Downtown Delight

Downtown

A big part of the draw for this new home is its proximity to the quaint charms of Northville

TEXT BY TRACY DONOHUE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARTIN VECCHIO

Delight

When residential lots become available in historic downtown Northville, they’re snapped up quickly. Leighanne LaMarre, interior designer and owner of Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, was delighted to be involved from the beginning of a new construction project on a coveted lot in this desirable community.

“It was an ideal situation to have the blank canvas of new construction. I was hired alongside the architect, so I was able to collaborate with the architectural designers prior to construction, to help create a home that met the goals of the homeowner. I’ve also worked with the builder before,” LaMarre says. In addition to the designer,

COMFORT IS KEY Both pages, clockwise from far left: The well-appointed den looks out to a pretty street in downtown Northville. Everyone loves the bar, where you can pull up a Moe’s Home Collection stool and enjoy a cold one. The kitchen is warm and inviting, showcasing a variety of materials.

the homeowners hired Presley Architecture and Mike Miller Building Co., both of Northville.

The homeowners were very familiar with the neighborhood, as they and their young family lived down the street from the new home’s location. This proved to be convenient during the two-year project.

According to the Brighton-based designer, one of the challenges of the project was the location. “The home is situated in a great area with so much to offer, next to the hustle and bustle of downtown Northville. Making the home feel private was a challenge, but one we were able to achieve.”

Entertainment was an important factor for the homeowners, and they admit that was part of the draw to the location. “The owners love to have fun and entertain. The interior and outdoor spaces reflect this,” LaMarre says. “The house is built on a double lot, which helps with space and privacy.

NAILING A STYLE Both pages: The owners prefer a Contemporary look mixed with a warm feeling — all evident in these spaces. The detached garage in the backyard includes a walkout lower-level entertainment space. In the backyard, there’s a beautiful hot tub and lots of seating. The front porch also has seating.”

As the designer explains, the overall goal for the 6,700-square-foot residential project was to create a Contemporary-style home that’s warm and inviting but also edgy and modern, with an emphasis on clean lines and upscale details. “A challenge with transitional and contemporary design is to make it feel warm, cozy, and comfortable — like a family lives here,” LaMarre says.

Of the homeowners, LaMarre says, “She prefers contemporary and concrete, while he likes warm and welcoming. They have young children, so wear and tear was a consideration. It was a happy dialogue to create that polished but approachable look for them.”

The designer says concrete (“and lots of it”) was another challenge, especially with delays due to the pandemic affecting many construction materials needed for the project. Concrete was utilized in unique ways in the home’s design, giving off a slightly industrial vibe. The main level features a concrete range hood in the kitchen and a suspended concrete sink in the powder room adjacent to the mud room. The lower-level flooring is made of polished concrete.

Another important element to the home’s design is an artistic mix of metals, which adds visual interest throughout the house. Weldwork, a local custom builder of steel doors, fashioned distinctive metal designs for the office doors and lower-level bar area wine cellar enclosure. The house also features hardware and light fixtures with a striking blend of metal finishes, including notable hardware on the kitchen island and wet bar from Armac Martin, a luxury brass hardware company in England.

LaMarre says wood also played an important role in the home’s design, with unique millwork and a mix of warm, rich wood tones and finishes. The primary wood used for the floors and doors is white oak, while the painted wood cabinetry

LET’S HEAD OUTSIDE “The owners love to have fun and entertain. The interior and outdoor spaces reflect this,” says designer Leighanne LaMarre.

is maple. The kitchen features white oak-stained cabinets with a contrasting island. “There’s very little crown molding in the house — the emphasis was on clean lines,” the designer says. “All interior doorways and passageways throughout the house are warm and simple, but had complicated engineering using a matte-washed, dry-rub cerused white oak.”

Since there’s not a strong presence of pattern in the home’s décor, warm tones in wood, metal, and leather, as well as plush fabrics, were used to add texture and warmth. One area that boldly showcases pattern is the lower-level bar area, where geometric tile provides contrast to the bleached walnut elements and concrete floors.

The den adjacent to the kitchen is a favorite of both the homeowners and LaMarre. “Hands down, it’s my favorite room in the house,” LaMarre says. “It’s a smaller, more intimate space that the owners use all the time, and it’s a wonderful retreat for small gatherings. The room has a different feel; it’s very warm and relaxing.” The walls are lined with stained oak shiplap, which adds an element of coziness to the space. The comfortable seating includes a traditional Eames lounge chair.

“Projects are successful when there’s a trust relationship between the client and designer. This was especially important due to COVID-19, when quick decisions had to be made to get materials in and keep things moving, to give the clients the home they wanted,” LaMarre explains. “Despite any challenges, this home has a distinctive look and feel that was specifically designed for this family and the way they live.”

QUIRKY & COOL The lower level has plenty of unique accents like the Clare Louise Frost blockprint pillows from Ann Arbor’s Cloth & Kind.

