The perks were plentiful at a spacious end-unit ranch condo facing a small lake, but the dated interiors were ready for a head-to-toe renovation. On the fix-it list for the Bloomfield Hills redo: a primary suite with a modest bathroom, a cramped and nondescript kitchen, and adding builder-grade architectural details. The owner at the time, who has since moved, wanted a spa-like retreat that would maximize the views, and she brought in Birmingham-based MainStreet Design Build to handle the transformation.
“It was such a fun job because we weren’t limited by only working in one room. We were able to create a completely new atmosphere with a whole new feel,” explains Christine Ramaekers, Certified Kitchen Designer and vice president of MainStreet. “We could create a very clean, warm, and serene feel throughout the whole home.”
The great room/living room was completely gutted. The tall ceiling now benefits from custom coffered beams and crown molding.
The layout was redesigned as needed, starting with the laundry room and kitchen. The end result is more efficient storage and a fresh aesthetic. A stackable washer and dryer made room for practical and pretty built-in pantries, as well as a comfy bench.
In the kitchen, where the ceiling rises to accommodate an upper window that had to stay, the solution was brilliant. “Steve spent a good deal of time planning that,” Christine says about her husband, president and founder of MainStreet.
“The beam structure gives a feel of continuity between the kitchen and the nook, so you don’t ever feel a change in ceiling height,” Steve Ramaekers adds. “The goal was to ensure continuity (within) the whole room.”
Lit cabinetry, a gorgeous quartz countertop, and a creamy palette make the kitchen a true standout.
Because they were dealing with a condo, the team had to work around existing features, like windows. “In a home you might (not have to do) that, so it was a huge design challenge,” Christine says.
It was a challenge they overcame with artistic vision and customization. Today, high-end appliances set the stage for an ultimate chef’s kitchen, where a waterfall island with a quartz countertop joins custom rift-cut white oak cabinetry sporting a glazed finish. The beam work was hand-finished to match.
To give their client a wine cellar on the main level, the wall between the dining room and kitchen was replaced with a three-sided glass refrigerated wine storage feature that provides a “wow” factor. “We’ve done a few great wine cellars, but not a divider with three sides,” Steve says. “It came out better than expected.”
Also on the main floor, the great room/living room was completely gutted. The tall ceiling now benefits from custom coffered beams and crown molding, while built-in shelves flank the butterflied marble fireplace. “The coffered ceiling turned out pretty amazing,” Christine says. “It felt like the right thing for that room; it was so cold.”
A cozy den was opened up for better visibility, and the nearby bathroom and guest bedroom were completely overhauled. Barn doors separate the shower from the vanity, where a handmade wood-and-metal vanity, custom tile wainscoting, and grass cloth wallpaper provide a powder-room effect. “We separated that room with barn doors for guests because there isn’t a powder room,” Christine explains.
Space was taken from the adjacent guest room for the primary suite, which had a small closet and bathroom. The new primary bath combines natural walnut wall-hung cabinetry with open shelving, a bench seat, and a feature tile wall. A unique light fixture contributes to the spa-like feel, while a separate toilet and shower room, and a dressing area with handmade mirrored cabinetry, complete the personal space.
Both pages, clockwise from above: Space was taken from the adjacent guest room for the primary suite. In the laundry room, a stackable washer and dryer made room for practical and pretty built-in pantries, as well as a comfy bench. The new primary bath has stunning walnut cabinetry and a feature tile wall.
The 1,500-square-foot walkout lower level is the perfect place to entertain, and a new bar that features a black patina and a brass railing takes center stage. A linear fireplace, meanwhile, pairs French concrete tiles with a limestone mantel and hearth. Unique pieces the new owner already had — such as a baby grand piano and a billiard table — personalize the area, which also has a spacious guest suite with a freshly remodeled bathroom.
Distinct light fixtures and walls painted in soft, muted tones lend a luxurious feel throughout. “This was definitely a collaboration between Steve, myself, our interior designer, Christopher Swint, and our whole design team,” Christine says. Not only did the extensive project add value for their original client, she notes, but it also increased the value for the new owner.
The new owner was already familiar with the company’s work, so she felt confident about the quality of the renovation. All she had to do was add furniture from her former residence and fill in the blanks with her own finds to reflect her “rustic modern minimalism” aesthetic.
Both pages, clockwise from above: The 1,500-square-foot walkout lower level is the perfect place for entertaining. Unique pieces the new owner already had — such as a baby grand piano and a pool table — personalize the area. Barn doors in a guest bath separate the shower from the handmade wood-and-metal vanity.
“With my new condo, I tried to create a space that was harmonious with the renovation,” she says. “Many of the features, like the wine chiller and the marble wall in the living room, are the stars of the show. The furniture and décor needed to be clean and clutter-free, but rich in a mixture of materials and textures.”
As an empty-nester with two grown kids, she says she was looking to simplify her life when she found the perfect fit. “I feel so lucky and grateful that this is my home,” the new owner says.
