
When the owners of this Clarkston residence returned to the U.S. after spending five years in Korea and a year in China, they brought with them not only a collection of furniture, art, and accessories gathered from their travels, but an internationally influenced style and sensibility.

Upon their return, the family, which includes three grown children, decided to upgrade parts of the home they had bought in 2005 to reflect their experiences. They hired Armina Kasprowicz, of Armina Interiors in Rochester Hills, to spearhead the renovation. Among the spaces they tackled together were the lower level, first-floor master suite, great room, foyer, and some second-floor areas.

bath. βWe wanted to create a welcoming oasis,β she explains.
At the start of the renovation, the house was a long way from the clean-lined contemporary space the homeowner envisioned, the designer says. βIt was very traditional, very Tuscan,β she says of the 13,000-square-foot βbefore.β The overall goal for the project was to lighten up the spaces and reflect the homeownersβ fresh outlook and personal style, while giving the rooms an βelevated, sophisticated feel,β Kasprowicz says. βThe challenge was updating it, but still working within the feel of the house.β

Included on the to-do list: a lower-level entertaining area including a bar, wine room, billiards/games room, a lounge area/sitting area with a fireplace, a theater room, home gym, and bathrooms. βThey wanted a unique and cozy place to entertain family and friends,β the designer explains. βThey didnβt use the lower level much before, and the family loves to watch movies and spend time together in the game room and bar.β
The handsome custom bar and nearby banquettes were designed with Vogue Furniture, Kasprowicz says. βA lof of the lower level was gutted to create a sophisticated space, but also one that would be comfortable and fun,β she says. The team also modernized the theater room, removing tall wainscoting and updating the space with black-and-white carpet, black velvet lounge chairs, custom-made, textured wallpaper, and updated audio equipment. Layered lighting was added to make the room cozy in the winter.

Polished concrete tables and lighting by Tom Dixon added to the stand-out style. βI mixed different materials and finishes, walnut with dark metal,β the designer explains. βTo add warmth, I worked with a plaster artist to create texture (for the walls) in a modern way.β She also added quartzite on the fireplace and nearby built-ins to house the homeownersβ Asian artifacts. The existing wine room was updated and a new iron door was added. βThis level of customization was very challenging, but weβre all happy with the results,β Kasprowicz says.
After gutting the first-floor primary bath, the designer updated it by removing a cathedral ceiling and elevating the steam shower and tub to create an elegant, spa-like ambience. βWe wanted to create a welcoming oasis,β she explains. βTaking inspiration from nature, we used a palette of natural textures and warm earth tones to transform the space from a dated, cold, and uninspired bathroom into one that surrounds our clients with luxurious finishes and textures.β
She says the renovated space is her favorite part of the house. βItβs amazing, luxurious and serene, with a mix of materials that include walnut floating cabinets, custom mirrors, stone, and porcelain,β she explains.

The bathβs layered textures and sophisticated aesthetic make it stand out, yet blend harmoniously with the rest of the ownersβ first-floor suite, the designer adds. She says she worked with California Closets to redesign the closet, making it more modern as well as lighter and brighter. She also reworked the roomβs fireplace and created an updated look with new furniture, a beautiful mix of neutrals and dark wood, and soft textures β including alpaca upholstery.
The designer also updated the first-floor great room and foyer, installing a new floor in the foyer and integrating new furniture and art, some from the familyβs travels. βI love working with their collections of artifacts brought from Asia and pieces that have special meaning to them,β the designer says. βThe spaces become very personal and unique.β Art brought from Asia also was used to update the second-floor loft.

