Lounge Act

For a residential client in Troy, Amy TerMarsch, CEO and principal designer at Amy Elizabeth Designs in Rochester, and her talented team crafted a magnificent lower level from scratch for a restauranteur who knows all about hospitality. “I love to take a blank slate and bring it to life,” the designer says about the extensive renovation. “It was so fun, and (my team and I) had the freedom to be incredibly creative.”

The deluxe space exudes comfort. “When you go to a restaurant, you’re hanging out and getting together. We took that feeling and brought it into the lower level,” TerMarsch explains. “The bourbon room got more social media shares than any other project. It just has that feel of entertaining — let’s just hang out and have fun.”

The luxurious lounge, with its speakeasy feel, has a dramatic backlit quartzite backdrop that highlights an impressive bourbon collection. High-end finishes and warm materials fill the intimate space, and a custom wet bar incorporates lighting and open shelves. Smoky mirrored glass on the ceiling and comfy leather sofas and chairs add to the cozy ambience.

A lengthy custom pub table made from locally-sourced reclaimed wood anchors the narrow-but-long game area. “There’s a lot of texture, and layers, and materials we used to create that space,” TerMarsch says. “We created something from nothing. We love remodels.”

Special features that speak to the timeless modern-luxury style include hidden doors that lead to secret rooms, like a storage area, and an expansive home theater with framed TVs that double as artwork. “Entertaining is at the heart of every space,” TerMarsch says about the project, which involved close to 20 trades.

Bobby Finn, CEO/owner of Redemption Stone & Floor Craft in Clinton Township, did the stone in the bourbon room, which incorporates intricate lighting. “We focus on the custom side of stonework,” he explains. “We’re good at doing projects from the start and taking them across the finish line.”

Finn explains that his team had to hide the lighting to avoid shadows or dark spots, and says that included finding a way to free-float the backsplash with acrylic panels that make it translucent. “It was a really incredible project,” he says.

Intricate details also appear in the millwork, which includes slat walls, cabinets, and more from Anthony Vitale, owner/president of Probuilt Woodworking in Macomb Township, who credits TerMarsch for the successful endeavor. “Her ability to trust and rely on her trades to bring the expertise to the craft is a big reason why this project turned out so well,” he says. He notes that precision was key for features like the integrated hidden doors, and says, “I knew how important it was to the project to get those right.”

The craftsman also enjoyed working with Finn and his team on the bourbon room, with all its meticulous details and engineering. “The millwork pieces that were integrated with the stone was a total collaboration,” he says.

“It was a great team that was assembled on-site, and that allowed everything to run smoothly. Between the client, the designer, and the other trades, there was so much belief and trust in us to bring that vision to life. It was a really fun project,” Vitale says.

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