Each unit is 3,600 square feet of living space, with
1,200 square feet on each of three levels, including a
lower garden level. The first unit purchased is owned
by a couple who travel six months of the year and
wanted the luxury and classic design Merrill Park
Townhomes offered. As soon as they bought the unit,
they hired Rohn M. Goldman, ASID, of Rohn Goldman
Design in Bloomfield Hills and New York, to create an
Old-World ambiance.
The front door, frosted glass in ribbons and flowers
set in a heavy oak frame designed by Tim Gillingham,
sets the art nouveau theme for the home. The foyer has
verde marble and celadon walls. A magnificent 19th-
century cabinet, inlaid with jade, lapis, ivory and other
semi-precious stones with gold ormolu from the wife's
mother's estate, highlights the foyer and invites the
visitor into the living room and dining room.
Deep oak floors and crackle-laquered walls, employ-
ing a traditional lacquered paint technique from the
18th century, set the stage for beautiful rugs, furniture
and art. The soft-green celadon color scheme reap-
pears on the walls, enhanced with crown molding, for
12 • FALL 1992 • STYLE
an Old-World ambiance.
Mr. Goldman uses the Oriental rug in the living room
to initiate colors and textiles. "You can never do a rug
last," he says. An ivory tufted sofa sits upon the
celadon, rose and ivory rug. The Baker Chinese coro-
mandel coffee table has these same colors cut into the
black crackle top. A variety of armchairs, each with dog
needlepoint pillows, complete the seating arrange-
ment. The focal point of the The Oriental rug, Louis XV
room is a stunning Louis XV fireplace and oak floors
fireplace in limestone. Mr. add to the elegance of the
Goldman added the sur- living room. The
rounding green marble Brunschwig & Fils wallpa-
hearth inset scaled to the per features a 19th-centu-
room. A Brunschwig & Fils ry English pastoral scene.
wallpaper border, with small The soft-green celadon
Greek medallions, features color scheme reappears in
19th-century English pastoral the dining room. A French
19th-century brass and
scenes.
In the adjacent dining crystal chandelier lights
room, two walnut buffets with the glass-topped dining
verde marble tops are dis- room table on a walnut
Duncan-Fyfe base.