Blend of Old and New

This sparkling solarium in Detroit’s University District shines with historic charm and a modern sensibility.
LET THE SUN IN: A mirror-finish paint, black-and-white checkerboard tiles, and paned windows add to this sunroom’s historic-inspired look.

In 2014, Brandon and Miranda Suman moved from Cincinnati to Detroit. Just two years later, in what Miranda calls “a moment of serendipity,” they purchased a home in the city’s University District from her former professor. At the time, the residence was unlivable and in desperate need of repair, so the couple spent the majority of 2017 renovating the 1927-built Tudor with the help of Detroit-based contractor Maxwell Construction, all while documenting the journey on their digital diary, between6and7.com.

In 2020, the Sumans reconnected with Calvin Garfield, owner of Maxwell Construction, to assist them with their vision of optimizing and overhauling their generous double lot. Garfield connected the couple to Elise DeChard, owner and principal architect of END Studio, a Detroit-based, all-women-operated architecture and interior practice, to design the yard’s overhaul. DeChard was tasked with transforming the garage (the space had a small footprint, but with the homeowners’ passion for historic cars, a larger area with more function was desired) and adding a mudroom complete with Amish-built cabinets. Outdoor spaces were also revitalized with features such as a gorgeous new pergola and an ipe fence (both built by Maxwell Construction), a fire pit, a relocated driveway, and a patio and landscaping by Detroit-based B&D Garden Design.

The home also had an old aluminum sunroom “that aesthetically reminded us of a 1990s Wendy’s restaurant,” Miranda says. “It was collapsing, prone to leaking, and uninsulated, making it difficult to enjoy year-round.” END Studio designed a new solarium that honored the home’s historical legacy while still feeling new.

“The homeowners really love entertaining, throwing parties, and inviting people into their home, so they wanted to make the solarium and the garage a showcase,” DeChard says. On the solarium’s must-have list was a space for both dining and lounging, as well as a windowsill where the couple could display plants and décor, and their cat, Aja, could nap and sunbathe.

An 8-foot square pyramidal skylight lets in natural light.

“They wanted something that really spoke to the elegance of the existing house,” DeChard says. “The home is beautiful, with a fireplace, vaulted ceilings, and lots of Tudor details. Trying to match that in this room was really important.”

To achieve that authentic yet contemporary look, DeChard says END Studio sought to “bring in as many elements as possible that hearken back to the 1920s.” The moldings, trim, and panels were key, as were the paned windows that Marvin Windows created to emulate the look of historic leaded glass. Vintage steam-heat radiators were also installed, and for modern comfort, AC and a hidden motorized smart shade system were added, as well.

A black-and-white checkerboard tile floor “defines the space and really gives it that character,” DeChard notes. The addition of a beadboard ceiling delivers additional texture while remaining true to the home’s age.

YEAR-ROUND WONDER: This 300-square-foot sunroom can be enjoyed no matter the weather, thanks to the addition of heating and cooling.

The biggest adventure, DeChard says, was the paint. “Getting that right was a many-month challenge with some very skilled painters,” she says. “It was very much a trial-and-error process to figure out how to get that perfect sheen.” In the end, Greenblack by Sherwin-Williams was chosen for the space.

An 8-foot square pyramidal skylight “makes you feel like you’re completely outside,” DeChard adds, noting that it also provides the room with a kaleidoscopic effect, thanks to the paint’s mirror finish.

“END ensured the plan met all our needs for the space, maximized the overall use of our property, and kept the historic 1920s aesthetic,” Miranda says. “What we love most about the space is how it blends the best of the 1920s with the 2020s.”

On Sept. 14, the Sumans will be sharing their home on the annual University District Community Association’s Home & Garden Tour.

More Information: e-n-d-studio.com/



Text by Giuseppa Nadrowski. Photography by Suzy Poling of Light-Arc Studio; Courtesy of END Studio.