Embracing Change

A pair of empty-nesters enjoys a tailored Contemporary for their latest act buILDER: cRANbROOk cuSTOM HOMES, SHELbY TOWNSHIP

INTERIOR DESIGN:

TuTTO INTERIORS, NORTHVILLE

LANDScAPING:

MOTOR cITY

LANDScAPING, ROcHESTER

TEXT: kHRISTI ZIMMETH

PHOTOGRAPHY: JOHN cARLSON

F“un” and “sexy” were among the goals newly-minted empty-nesters set for the Oakland Township contemporary they started building in 2019, after their youngest child graduated from high school.

The couple knew they wanted something completely different from the Tudor-style home they’d built for their family of four in 2011. They gave interior designer Cheryl Nestro, of Tutto Interiors in Northville, a big to-do list for their new residence, which they worked on with Cranbrook Custom Homes’ architect Stephen McKay.

They wanted a Ranch home, privacy, something a bit modern, and to stay in the Rochester area. “The inside of the home needed to be open, and we wanted a completely different color palette and feel than our last home,” says the woman of the home. Nestro had worked with the homeowner on her previous home, as well. Also on the list: “A beautiful setting, floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize the views, and large areas for entertaining, inside and out,” the homeowner says. “We also knew we only wanted the master bedroom and a private guest suite on the main floor. We put two additional bedrooms, a workout room, home office, and gathering space for our adult children when they’re home visiting on the lower level. We made sure the ceiling height was high, so you didn’t feel like you were in a lower-level living space.”

Together, the team crafted a design that checks all the boxes. “It took longer because we had to develop the property, and this house is completely custom,” the homeowner explains of the 18-month process.

Nestro says the house has many highlights, including a 10-foot art niche in the foyer and high ceilings throughout, which enabled her to use a mix of materials and pendants that look like fine jewelry and “really command your attention.” She also has a soft spot for the “swanky, moody” library, which she designed with a speakeasy vibe — the perfect spot for grown-up pleasures such as after-dinner drinks — and the “warm, cozy” great room with its dra-

GRAND TIMES AHEAD matic fireplace, which features contrasting earth tones coupled with suede textured tile, walnut wood, and gray accent niches. “The polished porcelain floor looks like glass when the sun shines in,” she says of the space. “Surprisingly, the homeowners thought the great room wasn’t going to be used much, but they love it,” the designer says.

The homeowners wanted their new house in Oakland Township to have a grand entrance.

The homeowner calls the new build “very kitchen-centric,” adding, “It truly is the heart of the home. Cheryl gave me a kitchen she would love to cook in. We mostly eat at home, we make our own meals, and we love entertaining. This home is so fun to entertain guests in.” While it accommodates guests well, it also works when their grown children come home. “Cheryl knew we would still have young adults around part of the time, so she chose furniture and fabrics to accommodate our lifestyle. You can’t help but appreciate the attention to detail that Cheryl and her team put into this home.”

The new empty nest is everything the homeowners dreamed of, and more. “This home has exceeded our expectations. It was very well thought out, and lends itself to our lifestyle. There’s nothing we would have done differently.”