True Blue

William Ku may not be among the better-known Mid-century Modern architects, but his credentials are impressive. Born in Shanghai, China, in 1922, he earned two master’s degrees in architecture and served as vice president and chief designer at Minoru Yamasaki and Associates. He became president after Yamasaki’s 1986 death.

a spacious tree-lined lot. The plan was to “keep the integrity of the architecture itself and not change it, yet add light and brighten it up inside.”

INTERIOR DESIGN:

S|A|M INTERIORS, bLOOMFIELD HILLS

TEXT: kHRISTI ZIMMETH

PHOTOGRAPHY: JEFF GARLAND

A Bloomfield Hills residence that designer Staci A. Meyers recently renovated is among Ku’s early works. Built in 1961, it’s a roomy 4,800 square feet, with four bedrooms and 3.5 baths.

The homeowners had long admired Mid-century architecture. After living in a variety of architectural styles through the years, they were intent on finding an authentic Mid-century Modern house when they decided to downsize.

Their dream came true in 2019, when they purchased the low-slung property on

The couple hired Meyers, based in Bloomfield Hills, to help them achieve their goals. “The best part is the pure architecture of the structure and the windows, which are floor-to-ceiling throughout the house, so there’s a lot of natural light,” Meyers says. “There’s also a good floor plan. The house has an intimacy, yet also feels grand and exciting.”

That’s not to say there wasn’t room for improvement. “Their main focus was the kitchen. It was really closed off and had a triangle in the middle,” Meyers explains.

WHAT’S COOKIN’?

Above and below left: The team removed a wall in the kitchen to open the space to the dining room, and added a long island perfect for cooking and entertaining.

WALLS DO TALK

Right: Hang a Laurie Tennent botanical, like the one shown here, and you’re sure to add an organic “wow” factor to any space.

She suggested taking down a wall to open the space to the nearby dining room, and adding a long island.

The cabinetry in the powder room and laundry was also replaced. The original laundry was “shoved in the back, by the guest room,” Meyers says, so the new laundry space was added to an existing wall of narrow closets expanded into the garage.

Meyers borrowed space from the original guest room to create a larger master closet. Outdated flooring throughout the house was replaced, and the team removed dated built-ins and carpet in the master suite.

“We left the architectural beams because they were original, but otherwise brightened everything up,” Meyers says. They left the office alone, but updated the foyer, adding a display niche for the homeowners’ Lalique glass collection.

The husband, who’s retired from commercial construction, served as the project manager and “loved doing it,” his wife says. “Luckily we had ordered the appliances and everything before Covid shortages got crazy,” she adds.

Splashes of blue throughout — including the kitchen’s eye-catching oven area and the living room’s sofa — are a nod to the wife’s favorite hue. “We wanted a color that would make her smile,” Meyers says. “The house is now a reflection of what she loves.”

Creating A Mood

Because of the low ceiling height, designer Lauren Tolles chose flush-mount lighting, which gives off a diffused light and looks historic.