West Coast Transplants Lighten Up a 1940s Birmingham Colonial
Detroit Design // April 2022
A lighter, more relaxed style” is what Dave and Jennifer Jennings had in mind when they contacted interior designer Margaret Skinner, of Margeaux Interiors, about renovating their four-bedroom, five-bath Birmingham Colonial, built in 1940. Originally from California, the couple dreamed of a brighter and more easygoing style in the 3,400-square-foot home they share with their three children.
There was definitely room for improvement. Previous owners had remodeled and expanded in 2004, adding square footage on the home’s upper levels as well as in its basement. Upgrades included a more open kitchen connected to the family room, a large mud room and bathroom off the garage, and a master bedroom with vaulted ceilings, a bath, and a walk-in closet above the kitchen.
Unfortunately, the addition’s style just wasn’t what the couple wanted when they purchased the property in 2014. The family spends a lot of time in the kitchen, and they wanted it to be the heart of their home. “The previous kitchen was very ornate and felt heavy and dark,” Jennifer says.
The Jennings had already begun working with John Morgan, of Perspectives Cabinetry, on the kitchen and mud room redesign. Morgan recommended they contact Skinner, which they did in the fall of 2019. Their goal was to keep the best of the past but bring it into the present. “We wanted to make sure to not deviate from the traditional, but we wanted an updated look,” Jennifer explains.
Skinner and the Jennings quickly hit it off. “We had a few initial conversations and (Margaret) asked a ton of questions,” Jennifer says. “We trusted her immediately. She seemed to really understand our style and what would look nice in the space.”
Skinner agreed that the 2004 addition didn’t quite live up to its potential. It “felt very compartmentalized, and didn’t utilize the floor plan efficiently,” she remembers. “A more open feel that would be conducive to family gatherings and entertaining” was what the homeowners had in mind, in addition to something that functioned better for everyday living.
The plan included taking the kitchen, powder room, guest bath, and mudroom down to the studs, as well as refreshing the existing living and dining room, family room, and home office. Other changes included rethinking existing spaces and fixing floor plans and traffic patterns, and creating a new mud room and a combination office/first floor guest room and bath for out-of-state family members.
The new kitchen shows the most dramatic improvements. “It’s all about the details,” Skinner says of the space. Navy blue accents were used in the scullery and island, while walnut touches add warmth to the food pantry cabinet, range shelves, and banding on the hood. Opting for shelves instead of upper cabinets on the range wall opened the space. A cabinet with a butcher block top, designed for entertaining, was added to the end of the island and is now the perfect place for holding bottles of wine and a charcuterie board.
A spacious banquette satisfies Jennifer’s request for more seating, comfortably accommodating six to eight people and tying visually into the dish pantry and refrigerator, Skinner says. An underutilized walk-in pantry became the new scullery, incorporating a beverage refrigerator, microwave, and coffeemaker.
The former kitchen table moved to the redesigned living room and is now a favorite place for playing board games. “Previously, the formal dining room and living room were rarely used,” the designer explains. “The new placement of furniture, and new fabrics and accessories, allows this space to be part of the kitchen and not feel closed-off. What was the walk-by room is now the gather-and-relax room.”
Skinner “encouraged us to take risks I may not have taken on my own,” Jennifer shares, adding, “those are now my favorite parts.” Unfortunately, the pandemic hit mid-renovation, causing a significant delay, but “the Jennings family rolled with the punches,” Skinner says.
It was worth the wait, Jennifer says, adding that the renovated home is now everything she and her husband knew it could be. They spend the most time in the kitchen/family room, with “lots of lively conversations around the large island.” Jennifer says entertaining is now “much easier and enjoyable … the walk-in pantry was opened up, giving us a second prep area, sink, mini-fridge, and a place for overflow food presentation.”
Other than wishing they had been able to add a three-car garage, Jennifer admits to only one renovation regret: “We should have done it sooner,” she says.
INTERIOR DESIGNER
Margaret Skinner, Margeaux Interiors, Birmingham, margeauxinteriors.com
BATHROOM
Artwork – John Azoni
Cabinet – James Martin Vanities
Cabinetry – Perspectives Cabinetry, Troy
Countertop – Caesarstone, Pure White
Flooring – Vallelunga, Virginia Tile, Troy
Mirrors – CB2
Sconces – Hudson Valley, Herald Wholesale, Troy
Tile, Shower – Vallelunga, Virginia Tile, Troy
Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Crushed Ice
BREAKFAST NOOK
Artwork – Jason Wilson
Chairs, Dining – Calligaris
Chandelier – Hubbardton Forge, Herald Wholesale, Troy
Pillows, Accent – Kirby and Romo, Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Crushed Ice
Window Seat (Fabric) – Pindler, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Window Seat and Drapery, Fabrication – Gayle’s Drapery, Macomb
Window Treatment – Pindler, Michigan Design Center, Troy
KITCHEN
Backsplash – Terra Bella Marble, Virginia Tile, Troy
Bench – Phillip Jeffries, Tennant
Cabinetry – Perspectives Cabinetry, Troy
Countertop – Enigma Quartz, Dwyer Marble & Stone Supply, Farmington Hills; Fabrication, PMP Marble & Granite, Troy
Faucet – Brizo, Herald Wholesale, Troy
Hood – Perspectives Cabinetry, Troy
Lights, Bar – Hubbardton Forge, Herald Wholesale, Troy
Pantry, Wooden – Perspectives Cabinetry, Troy
Shelves, Floating – Perspectives Cabinetry, Troy
Stove – Wolf, Specialties Showroom, Berkley
Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Crushed Ice, Troy
LIVING ROOM
Bar Cart – Caracole
Bench, Upholstered – Bernhardt, Fabric, Pindler, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Buffet – Ethan Allen
Drapery (Fabric) – Pindler, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Lamps – Regina Andrew Detroit, Wyandotte
Pillow, Accent (Fabric) – Kravet, Pindler, Romo, Kravet, Pindler, Tennant & Associates; Michigan Design Center, Troy
Rug – The Ghiordes Knot, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Sofa – Knoll
Table, Coffee – Ethan Allen
Table and Chairs, Dining – Bernhardt, RJ Thomas, Ltd., Michigan Design Center, Troy
Table, Occasional – CB2
Tables, End – Ethan Allen
Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Crushed Ice
MUD ROOM
Bench, Backsplash – Phillip Jeffries, Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy
Bench, Built-In – Perspectives Cabinetry, Troy
POWDER ROOM
Artwork – Crate & Barrel
Ceiling Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Iron Ore
Light – Hudson Valley, Herald Wholesale, Troy
Mirror – CB2
Sink – KubeBath
Wallcovering – Phillip Jeffries, Tennant & Associates, Michigan Design Center, Troy
ADDITIONAL PROJECT CONTRIBUTORS
Art Installation – Robert Bitterburg Sr., Clarkston
Contractor – Perspectives Cabinetry, Troy
Drapery Fabrication – Gayle’s Drapery, Macomb
Electrician – Eric Conn, Livonia
Tile Installation – Dean Skewes, Quality Tile Inc., Troy
Wallpaper Installation – Ken Spurgeon Custom Painting, Holly
By Khristi S. Zimmeth
