Luxury Residential Design

Making New Memories While Preserving Old

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One of many memories.

This historic home, which we were delighted to work with, saw many celebrations throughout its long life. Based on the photo included on the right, the home certainly saw its fair share of get-togethers and celebrations. Our historically sensitive renovation effort and expansion was done using careful work to preserve old memories while leaving room for many more to come.  

Take a close look at the before and after photos for this project. Originally built in the 1920s, We matched the stone in the new additions with the original for a seamless expansion of this historic home.

Looking to update, expand, or preserve your historic home? Give us a call or email, today!

Renovation Architects

Home For the Holidays

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Happy Holidays to all!

This year of at-home celebration does not have to be boring, just find exciting ways to bring the outside in. Take a cue from this two-story fireplace featured on the left. It’s designed with the same Michigan Split Face Fieldstone that was used on the exterior of the home. During the process, we designed a custom fireplace with sightlines across the room to the window, at just the right height to see what’s going on, on the other side.

Another idea could see you opening that special bottle of wine you have been saving for just the occasion. In this instance, take a gander at our specially designed wine cellar on the right.

As this tumultuous year comes to an end it feels extra important to take the time for reflection. And having the perfect space for it certainly helps!

This two-story library featured not only has three sitting areas but houses multiple collections including one comprised of maps!

Reflect on what you are passionate about and how you can bring more of it into your life.

Need more space for it? We are but a call away.

Renovation Architects

The Story of a Historic Renovation

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A few years after living in this 100-year-old home, the family decided it was time for a few changes. Enter our CBI team.

The home, with its white clapboard and Michigan Split Fieldstone façade, from the very beginning, was approached as one of historical sensitivity. The renovation began with removing the aluminum siding that covered the original wood and the original single car garage – building a laundry room, family room and mud entry in its place.

A new three-car garage replaced the single garage that was removed in the first phase of renovations. Pay attention to the arches in the feature photo. These and the quite perfectly matched (by hand) Michigan Split Fieldstone seamlessly connect the old and new additions to the L-shaped home. From the beginning, this kind of historical sensitivity was very important to the family – to expand the home to suit a contemporary lifestyle but to stay true to its original character.

That is what we delivered down to the finest detail.

Renovating the spaces of a historic home is always a challenge especially when reconciling the old and new, traditional and contemporary. One of our tips is to find ways to subtly reference the original in the new. In this foyer on the right, we created new arches that exactly match the original, historic proportions. And though new, the slate tiles reference the size and pattern of the original flooring throughout the home.

Another aspect of the project, a garden room, opens up to the patio as well as the adjoining living room. During the process, we designed the layout to be easily adaptable to any size and style of gathering. While there may not be many guests, for now, the hosts are enjoying the serenity of the room’s simplicity and sweeping views.

Residential Architect Firm

Renovating a 100-year-old Bloomfield Township Home

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This 100-year-old Bloomfield Township home, originally built for a prominent family, is steeped in history. When the owners called us regarding some renovations, we just knew we had an extraordinary project at hand. We are always conscious of the delicate balance required when redesigning a historic home, and this one was certainly no exception.

We started at the front of the home for this historical project, taking the old screened-in porch and converting it into a wine tasting room. During the process, we also preserved the original watering trough for horses. Though the flagstone floor and salvaged ceiling beans are new, they also reference the original textures and patterns found throughout the home.

Over the course of the process, we carried materials that make a nod to the historical features of ages past, such as the fieldstone, throughout the entire home — inside and out! — connecting the newly renovated spaces to the historical narrative.

Luxury Residential Design

Construction Update: Bloomfield Hills Residence

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Click on the images for more information! (Summer construction pictures below)
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Residential Architect Firm

Balcony and Patio Addition

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This project, located in Orchard Lake, MI, encompasses a front façade ‘facelift’. The existing covered porch will be removed and replaced with new program to bring life into the front elevation of the house. The new addition will have an exterior bar/grill area to entertain guests, a covered patio on the ground floor, and second floor bedroom access to the balconies. This new balcony will have enough space for a small seating arrangement or chase lounge area. Be sure to continue to check back to see the progress updates!
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Residential Architect Firm

Detroit Home Design Awards

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On March 24, 2015, we attended the 11th Annual Detroit Home Magazine Design Awards and are proud to announce we won six awards! Listed below are the project statements, pictures of the awards, and images of the corresponding award winning projects!
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Luxury Residential Design

What not to do: Construction Mishaps

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To note up front, these pictures are not of our projects or taken by us, but boy do they contain some head-scratchers. The construction industry is a tough gig; you have to maintain immaculate precision, understand engineering and architectural documents, coordinate crews of tradesman, and work on a strict timeline. Inevitably then, mistakes are bound to happen. These pictures below depict some of those oversights and miscommunications on the construction site. The Huffington Post puts it this way: Did no one ever think during the long, arduous construction period, “Maybe this staircase shouldn’t run right into a wall?” Or, “This faucet doesn’t belong directly over this electrical socket?” While it’s bad news for the home owner it’s definitely good news for those of us looking for a laugh.
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