Stephen, a designer, and Christina, a fashion stylist, originally met in Chicago, but moved to Detroit a few years ago, because they were “inspired by what was happening in the city and the energy of the people.” They found this unique house, which was built in 1907 and originally two apartments before being combined into one single-family home. ” We were drawn to the home for its unique layout, great natural light, and additional side lot that we turned into a garden.”

After the purchase two years ago, the couple says they immediately started renovations of the kitchen, primary bedroom suite, and a few other areas. “Using unique materials that told a story were very important to us when designing throughout the house,” writes Stephen. “We wanted a mix of classic and modern. Italian with Scandinavian. And Christina’s maximalism to my minimalism. Ultimately it ended in a home that reflects both of our individual styles together. Since moving in we have fallen in love with the East Village community and have had many neighbors pitch in helping with various house projects. A house is a continuous project and ours will continue to grow through the seasons.” The couple also run a separate Airbnb to “show fellow travelers the city we call home.”

My Style: I would say it is a bit Scandinavian, Italian, and Japanese. Christina’s is a little more eclectic with unique color pairings and drawing a lot of inspiration from French studios and Danish cafes. We both like a mix of new and old. Items that tell stories and feel warm, mixed with newer items that make it feel clean and modern.

Inspiration: Lots of inspiration has come from our travels and experiencing many different spaces within Europe like in France, Denmark, or Italy. We also dive into a lot of coffee table books and read articles online to gain inspiration.

Favorite Element: There are a lot of pieces in our house that have some story for us. My favorite might be the marble in the kitchen. I used to work at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago and this deep red marble was one of the first details of that building. So it was like taking a little piece of Chicago when we moved here. Christina’s favorite piece would be the commissioned painting in our living room done by our talented friend Stephen D’Onofrio.

Biggest Challenge: Definitely just getting through our big remodel. We had contractors mess lots of things up, had to smash a tub, and was just an all around headache for almost a year. The experience has definitely made us DIY more elements and be more cautious in selecting who works on our house.

Proudest DIY: Our favorite DIY inside the house is probably our marble coffee tables in our upstairs living room. We purchased a salvaged piece of marble from Woodward Throwbacks and cut it into two for the coffee tables, with a little help from our neighbor.

Biggest Indulgence: There are a few pieces, but I’d probably say our dining table from Frama in Copenhagen. We visited the shop when we were vacationing there and had to have it, haha.

Best Advice: Definitely find contractors you trust. Make sure you get good recommendations or pay a little extra and work with a general contractor.

Dream Sources: Shout out to local Detroit antique stores for a lot of our great pieces, specifically Chris from Park Antiques. Other sources we grab from lots of magazines, coffee table books, and designers we follow.

• Walls — Benjamin Moore “White Dove” Eggshell
• Trim — Benjamin Moore “China White” Semi-Gloss
• Floors — Benjamin Moore “China White” Matte

• Couch — Six Penny 
• Coffee Table — ​Sun at Six
• Marble Side Table — ​Menu
• Lounge Chair — ​Hem
• Curtains — ​Zara Home
• Painting — ​Stephen D’Onofrio

• Couch — ​Hay
• Chairs — ​Anthropologie
• Shelves — ​Hem

• Dining Table — ​Frama
• Dining Chairs — ​1st Dibs
• Hutch — ​Antique

• Range — ​Bertazzoni
• Fridge — ​Bertazzoni
• Sconces — ​Lakes Studio
• Blue Plates — ​Hay

• Bed Frame — ​Crate & Barrel
• Mattress — ​Floyd
• Sheets — KOTN
• Lamps — ​Menu

• Mirror — ​Ferm Living

• Table — ​Ohio Design
• Chair — DWR
• File Cabinet — CB2
• Clock — Shinola
• Curtains — Zara Home

• Chandelier — ​Noguchi

Thanks Stephen and Christina!

This house tour’s responses were edited for length and clarity.

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