Live “plant chandeliers” by metro Detroit-based Blumz Florist will be updated throughout the seasons.
The award-winning restaurant Lady of the House, a beloved Corktown staple from 2017 to 2021, has reopened in Core City, bringing with it a fresh blend of charm, warmth, and eclectic character. Owners Jason Singer and Kate Williams, the James Beard-nominated executive chef, collaborated to convert a 1,200-square-foot restaurant into an intimate dining area awash in a soothing green that feels like an extension of Williams’ own home. The eatery is serving a revamped menu of Irish, French, and Midwest-influenced dishes with seasonal ingredients.
As the principal designer at Salt Lake City-based Honigman Design Studio, Singer calls the space “Lady 2.0,” referencing its younger, more modern style. “If Lady 1.0 was her grandmother’s house, we want Lady 2.0 to feel like Kate,” says Singer, who describes Williams’ aesthetic as “1920s or 1930s vintage vibes, like in the Great Gatsby era.”
After signing a new lease, Williams and Singer discovered an obstacle: a noisy jiu-jitsu studio occupies the space above the restaurant. The soundproofing solution required shortening the height of the 15-foot ceilings and limiting the lighting choices in the dining space. Enter brass wall sconces and “plant chandeliers” by metro Detroit-based Blumz Florist. Singer admits he was initially skeptical about incorporating live plants into the design, but he later embraced the vision — especially the idea of ceiling décor that changes with the seasons.
From cheetah-print wallpaper to checkered tile and a light pink Cosmopolitan quartzite, the beloved eatery has a vintage speakeasy feel.
“The space is small, and so we wanted the bar and the dining room to feel like two separate places, while also having commonality between them,” Singer says. “I think the florals tie the two together.” A playful checkered black-and-white floor also connects the adjacent, moody bar and dining areas.
The bar’s countertop, crafted from light pink Cosmopolitan quartzite with vibrant hot pink veining, is another standout feature. “I’ve never seen pink quartzite before, and I thought it was stunning,” Singer says. “I also just imagine customers taking food (and drink) pictures with it as the background.” Williams chose a cheetah print from Detroit Wallpaper Co. as the bar’s backdrop and paired it with high-gloss maroon walls to achieve what Singer describes as a “sexy speakeasy” vibe.
Familiar elements from Lady 1.0 remain, such as an eclectic collection of vintage plateware donated by community members and an upholstered bench featuring Ryan Gosling’s face. Singer notes that pieces like the bench and the deer head mounted above the host stand embody Williams’ “distinctive yet playfully kitschy aesthetic.”
Lady of the House seats 58, and there’s space for an additional 20 on the patio, which will open in the spring when weather permits.
More information: ladyofthehousedetroit.com,
honigmandesignstudio.com
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