Sophisticated yet child-friendly. Clean, fresh, and clutter-free. Those were among the requests the owners of this West Bloomfield home had when they hired Stalburg Design to renovate their approximately 6,000-square-foot space. Built in the 1990s, the homeowners say the brick contemporary was “very choppy” and “a bit dated” when they purchased it in 2021.
“After living in their single-family home for almost 40 years, the homeowners decided to move to a gated community on Pine Lake,” designer Barbi Stalburg Kasoff explains. “With four kids and 10 grandkids, they wanted a home that’s welcoming and warm, durable enough for young families with children, but at the same time elegant and sophisticated.” Enthusiastic hosts and art collectors, they also wanted an environment that works for entertaining and showcasing the paintings and other works they’ve acquired from their travels around the world.
Kasoff and her associate, Sara Holdan, worked with Farmington Hills-based builder Nosan Signature Homes for two years to transform the three-bedroom, 3.5-bath home. “This was really the first project where we had full access and control over the interior architecture, as well as the interior design and final decorating,” Kasoff notes. “We were the architects and the designers, as well as the decorators. From the interior architecture to every aspect of the furniture, finishes, accessories, and even styling, we curated and designed each and every facet.”
While the home’s exterior envelope stayed the same, the team worked throughout the interior to open up and reorganize the space, Holdan shares. She says the original layout was choppy, citing the area off the kitchen near the garage as being especially problematic, so the project included removing walls and changing ceiling heights and floors throughout. “We took it to the studs, so it basically felt new,” she says.
“The mudroom entry is the main entry point for the homeowners,” Kasoff adds. “It needed to be functional as well as beautiful. We completely removed walls in the mudroom and opened up the area to redefine it as a command center and family drop zone, as well as the laundry room and mudroom.”
While Kasoff and her team addressed the homeowners’ dual request for sophistication and family friendliness, they also ensured the home is one where everything and everyone has a place. “We were able to meet the clients’ needs by creating a more formal main level with large, open gathering spaces and a private and luxurious primary suite,” Holdan says. “The lower level was designed to be more casual, with direct access to the development’s pool and Pine Lake, but it’s also open for family gatherings and events, with two bedrooms, a new kitchen, an exercise room, and a dedicated bathroom for guests.”
Once all of the home’s flow issues were addressed, Kasoff turned to the interiors, purposely choosing a mostly neutral palette on the main level — both for its light feel and for its ability to let the homeowners’ art shine. “Our clients have collected artwork from around the world, and many (areas in the home) are designed with these specific pieces in mind,” Kasoff says. They also commissioned and added a number of new pieces, including a large 7-foot statue by artist Tom Corbin of Corbin Bronze in the foyer.
In the living room, the team reworked the fireplace and changed ceiling heights to accommodate built-in cabinetry and create a more comprehensive flow from room to room. A custom rug by Kyle Bunting in Austin, Texas, went through almost a dozen iterations before the team settled on the design. It “directly reflects pieces and parts of furniture throughout the living room and became a signature focal point,” Kasoff explains, calling the home’s overall style “soft contemporary.” The dining room, one of the designer’s favorite places in the home, includes a commissioned and bespoke art piece by LA-based Bethany Robert with Teal Canvas.
“One of the most standout features of this project is the primary suite dressing room. We removed all of the walls and worked with Perspectives Cabinetry to create new spaces, separating the dressing area from the primary bathroom,” Kasoff reports. An unusual window pattern in the primary bath prohibited the designers from placing the vanities along the wall and resulted in one of the project’s biggest challenges — as well as the room’s most distinctive feature. “Because the home is part of an association, we were required to maintain the existing structure and window location,” Holdan says. “Our biggest challenge was to create his-and-hers vanities while not reconfiguring or replacing the existing windows.” The solution: placing a floating island in the center of the bathroom that’s dual-sided, with a suspension mirror between each sink. “We were able to maintain the existing location and window pattern while still providing functional needs for our clients,” Holdan says.
Terry Nosan of Nosan Signature Homes, meanwhile, says the primary bath and closet are his favorite parts of the project. “Between all of us, we came to a pretty unique solution,” he says.
Two years after moving in, the home has become the entertaining and family gathering hub the homeowners envisioned, Kasoff says, adding, “They host every holiday and Sunday dinners there.” The design team is equally happy with the results, she adds. “I honestly don’t think there’s one thing we would do differently.”
BEHIND THE DESIGN
Interior Architect and Designer
Barbi Stalburg Kasoff, Stalburg Design,
Birmingham and Washington, D.C., stalburgdesign.com
Project Contributors
Builder: Nosan Signature Homes, Farmington Hills
Cabinetry: Perspectives Cabinetry, Troy
Countertops: PMP Marble & Granite, Troy
Custom Metal Staircase: Richard Bennett & Associates, Detroit
Flooring: Everlast Floors, Troy
Hardware: Herald Wholesale, Troy
Limestone: Larry Lanzetta, Michigan Tile & Marble Co., Detroit
Plumbing: Advance Plumbing, Walled Lake
Window Treatments: Designs Designs, Wixom
Grace 48 Chandelier, Visual Comfort, Herald Wholesale, Troy, visualcomfort.com, heraldwholesale.com
Shift Accent Table, Baker, Michigan Design Center, Troy, bakerfurniture.com
“Our client found this sweet little accent table as we were meandering through the showrooms. She loved the whimsy and sculptural quality to it, and it became a focal point of art between the swivel chairs.”
Gregor End Table, Arteriors, CAI Designs, Michigan Design Center,
Troy, arteriorshome.com, caidesigns.net
Petrel 30-inch Picture Light, Visual Comfort, City Lights Detroit,
Michigan Design Center, visualcomfort.com, citylightsdetroit.com
“We love a wall unit with integrated decorative lighting! It elevates the design in a way that makes a statement and highlights the millwork. For this design, we wanted to highlight each of the bays. The contrast of black metal on white oak becomes sleek and modern.”
Custom Rug, Kyle Bunting, kylebunting.com
“This rug became a work of art in itself. After 10 separate revisions, trial runs, and a full mock-up, we worked with Kyle Bunting to create this masterpiece for the living room,” Kasoff says. “Its design intentionally draws the eye to the mitered limestone fireplace and the small details on our custom-fabricated cocktail table.”
Planum Furniture Gatsby Swivel Desk Chair, Designer Group Collection,
Michigan Design Center, Troy, designergroupcollection.com
“Since the homeowner works at this desk each evening, reviewing his files from the day, he wanted something functional and comfortable but also beautiful and elevated in style. This custom Italian chair with our own custom leather was the perfect choice,” Kasoff says.
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