BUYER’S GUIDE
Interior Design
MainStreet Design Build, Birmingham, mainstreetdesignbuild.com
Basement
Armchairs – Ethan Allen
Fireplace – Bourlier’s BBQ and Fireplace, Royal Oak
Flooring – COREtec plus HD Timberland Rustic Pine
Lamp – Arhaus
Piano – Old Family Treasure, Bush & Lane
Sofa – Ethan Allen
Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Alpaca
Bathroom, Powder Room
Countertop – Custom Vanity, Wood Top
Door, Barn – Birch Barn Door, TruStile Doors; Hardware, Forged Finish, Rustica Hardware
Mirror – Custom, The Art of Custom Framing, Troy
Tile, Accent Wall – NYC Bronze Black, Chelsea Arts Tile + Stone, NYC
Tile, Flooring – Durango Select, Olympia Tile, Beaver Tile & Stone, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Tile, Shower Floor – Durango Select, Olympia Tile, Beaver Tile & Stone, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Tile, Shower Wall – Expression Haze, Ceramic Tiles International, Virginia Tile, Troy
Sconces – Fusion Collection, Fine Art Handcrafted Lighting
Sink – Chiseled Black Granite, Stone Forest, Advance Plumbing and Heating Supply Co., Detroit, Walled Lake
Vanity – Custom, White Birch with Bronze Metal Legs, MainStreet Design Build, Birmingham
Wallpaper – Maranta Arrowroot, Thibaut, Baker | McGuire, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Bathroom, Primary
Cabinetry – Omega, Walnut, Natural Finish Jax Door Style, MainStreet Design Build Design Studio, Birmingham
Chandelier – Sprig Pendant, Hubbardton Forge, Lighting Resource Studio, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Countertops – Envi Quartz, Albatros, Dwyer Marble & Stone, Farmington Hills
Faucets – Brizo, Luxe Gold Finish, Wittock Kitchen and Bath, Birmingham
Flooring – Suite Ice, Dwyer Marble & Stone, Farmington Hills
Mirrors – Vitality Lighted Mirror, Robern, Kohler Signature Store, Birmingham
Sinks – Verticyl, Kohler, Wittock Kitchen and Bath, Birmingham
Tile, Accent Wall – Dahlia Stellar Cornflower Blue, Sonoma Tilemakers, Virginia Tile, Troy
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Silver Satin
Bedroom, Primary
Artwork – “Faces” by Shu Leu, Purchased at Birmingham Art Fair
Bed Frame – St. James Collection, RH
Chandelier – Visual Comfort & Co., Birmingham
Desk – St. James Collection, RH
Flooring – Tuscany Groseto, Casabella Hardwood
Lamps, Bedside – Serena & Lily
Rug – English Manor Hand-Knotted Wool Rug, Vanilla Bean
Tables, Bedside – St. James Collection, RH
Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Fleur de Sel
Billiards Room
Blinds – Pirouette Sheer Shades, Hunter Douglas
Chairs – ProLine Billiards
Flooring – Coretec, COREtec plus HD Timberland Rustic Pine
Pool Table – Hand Painted, St Andrews, Golf Theme, ProLine Billiards
Tables, Bar – ProLine Billiards
Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Alpaca
Dining Room
Artwork – Pine Forest Etching, George Raab
Chairs, Dining – Barrington Chair with Nailheads, Caramel Leather, Pottery Barn
Flooring – Tuscany Groseto, Casabella Hardwood
Lamp, Corner – Arhaus
Table, Dining – Copper Top Oval Table, Arhaus
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Classic Gray
Kitchen
Bar Stools – Pottery Barn
Basket – Pottery Barn
Cabinetry – Plain & Fancy, Rift Cut White, Oak, Lynx Finish, MainStreet Design Build Design Studio, Birmingham
Ceiling Treatment – Riff Cut Oak Beamwork, MainStreet Design Build, Birmingham
Chandelier – Portico Pendant, Hubbardton Forge, Lighting Resource Studio, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Countertops – Envi Quartz, Calacatta Extra, Dwyer Marble & Stone, Farmington Hills
Flooring – Tuscany Groseto, Casabella Hardwood
Sink – Whitehaven Undermount Farmhouse Sink, Kohler, Wittock Kitchen & Bath, Birmingham
Stove – Dual Fuel Charbroiler Convection Range, Wolf, Specialties Showroom, Berkley
Tile, Backsplash – Atelier Silver, Ciot, Troy
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Classic Gray
Wine Cellar, Glass – Custom Glass Wine Enclosure, Reid Glass, Southfield
Wine Cooler – Wine Enthusiast
Wine Racks – Vino, VintageView Wine Storage Systems
Living Room 1
Armchair – Rivers Sling Chair, Buff Hair-on-Hide, Burke Decor
Artwork – “Three Brothers,” JD Dennison, Troy
Blinds – Pirouette Shear Shades, Hunter Douglas
Flooring – Tuscany Groseto, Casabella Hardwood
Sofa – Jake Sectional, Oat, Ultrasuede, Pottery Barn
Table, Coffee – Ridgeline Coffee Table, RH
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Seapearl
Living Room 2
Armchairs – Thaddeus Collection, Slipper Chair, Veneto Ivory Leather, RH
Blinds – Hunter Douglas
Ceiling Treatment – Custom Coffered, Detail by MainStreet Design Build, Birmingham
Fireplace Surround – Calacatta Ondulato Slab, Ciot, Troy
Flooring – Tuscany Groseto, Casabella Hardwood
Pillows, Throw – Pottery Barn
Rug – Aurelia Hand Knotted Wool Rug, Pottery Barn
Sofas – Jake Loveseats, Stone Ultrasuede, Pottery Barn
Stools – Global Stools, Antique Gunmetal Hair-on-Hide, Global Views
Table, Coffee – Thaddeus Collection, RH
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Classic Gray
Mudroom
Artwork – “De Rede Van Antwerpen,” Dries
Cabinetry – Whitecap Finish Newhavel Doorstyle, Kitchen Kraft, MainStreet Design Build Design Studio, Birmingham
Countertops – Zeal Quartz, Teresa
Flooring – Havana Blue, Ciot, Troy
Hooks – Signature Hardware
Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Functional Gray
Washer/Dryer – Logic Series, Asko, Specialties Showroom, Berkley
Photography by Jeff Garland
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