I’ve always been drawn to projects that blur the fine line between style and purpose. For me, great design shouldn’t only push boundaries both in creativity and theory, but it should also be able to endure the beautiful, everyday chaos of life — children, pets, guests, work. I’m not suggesting everything needs to be covered in performance fabrics, but I believe a home or a room should have the ability to sustain the lifestyles of those residing within, without sacrificing aesthetic. I love how Frank Lloyd Wright famously put it: “Form follows function — that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union.”
It’s also this whole idea of designing with intent, and creating rooms with flair and reason. To me, that’s what stands out in each of the projects featured in this issue. Each is a perfect illustration of how innovative design can be used to create thoughtful projects that are deliberate and meaningful for the user. I appreciate homes and spaces that dial into an owner’s personal style — and their lifestyle, too.
Designer Valeria Zozaya recently set out to reclaim her own home when she transformed her dining room into a global-inspired hangout her whole family can use and enjoy (page 28). In Ann Arbor, Jane Henderson looked to a family’s fitness-focused lifestyle to design a lower-level retreat that supports their active lives (page 26). It’s now the most used room in the home, she says, and for good reason (check out that sauna!). At Saturn Coffee (page 30) in Detroit’s New Center area and at the city’s new Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park (page 33), community helped shaped and fuel the much-talked-about additions. Both are must-sees and I encourage you to visit this spring!
High function and high style were non-negotiables in the family-friendly designs of Giraffe Design Build’s innovative Ann Arbor bridge house (page 50) and Via Design’s latest project in Ada, where the incredible vistas are just as impactful as the interior design choices, including the use of unique materials (page 72). The same could be said of Float Studio’s Mid-century Modern-inspired marvel in Bloomfield Hills (page 42), where custom pieces, one-of-a-kind art, and cutting-edge design solutions resulted in a modern yet timeless home that fits the homeowners flawlessly. Float Studio founder and Cranbrook alum Brad Sherman says many of the project’s design decisions “were guided by practicality,” but notes that style is just as important. “The (clients) were all about bringing joy into their home,” he says — which is proof that designing with intent not only feels good but looks good, too.
I believe the iconic Charles Eames explained it best: “(Design is) an expression of purpose. It may, if it’s good enough, later be judged as art.”
I hope you enjoy this issue of Detroit Design!
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