Growing up, Mark Washnock lived near the Michigan State Fairgrounds and I-75. “When I was young, the highway was being built,” Washnock recalls. “And every few months, on a Sunday, my dad would take us to get a Dutch Girl donut (near Woodward Avenue and Seven Mile) for a special treat.”
Today, Washnock can grab a glazed delight from the recently reopened Dutch Girl whenever the mood strikes. With a new home in Midtown, he relishes Detroit’s resurgence and his ability to enjoy the city.
In the late 1980s, Washnock attended Wayne State University’s medical school, then completed his residency at a Detroit hospital. Upon his graduation, Washnock accepted an anesthesiologist job in the Upper Peninsula, where he worked for 31 years. While living in Marquette with his wife, Amy, he says the couple got their metropolitan fix by visiting Chicago. Then, the couple heard whispers of Detroit rebranding itself as a destination city. They planned a vacation in the Motor City and returned multiple times thereafter.
While living as Yoopers for three decades, the Washnocks admit they enjoyed the active lifestyle the U.P. has to offer. “But, when you’re in your 60s, you’re not as active as you once were,” he says. “Amy and I were looking for a place to retire, and city life is what we wanted.” Detroit’s offerings cater to the lifestyle Mark and Amy envisioned for themselves — attending sporting events and concerts, walking from place to place, and enjoying a lively restaurant scene. As such, the couple soon realized they were sold on retiring in Detroit.
The Washnocks’ home, located on Alexandrine Street in Midtown, boasts beautiful, big elm trees, corner businesses, and access to everything on their social wish list. Located inside an Art Deco building constructed in 1930, the three-story, loft-style condominium features an industrial interior and an interesting past. The Springfield Metallic Casket Co. occupied the building until 1943. In 1957, Wayne State University obtained the structure to house its mortuary science program until 2002. In 2007, a developer bought the building and turned it into 10 luxury units now known as the Springfield Lofts.
The space was brimming with potential, but in great need of an update. The couple knew what they wanted, “but we wanted it done with a designer’s touch,” Washnock says.
Enter interior designer Lyzz Hope, of metro Detroit-based MOZ Interiors. Another one of Hope’s clients referred the designer to Washnock, which she says “was the greatest compliment.”
A majority of the project entailed Hope pulling together the couple’s residence while they were eight hours away, in the U.P. It was up to Hope to ensure everything was move-in ready. In terms of style, the clients wanted European luxury. “(The goal was to create) a peaceful mood throughout,” Hope says.
Prior to the renovation, the condo’s interior “was a concrete box, with exposed concrete ceilings, cement floors, and cement pillars,” Hope recalls. “I had to ask myself, How do I make this space feel homey and cozy? That’s part of the charm; the balance of softness with hard materials.” The exposed brick was retained, while details like black-and-white terrazzo tiles on the stairs add a fun, unexpected layer.
“The builder’s floor plan (included) a drag-and-drop backsplash. I (immediately knew I) had to get my hands in there more,” the designer says. She worked closely with Nightingale Co. of Rochester — a construction company whose in-house cabinetry company, WeissWorks, specializes in crafting custom pieces like the Washnocks’ kitchen island, dining room credenza, and master bathroom vanity.
“The kitchen was an awkward space and needed a custom piece,” Hope says. “I didn’t want anything too new. I wanted certain things to have history. For instance, the vintage smoked glass accent wall. I wanted to bridge the gap between a vintage piece and a new piece.” For extra attention to detail, Hope mirrored the toe kick on the custom credenza that sits in front of the mirror.
The pièce de résistance of Hope’s Midtown masterpiece is the master bedroom and bath. As the couple has spent so much time outdoors, Hope sought to embrace their love of nature. “I knew of this wallpaper (sporting a willow tree print cast in a greenish-blue hue) and, after speaking to the clients, the design (began to formulate) in my brain,” Hope says. The result is a carefully curated tree canopy brimming with character. Mirroring burled-wood side tables from Soho Home were placed on each side of the bed.
1.Interior Designer
Lyzz Hope, MOZ Interiors, Birmingham and Rochester Hills, mozinteriors.com
Additional Contributors
Custom vanity, island, and credenza: WeissWorks by Nightingale Co., Rochester
Fireplace: West Village Construction, Detroit
2.Oscar Vanity Light
Kuzco Lighting, Herald Wholesale, Troy kuzcolighting.com, heraldwholesale.com
“I love an unsuspecting wall sconce. This guy is situated between an accent chair and credenza, giving it an opportunity to showcase its dual swinging arms,” interior designer Lyzz Hope says.
3.Luna Pull in Brass
Lo & Co., loandcointeriors.com
“These half-moon pulls were the final touches on a custom vanity made by WeissWorks,” Hope says. “The overall style of the primary bathroom leans more traditional in design, so I wanted to dial it down a notch by bringing these gorgeous brass pulls to the foreground.”
4.Custom Print
Tell Me I’m Pretty, metro Detroit, tellmeimprettyphotography.com
“This piece was fun to add in the primary bathroom as a bit of inception; the tub featured in the photo is the same as the tub in the bathroom,” the designer says. “This comes
from a collection of photography created by myself and local photographer Shelby Dubin.”
5.Athena Calderone Dining Chair
Crate & Barrel, Novi, crateandbarrel.com
“I am still swooning over these chairs; the curve in the seat back intersecting those vertical lines mimics elements in the room, and the fabric gives it the perfect pop.”
6.Cinema Collection Mythology Tile
clé Tile, cletile.com
“The space has exposed concrete ceilings so I wanted to soften that material a bit, but warm it up with a traditional pattern and playful color combo,” Hope says. “Clé’s cement tiles were the perfect addition. Mission accomplished!”
7.Indigo Garden Wallpaper in Mineral Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy,
schumacher.com, michigandesign.com
“This wallpaper is a modern take on the classic toile. The soft curves in the design nicely complement the large arch feature over the bed. I couldn’t imagine a better backdrop.”
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