hand-rendering architect and historian Thomas Holleman, contractor/millwork maestro Eric Vogler, and tile craftsman Rich Horn would not only be an incredible experience, but also one “with no ego — it would be all about the end process, and every detail would be thought out with a team approach,” she says.
The client, a busy attorney and empty-nester, purchased the home with the intention of renovating the interior and exterior. The goal was to create a spa-like haven, inside and out, for relaxing and unwinding, and a place for her grown children to visit and watch football games together. She had to move out for 15 months during the extensive renovation.
After meeting with the homeowner and gleaning a thorough understanding of her vision, the team got to work. Petrella and Holleman started drawing up plans — she on her computer, he on paper. “We took out a wall, opened up the stairs, and added a more gracious kitchen,” says Holleman, co-author of “Art in Detroit Public Spaces” and many other architectural histories. As was typical of an old home, “you always run into unexpected conditions, and then you have to refine the design,” he says.
Design refinements happened frequently. While the house looked good during the initial walk-through, it was evident that the 2,800-square-foot structure had gone through a series of remodels, and some of them didn’t go well. “We fixed a lot of things that needed fixing,” says Vogler, known for his hand-sculpted millwork and fine finishes. Looking through the house today, you notice that his built-ins are of the highest quality, including the bedside shelving and drawers, and the arch above the bed in the master bedroom, the wainscoting in the master bath, and the soaring tongue-and-groove walls and beamed ceiling that surround the fireplace in the outdoor room.
Once the team started digging deeper, they discovered that the floors and walls weren’t plumb, “and certain point loads had nothing underneath — like a support beam coming down with only drywall and plaster holding it all together,” Vogler recalls. The team was able to stick with the same footprint, even after tearing down a small carriage house/garage that was a wreck. That led to more space for a wonderful backyard.
With a palette of slate blues, dark greens, tans, and beige, each room feels serene and luxurious, from the patina of the kitchen and dining room lighting to the Bunny Williams lamp that warms up the living room. Designer Petrella loved that the homeowner trusted her design instinct and let her fly with custom-made, hand-painted furniture (such as Vogler’s stunning console, designed by Petrella, with a pop-up TV in the master bedroom), cabinetry that was all built by Vogler and finished on-site, and the sweet shiplap-ceilinged niche between the kitchen and dining room that leads to a covered seating area outdoors with a TV and refrigerator.
The kitchen, which looks out at the patio, is ensconced in Calcutta marble and punctuated with Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances. In the cozy living room, tile man Horn fabricated the limestone fireplace.
Horn’s favorite achievement is the first-floor master bedroom’s sumptuous en suite bath — awash in statuary white marble with a heated mosaic floor, a shower that sits on a solid base with buttresses inside, and a soaking tub for chilling out. “The master bath is quite special; it’s very detailed,” says Horn, a native of Oxfordshire, England, who employs the lost art of using wire, lath, and cement that’s found in many of the Detroit area’s homes and apartments that were built decades ago.
Horn worked in tandem with landscape wizard Rob Grace doing the backyard stonework, and the result is a magnificent outdoor “living room” that’s a year-round oasis. “It was such a small space — it really took time because it was really overgrown,” Horn recalls. “It was quite an undertaking.”
Architect Holleman and builder Vogler have worked on projects together for more than 40 years, and Horn has been part of the team for about 22 years. Petrella has worked on projects with them since 2014. This exclusive bunch of artisans “create homes that, in 50 or 60 years, are still relevant,” Petrella says. “I’ve learned a lot from them, but they also listen to me.”
As for their opinion of Petrella, they love working with her. Holleman puts it succinctly: “Lisa is a delight. She brings another aspect into the mix and adapts to all the various styles.”
Clearly, this no-ego idea is a formula for success — and this project should easily last another 120 years.
