home >> at home
-r ,
Inq Beauty
A passion for
beach living
inspires an outdoor
(and indoor) oasis.
Lynne Konstantin I Design Writer
Brett Mountain I Photographer
F
a. or a couple who went sailing on their first date, a home built
on a collection of antique pond boats, a lushly landscaped
pool and a fully equipped cabana is tailor-made. Truly.
The Jewish couple tapped architect Christopher Longe, owner
of Christopher J. Longe, AIA, in Birmingham, to create a home
reminiscent of the husband's childhood summers spent at the New
Jersey shore — and with enough garage space to house the fam-
ily's burgeoning vintage car collection. A few years later, a pool was
added, and a few years after that, Longe was called back in, along
with In: Detail builder Michael Alessio in Milford, to create the
accompanying cabana. "We have a big family, and we entertain a
lot',' says the homeowner. "So I didn't want to have to keep coming
in and out of the house when we were wet and had people over."
The welcoming home is a retreat of comfort and hospitality
"Beautiful light pours in, and it's so peaceful and comfortable,' says
the homeowner. "I love being at home. And our grandkids love run-
ning through the house." Which is all that really matters. LI
A fan of architect Robert A.M.
Stern, who helped popularize the
charmingly rustic shingle-style
"cottages" that dot the New
England coastline, Birmingham
architect Christopher Longe
added a large, wraparound porch
to this Bloomfield Hills home, in
keeping with the nautical-feeling
style. "It's a lot like a boat,
where you can walk around the
deck," he says.
Bathing Beauty on page 32
Do you have a home you'd like to share with the community? Contact Lynne Konstantin at lkonstantin@thejewishnews.com .
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