In each issue of Detroit Design, we feature six to nine incredible homes designed and built by local interior designers, architects, and builders. These homes are a testament to the incredible work and creativity that thrives in our metro Detroit community, and throughout the state of Michigan. From modern masterpieces to traditional gems, exciting remodels, and innovative new-builds, we’re showcasing some of our favorites from the past year. Each is a reflection of originality, inventiveness, and artistry. We hope they continue to inspire you, as they have us.
1. STAND-OUT STYLE
A globally-influenced vision becomes a reality
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 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.
At the start of the renovation, the house was a long way from the clean-lined contemporary space the homeowner envisioned, the designer says. “It was very traditional, very Tuscan,” she says of the 13,000-square-foot “before.” Today, after an extensive remodel, the home reflects the homeowners’ fresh outlook and personal style, and has an “elevated, sophisticated feel,” Kasprowicz says.
– Khristi Zimmeth
2. DREAM COME TRUE
Architectural firm returns to renovate a past project
Norm and Kim Barman, the new owners of a waterfront home in Goodrich designed by DesRosiers Architects 40 years ago, turned to the original architect to help them take the structure — perched on a sprawling 80-acre site on Shinanguag Lake — into the 21st century. “It’s very rare to be able to design a home without any restrictions, neighbors, or rules and regulations,” Lou DesRosiers, president of the firm, says. “As an architect, it’s a dream come true.”
The amount of time that had passed between the original and recent projects was beneficial to the seasoned architect. “It was great to have all the years of experience to renovate a house I designed in 1982,” he says. By adding 1,000 square feet to the formerly 6,000-square-foot home, the Barmans got an exercise room, mother-in-law suite, home theater, and second garage. “Aside from the addition, we completely gutted the entire house,” DesRosiers says.
The original architecture took its cue from California’s Sea Ranch style, and the updated version maintains the same aesthetic. “The views capture the sunset and the lake,” DesRosiers says about the new dwelling, which includes four pods with sloped roofs to house distinct areas. “Every morning I wake up and think, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I live here,’ ” Kim says. “It’s pretty amazing. Everyone who comes over says it’s like a resort.”
– Jeanine Matlow
3. TRADITION WITH A TWIST
Rochester home update yields a luxurious family retreat
Meg Corley, interior designer and principal at Meg Corley in Birmingham, recently embarked on a full-house renovation for a couple with five grown children. “Now that the kids are older, we can spread throughout the house,” the wife says of her Rochester residence.
The deluxe rooms exude comfort. “It’s a great space for all of us to come together,” she adds. “It has such a flow to it, with the warm colors and all the attention to detail. It’s traditional with a twist.” Corley found creative ways to incorporate sentimental treasures like photos and mementos. “It’s a family-oriented house,” the designer says. She also worked closely with the husband, who’s a local contractor.
Wainscoting, archways, and painted details are among the fine features that enhance the house. “We wanted to really hone in on those layers that the couple appreciates,” Corley says. “They wanted a finished home, down to the accessories and artwork.”
– Jeanine Matlow
4. LAKE HOUSE LEGACY
Once a tricky site, this home is now a family gathering spot
Susan Brownell and Carl Messer were lucky to enjoy 10 happy years at their Lake Huron cottage in Harrisville. As their neighborhood became more developed, the couple decided to search for a new getaway on a different lake. In 2017, the couple made an offer on 15 acres with 250 feet of Lake Michigan frontage, and soon thereafter it was theirs.
However, “the land came with big obstacles,” Brownell says, and the lake could only be accessed by a quarter-mile drive on a rustic path over a protected dune. The couple turned to architect Edward Zwyghuizen, of Gen1 Architectural Group in Zeeland, for the design and site plan of their new home, which would emphasize the land’s natural features. “Without his experience and knowledge, this project wouldn’t have been possible,” Brownell says of the 8,100-square-foot, eight-bedroom vacation home.
Brownell and Messer also brought in designer Denise Seifferlein, of d’avignon interiors in Clarkston, to consult on the project. “The goal of this stunning lake house was to provide a space where family and friends could gather, celebrate holidays, and enjoy all the wonderful year-round activities living in Michigan offers,” the designer says.