BUYER’S GUIDE
INTERIOR DESIGN
Petrella Designs Inc., Troy,
petrelladesigns.com
BATHROOM
Cabinetry – Custom, Eric Vogler Construction, West Bloomfield
Countertops – RJH Tile, Stone and Marble, Holly
Curtains – Pindler, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Flooring – RJH Tile, Stone and Marble, Holly
Sconce – Circa Lighting, City Lights Detroit, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Tile, Shower – RJH Tile, Stone and Marble, Holly
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, White Down
Wall Treatment – Custom, Eric Vogler Construction, West Bloomfield
BEDROOM
Armchair – Hickory Chair, Petrella Designs Inc., Troy
Bed Frame – Hickory Chair, Petrella Designs Inc., Troy
Cabinetry – Custom, Petrella Designs Inc., Troy; Eric Vogler Construction, West Bloomfield
Curtains – Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Dresser, Window – Custom, Petrella Designs Inc., Troy; Eric Vogler Construction, West Bloomfield
Pillow, Throw, Brown – Kravet, Kravet | Lee Jofa | Brunschwig & Fils, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Pillows, Display (Flowers) – Colefax and Fowler, Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Rug – STARK Carpet, Troy
Sconce – Circa Lighting, City Lights Detroit, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, White Down
Wallpaper – Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy
DINING ROOM
Chandelier – Custom, The Urban Electric Co., Petrella Designs Inc., Troy
Chairs, Dining (Patterned) – Lee Industries, CAI Designs, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Chairs, Dining (White) – Hickory Chair, Petrella Designs Inc., Troy
Curtains – Chivasso, Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Table, Dining – Woodland Furniture, Petrella Designs Inc., Troy
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, White Down
KITCHEN
Cabinetry – Custom, Petrella Designs Inc., Troy; Thomas Holleman Architect, Birmingham
Chandelier – Circa Lighting, City Lights Detroit, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Countertops – RJH Tile, Stone and Marble, Holly
Flooring – Property Care Hardwood Floors, Bloomfield Township
Range Hood – Sunrise Metals, Architectural Kitchens, Troy
Rug – STARK Carpet, Troy
Shades, Woven – HARTMANN&FORBES, Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Sink – Advance Plumbing and Heating Supply Co.
Stools, Bar – Custom, Petrella Designs Inc., Troy
Stove/Microwave – Wolf, Witbeck Home Appliance Mart, Bloomfield Township
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, White Down
LIVING ROOM
Bench – Oly, Petrella Designs Inc., Troy
Ceiling Treatment – Eric Vogler Construction, West Bloomfield
Curtains – Petrella Designs Inc., Troy; Accent Custom Drapery, Sterling Heights
Flooring – Property Care Hardwood Floors, Bloomfield Township
Lamp, Table – Bunny Williams Home, Petrella Designs Inc., Troy
Pillows, Accent – Rozmallin, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Rug – STARK Carpet, Troy
Seats, Cube – Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Sofa – Hickory Chair, Petrella Designs Inc., Troy
Table, Coffee – Hickory Chair, Petrella Designs Inc., Troy
Table, Side – Baker Furniture, Baker | McGuire, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Table, Sofa – Hickory Chair, Petrella Designs Inc., Troy
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, White Down
SITTING AREA
Curtains – Chivasso, Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Lounge, Chaise – Hickory Chair, Petrella Designs Inc., Troy
Pillow, Throw (Brown Velvet) – Dedar, Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Pillow, Throw (Orange/White) – Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Rug – STARK Carpet, Troy
Sconce – Circa Lighting, City Lights Detroit, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Table, Display – Woodbridge Furniture, CAI Designs, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Table, Side – Oly, Petrella Designs Inc., Troy
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, White Down
EXTERIOR
Armchairs – RH
Building Materials – Eric Vogler Construction, West Bloomfield
Cabinetry – Eric Vogler Construction, West Bloomfield
Chandelier – Arteriors, CAI Designs, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Fire Pit – RJH Tile, Stone and Marble, Holly
Lantern – Circa Lighting, CAI Designs, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Masonry – RJH Tile, Stone and Marble, Holly
Paint Color, House Trim – Benjamin Moore, White Dove
Paint Color, Window Trim – Benjamin Moore, Ashwood
Sofa, Chaise – Lane Venture, CAI Designs, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Table, Coffee – Formations, Holly Hunt
Table, Drink – Four Hands, Petrella Designs Inc., Troy
ADDITIONAL PROJECT CONTRIBUTORS
Architect – Tom Holleman, Thomas Holleman Architect, Birmingham
Builder – Eric Vogler, Eric Vogler Construction, West Bloomfield
Painter – Mike Trudell, Trudell Custom Creations, Waterford
Tile and Stone Installer – Rich Horn, RJH Tile, Stone and Marble, Holly
Text by Patty Lanoue Stearns | Photography by Martin Vecchio
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