Phase one of the renovation just wrapped up, but Kasprowicz is about to start on the lower-level bedrooms. As with the rest of the house, sheβs looking forward to working with the clients to reflect their experiences and interests. Doing so, she says, assures that the home is one-of-a-kind. βA lot of the renovation process is integrating the clientsβ personal taste,β she explains. βPutting it all into the mix makes it truly unique. Creating something unusual and so customized is the best part of the job.β
The homeowners were thrilled with the results, especially the designerβs work on the lower level. βI asked her to transform our basement into something that had a natural, organic feel and was lighter and brighter than what we had previously,β the wife says. βShe knocked it out of the park! Itβs now our favorite place in the house to spend time together.β
BUYERβS GUIDE
INTERIOR DESIGN
Armina Interiors, Rochester Hills, arminainteriors.com
BAR AND ENTERTAINING AREA
Cabinetry β Vogue Furniture, Royal Oak
Countertops β Wilsonart, Preferred Marble & Granite, Fraser
Flooring β DuChateau, Flooring Design Inc., Michigan Design Center, Troy
Light Fixtures β Tom Dixon
Stools, Bar β Bradley USA
Wall Plaster β Venetian Plaster Co., Lake Orion
Wall Paint β Sherwin-Williams, Panda White
BATHROOM, GUEST
Countertops β Wilsonart, Preferred Marble & Granite, Fraser
Flooring β DuChateau, Flooring Design Inc., Michigan Design Center, Troy
Lighting β Troy Lighting, Lighting Resource Studio, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Mirror β Sterling Custom Homes, Bloomfield Hills
Sink β Etsy
Wall Plaster β Venetian Plaster Co., Lake Orion
BATHROOM, PRIMARY
Bath Mat β Crate & Barrel
Bathtub β BainUltra, Herald Wholesale, Troy
Chandelier β Bocci Lighting, Lumens
Countertops β Laminam, Preferred Marble & Granite, Fraser
Drawers β Vogue Furniture, Royal Oak
Flooring β Antolini, Terrazzo & Marble Supply, Farmington Hills
Mirrors β Vogue Furniture, Royal Oak
Wall Tile β Porcelain, Antolini, Terrazzo & Marble Supply, Farmington Hills
BEDROOM
Bed Frame β Robert James Collection
Chair, Accent β Roberta Schilling Collection
Chandelier β Hammerton Studio
Fireplace β Sterling Custom Homes, Bloomfield Hills
Flooring β Stanton Carpet, The Ghiordes Knot, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Lamp β Visual Comfort
Rug β Loloi Rugs
Sconces β Hammerton Studio
Table, Accent β Palecek
Table, Bedside β Kindel Furniture, Baker | McGuire, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Wall Paint β Sherwin-Williams, Panda White
BILLIARDS AREA
Chandelier β Ted Abramczyk, Ralph Pucci
Flooring β DuChateau, Flooring Design Inc., Michigan Design Center, Troy
Sofas β Vogue Furniture, Royal Oak
Tables, Coffee β Custom, Mark Jupiter
Table, Pool β 11 Ravens
Wall Plaster β Venetian Plaster Co., Lake Orion
CLOSET
Closet β California Closets, Birmingham
Chandelier β Eurofase, Lighting Resource Studio, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Drawers, Island β California Closets, Birmingham
Flooring β Stanton Carpet, The Ghiordes Knot, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Wall Paint β Sherwin-Williams, Panda White
SITTING ROOM/LOUNGE AREA
Bookcase β Vogue Furniture, Royal Oak
Fireplace β Sterling Custom Homes, Bloomfield Hills
Flooring β DuChateau, Flooring Design Inc., Michigan Design Center, Troy
Rug β Ashley Stark Home, Stark Carpet, Troy
Seat, Accent β CB2
Wall Paint β Sherwin-Williams, Panda White
STAIRCASE
Pot, Plant β CAI Designs, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Wall Paint β Sherwin-Williams, Panda White
THEATER ROOM
Flooring β Cella Carpet, The Ghiordes Knot, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Lighting β Jonathan Browning, The Bright Group, Merchandise Mart
Seats β Fortress Seating
Wallpaper β Innovations USA, Rozmallin, Michigan Design Center, Troy
ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTORS
Builder β Todd Emerson, Sterling Custom Homes & Renovations, Bloomfield Hills
Closets β Maegan Donovan, California Closets, Birmingham
Text by Khristi ZimmethΒ |Β Photography by Martin Vecchio
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