BUYER’S GUIDE

INTERIOR DESIGNER Leighanne LaMarre, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton, leighannelamarreinteriors.com

BAR Bar Stools – Moe’s Home Collection, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Cabinetry, Wooden – Natural Walnut Finish, Emery Design|Build, Northville Countertop – Caesarstone, Pure White, Detroit Stone & Tile, Shelby Township Flooring – Concrete Lighting – Hudson Valley Lighting, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Shelves, Hanging – Natural Walnut Finish, Emery Design|Build, Northville Tile, Bar – Zia Tile Wallcovering – Phillip Jeffries, Vinyl Belgian Linen II Wine Storage – Custom Iron, Weldwork, Royal Oak

DEN Armchairs – Lee Industries, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Chair, Reclining – Herman Miller, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Drapery – Custom, Fabricut, Michigan Design Center, Troy Flooring – Naturally Aged Flooring, Medallion Collection Arroyo, ProSource, Wixom Lamp – Visual Comfort, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Light, Ceiling – Visual Comfort, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Pillows, Accent – Schumacher, A. Darling, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Rug – Loloi, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Sofa – Lee Industries, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Table, Coffee – Oly Studio, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Table, Occasional – Gabby, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton

DINING ROOM Backsplash – Icon Starry White, 5-Studio Gazette, Beaver Tile & Stone, Michigan Design Center, Troy Cabinetry – Emery Design|Build, Northville Centerpiece – Carved Teak Root, Arteriors, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Chairs, Dining Host – Hickory Chair, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Chairs, Dining Side – Vanguard Furniture, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Chandelier – Visual Comfort, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Countertop – Caesarstone, Mike Miller Building Co., Northville

Faucet – California Faucets, Advance Plumbing & Heating Supply Co., Walled Lake Flooring – Medallion Collection Arroyo, Naturally Aged Flooring, ProSource, Wixom Rug – Endless Knot, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Table, Dining – Vanguard Furniture, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Chantilly Lace

KITCHEN Cabinetry – Emery Design|Build, Northville Countertop – Caesarstone Faucet – California Faucets, Carbon, Advance Plumbing & Heating Supply Co., Walled Lake Flooring – Medallion Collection Arroyo, Naturally Aged Flooring, ProSource, Wixom Hardware, Cabinet (Blue) – Armac Martin, Cloth & Kind, Ann Arbor Hardware, Cabinet (Brown) – Top Knobs, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Hood – Custom, Origins Concrete Design, Ferndale Lamp – Regina Andrew, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Lighting, Bar – Visual Comfort, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Sink – Blanco, Advance Plumbing & Heating Supply Co., Walled Lake Stove – Wolf Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Chantilly Lace

LAUNDRY ROOM Cabinetry – Emery Design|Build, Northville Door, Sliding – TruStile, Mans Lumber & Millwork, Canton; Color, Benjamin Moore, Cheating Heart Flooring – Ice White Matte Trapezium, WowUSA, Virginia Tile, Farmington Hills Light, Ceiling – Hudson Valley, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Shelves – Emery Design|Build, Northville Wallcovering – Phillip Jeffries, Suit Yourself, Ready Wear Grey Window Treatment – Schumacher, Andromeda, Smoke, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton

LOWER LEVEL Armchairs, Swivel – Vanguard Furniture, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton; Fabric, Stroheim, Cavell Check, Moondust Chests, Display – Made Goods, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Flooring – Concrete Lights, Ceiling – Visual Comfort, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Ottoman, Cocktail – Vanguard Furniture, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Pillows, Sofa – Custom, Clare Louise Frost, Block Print in Black Domino, Cloth & Kind, Ann Arbor Rug – Milliken, Independent Carpet One Floor & Home, Westland Sofa (right) – Lee Industries, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Sofa 2 – Vanguard Furniture, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Stools – Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Table, Display – Vanguard Furniture, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Chantilly Lace Wall Treatment, Marble – Calacatta Gold Porcelain Slab, Envi, Detroit Stone & Tile, Shelby Township Window Treatments – Fabricut, Michigan Design Center, Troy

MUD ROOM Cabinetry – Emery Design|Build, Northville Flooring – Love Affairs Concrete Light Grey Hexagon, WowUSA, Virginia Tile, Farmington Hills Hardware, Cabinet – Top Knobs, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Pillows, Accent – Loloi, Lee Industries, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Runner – Summer Classics, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Chantilly Lace Window Seat Cushion – Custom, Schumacher, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Window Shade, Fabric – Schumacher, Fauna, Natural, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton

OFFICE Chair, Desk – Herman Miller, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Desk – Hickory Chair, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Flooring – Medallion Collection Arroyo, Naturally Aged Flooring, ProSource, Wixom Lighting, Shelf – Visual Comfort, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Rug – Stark Carpet, Troy Shelving, Built-in – Emery Design|Build, Northville Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Midnight Blue

PATIO Chairs – Lillian August for Hickory White, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Fan – Monte Carlo, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Ottoman – Made Goods, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Rug – Dash + Albert, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Sofa – Southern Home, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Table, Patio – Summer Classics, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Table, Stone Coffee – Currey & Co., Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton

POWDER ROOM Flooring – Love Affairs Concrete Light Grey Hexagon, WowUSA, Virginia Tile, Farmington Hills Light – Visual Comfort, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Mirror – Renwil, Leighanne LaMarre Interiors, Brighton Sink – Custom, Origins Concrete Design, Ferndale Tile, Wall – Delray White Caps Subway Tile, Ceramic Tiles International, Virginia Tile, Farmington Hills Towel Bar – Kohler, Matte Black, Advance Plumbing & Heating Supply Co., Walled Lake Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Chantilly Lace

LOVELY LANDSCAPE Beauty beckons from the walk-out basement at this pretty Northville home. The building is the homeowners’ detached garage.