– Khristi Zimmeth
5. LUXE LIVING
This home combines modern design and high-tech automation
Ryan and Wendi LaFontaine knew exactly what they wanted before they built their dream home. All they needed was a dream team. After they found it, the couple was intimately involved in every single room in their 11,815-square-foot-plus manse on Genesee County’s Silver Lake, near Fenton. The result is a monument to their family and their love of Detroit’s history.
The six-bedroom/eight-bath home was at least a five-year process, says Ryan, CEO of the LaFontaine Automotive Group. The couple has five children, including two sets of twins, so they wanted to be sure their new house “felt like home, not a museum piece,” Ryan says.
The LaFontaines and their builder, Fenton’s Patrick Widing Custom Built Homes, brought on Schaerer Architextural Interiors of Bloomfield Hills at the start of the project. Designer Bob Schaerer worked alongside the builder and architectural designer, Christopher Macklin Design of Fenton, to devise the unique style and layout of the home.
– Patty LaNoue Stearns
6. FRESH START
A custom home complements its lakefront location
It seems the stars aligned for these homeowners, who found a prime spot on Pine Lake and built a beautiful new primary residence once the property’s original structure was gutted to the studs and the rooms were reconfigured to optimize the views. “We created a main living space to enable the family to work and live and entertain within different zones,” says Barbi Stalburg Kasoff, interior designer and owner of Stalburg Design in Bloomfield Hills and Washington, D.C.
At 3,500 square feet, the transitional lake house was meant to be multifunctional. Several work-from-home areas include a command center office, a banquette with electrical outlets, and a guest room that doubles as a workspace. Durable materials suit the lakefront location, while pet-friendly selections stand up to the family’s beloved dog.
The couple credits the trades for all the incredible details. “It was a great collaborative effort,” Mike Mladenoff, general contractor and president of Lakes Development Group Inc. in Sylvan Lake, says. Having a great team that included Patrick Dyke, who devised the initial architectural plans, made this job much easier. Continuing the team effort, Stalburg Design created several interior architectural drawings that the builder used and worked off of.
– Jeanine Matlow
7. MAKING A SPLASH
Bloomfield Hills oasis brings the outdoors in
“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun,” reads a dish featured in this Bloomfield Hills pool house. Designer Marianne Jones, principal at Marianne Jones, LLC, says the whimsical accessory with the Katharine Hepburn quote inspired her, and is the perfect expression of the wife’s personality. “She’s very fun and has an irreverent streak that I love,” Jones says.
Jones and Elle Tor, partner at Marianne Jones, LLC, worked with the homeowners, architect Glenda Meads, and landscape architect Patrick Funke of Michael J. Dul & Associates on the project, which includes a new pool and a stone deck, pool house, and covered dining space with an outdoor fireplace/pizza oven.
Meads says the goal for the luxurious pool house was to complement — as well as contrast — the main house. The homeowners also wanted it to be as low-maintenance as possible. Meads had first imagined it as a hotel lobby, but says the plans evolved into something more like a spa when the homeowners requested a golf simulator. The pool house structure also includes a kitchen, dining room, changing room, and a bathroom, as well as a family room with beams and a fireplace. “The whole point was to bring the outdoors in,” Jones says. “When all the doors are open, you really feel like you’re outside.”
– Khristi Zimmeth
8. SHIP-SHAPE
A marina condo blends hotel style with lake life
Matthew and Lori Schulz live in East Grand Rapids, but they wanted a retreat downstate where they could entertain their relatives and moor their boat during the warm summer months.
They found a perfect corner-unit condo in Harrison Township on Lake St. Clair, but the décor wasn’t their style. After getting a recommendation from a mutual friend, the couple called Jennifer Asmar, of Asmar Interiors in Troy, to help them make their condo sing.“They wanted to transform the space so the second floor would feel like a luxurious hotel and the main floor would feel like a sophisticated lake house,” Asmar says.
“It was a fun project,” adds general contractor George Sommers, of LaBelle Construction in Mount Clemens, who took the condo down to its bare bones. Asmar drew up her plans and quickly went to work. “I designed the whole condo, from the layout to the last candle on the table,” she says.
Much thought about style and creature comforts went into this rebuild. Not a thing is missing. “Lori gave me her list and I gave her my list,” Asmar says. “I’ve grown up on the lakes around Michigan, so I really planned it so that it’s not only beautiful, but it’s functional for their needs.”
– Patty LaNoue Stearns
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