A growing number of younger families are finding the benefits of the traditional neighborhood to be irresistible. These neighborhoods were created in the post WWII housing boom and featured civic amenities such as the neighborhood park across the street and sidewalks that line the streets, a few reasons that drew this young family with five children to locate in this tear down/new house location. Built on a 55' wide lot, this house provides fewer but larger rooms, each filled with warm and inviting colors, built in bookshelves floor to ceiling in the great room, and an entrance hall that serves to display the family picture gallery, and a special place to welcome friends, family and guests.
Designed for the sophisticated urban dweller this home features the entry court, timber and stone exterior reminiscent of a home that you might find in the countryside in England.
Designed to look like a cottage, this design softens the garage-entry door sequence and offers the charm and scale found in the towns and villages of the country-side of France.
A home created to house a large art collection and to offer a comfortable setting for the enjoyment of adult children and grandchildren. The site was occupied by a 30’s build obsolete home, torn down and replaced by the fully modern and new building, whose design and plan was shaped by a study of Charleston homes from the 20’s.
Our clients were both raised in New Orleans, and wanted to create a home with the charm and friendliness that they remembered from their childhood. Sophisticated, yet inviting, stylish while being approachable, this is a home that is reflective of its inhabitant's values, charming in every way.
Westwood, Winner of the American Architects Association (AIA) Award for Best Place to Live in Detroit in 2001 was started in 1996. It is the first example of a new type of community to be built in the Detroit Area. 17 acres were needed and assembled to conform to the large lot zoning district. Robert Gibbs designed and organized this community around open space, this conservation oriented community built on just 5 acres, and preserved the river basin and flood plains making them into ponds and trails for walking and recreation for the residents. Westwood has provided the inspiration and has become a "new model" for countless "in-fill" developments in the Metropolitan Detroit Area.
Our clients asked that the living and entertaining rooms as well as outdoor areas be interconnected and modestly scaled to comfortably accommodate a party of 4 to 400. Guests have the options of singing around the piano, watching movies in the theater room, or playing golf at one of the famous golf courses around the world without ever leaving the home in the private golf simulator golf club, having drinks at the bar, gathering near the fire, playing billiards downstairs, dining formally or outdoors near the grotto, or lounging on the terraces. Level changes and overlooks create drama and interest. A central corridor is the primary ordering element, and also offers a sequence of events from the entry stair and dramatic view through the living room, to a wood paneled walls with waxed plaster accents, masonry fireplaces which are open to and on axis with the formal dining room, and spacious halls leading into the more casual family areas.
All of the bedrooms and major living areas overlook the grounds through a stand of white birch trees. The Master Suite is comprised of his library and her study offering a spectacular vantage point to view terraces and remarkable vistas. From the massing and spatial relationships to the intricacy of its details, this is a home which is harmonious, gratifying, and a delight to the senses.
Our clients asked for this home's design to provide an environment of casual comfort to enhance the lifestyle of its family, to provide an atmosphere of elegance and intrigue for entertaining, and to maximize the view and the experience of the grounds. The five acre estate has been developed into ’outdoor’ rooms each having a particular significance to the owners, providing a remarkable context for this 8,500 square foot home built in a picturesque style, reminiscent of English Country Architecture. It is composed of brick, and cedar shingles, earthy but well-crafted materials which provide an ambiance of warmth and timelessness.
Completed in 1990 this home replaces a 1950’s ranch and is set at the top of a knoll and takes advantage of the spectacular views in all directions. The entrance drive opens to a view of the main facade which presents you with an axial view. The house is Georgian and is laid out in the classic 1920s "H" plan with each room opening from the main gallery to gardens, terraces and distant views.
Our company had the opportunity to renovate this home twice for different owners ten years apart. The last time we completely gutted this home and added 5,000 square feet of living space making the total size around 8,000 when complete. This house retained its colonial charm on the exterior while the interior finishes were entirely modern. The site is both urban on the front off a small lane, and the rear opens out to a ravine and a stream occupied by a rustic and natural setting.
This home was built for a pilot and an aviation writer who wanted to create a place where his guests could visit, arriving primarily by airplane. The house is modest in size but the attached airplane hanger accommodates two pre WWII planes.
The first of several houses built by Jensen in collaboration with legendary architect Robert A.M. Stern, NY, NY. This house was selected as the 1989 Detroit Symphony Designer Showcase House.
Located on one of The Village of Franklin's great streets, this site was purchased with the intent of tearing down the existing home and replacing it with a new home, set in a relaxed atmosphere, designed to captured the views and benefit from the wonderful southern sun exposure.
Designed for a young family moving back from out of state, this house is distinctive by its French Style and estate like setting, with motor court, rolling terrain and remarkable presence on the street.
An enclave of four Country French homes under construction with the first two completed. Designed for the empty nester who still wants space between he and his neighbor, this enclave will feature first floor master bedrooms, open and spacious rooms, luxury kitchens and baths, and is located just minutes from The Somerset Collection, Downtown Birmingham, and easy access to I-75.
We were asked to design the interior architecture for a prominent family whose national operations are located in the New downtown development area. Leaders in the "rebirth" of Detroit, they required a residential feel that matched their life style and has served as a warm and inviting place to conduct their business.
This major renovation stripped the 70’s built building down to the shell and re-introduced it as a modern, fully up to date, sophisticated, and elegant building. We have selected a few of the preliminary interior renderings to show the utter transformation of this home both in and out. These concept plans were the basis of the final executed construction drawings, and led to the re-construction of this magnificent estate.
Beginning with a shell we collaborated with a local interior designer and a client with great taste, to define and detail all of the principle rooms of this country estate. Currently in its final stages of construction.
We have chosen to display a few renderings of primary rooms that were created while finishing the detailing stage of each room. To see some of the finished rooms refer to the Portfolio Section-Country/Estates-Shingle Style, Bloomfield, Michigan.
Our client purchased the penthouse atop a new condo building with views looking over the Atlantic Ocean on the one side and the Inner Costal on the other. Designed as a retreat from the Michigan winter, we designed, detailed and consulted in the finishes of this extraordinary resort property.