O
A watery haven is hidden
behind a historic home in
Palmer Woods.
Lynne Konstantin I Design Writer
Brett Mountain I Photographer
n a street lined with historic mansions in Detroit's
Palmer Woods is a 12,000-square-foot home built
in 1929 in the Tudor Revival style. Hidden behind
it is a shimmering gem of luxe poolside living, with an
expanse of impeccable, yet always inviting, design.
When a Jewish family moved into the stately structure
10 years ago, it was important to the homeowner that the
historical significance of the interior was preserved while
finding a way to incorporate her own passions, including a
collection of contemporary art.
Similarly, when she decided to create a summertime
haven in the home's backyard three years ago — replete with
pool, cabana and outdoor kitchen — it had to respect the
history of the original magnificent structure while bringing
in her own equally striking style.
So she called Stanley Lecznar to bring it all together —
authentically.
Lecznar, a senior designer with the Teich Group in Royal
Oak, has worked on the ongoing project of the home's inte-
rior and so was familiar with the homeowner's style as well
as the historical character of the home.
Teaming with architect Frank Carnovale, president of
Carnovale Associates Architects + Builders in Birmingham,
who often restores and renovates older homes for clients,
and landscape architect Richard Leszczynski, of R.D.
Leszczynski in White Lake, Lecznar says, "It was my job to
supply the cohesion to the project. The homeowner loves a
lot of color and a lot of texture. Combined with the original
architecture, that makes for a complex challenge. But that's
what we all love:'
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Do you have a home you'd like to share with the
community? Contact Lynne Konstantin at
lkonstantin@thejewishnews.com .
Above: A combination of Tudor and
early English Renaissance styles, the
1929 home's exterior is distinguished
by a steeply pitched and cross-
gabled roof, decorative brickwork
and detailed artisanship — the latter
being perpetuated in the details of
the pool area. "We knew we had a lot
of area to fill," says designer Stanley
Lecznar. "And the homeowner loves
color, texture and pattern. And in
my field, you can get carried away
with that." Taking his first cue from
the sea-blue hue of the Pewabic tiles
lining the interior pool line, Lecznar
added bright yet simple tones until
he met the tones of the home's
stonework. "It's a collaboration and
mix of colors and materials. Nothing
really matches, but it all works
together." A spa tub on the right
of the pool faces a raised fountain
to the left. Pockets of intimate
gathering areas, including an outdoor
bed, dot the space around the pool;
at the far end, a full kitchen, pool
house and dining table are framed by
a sculptural steel pergola.
Left: Originally a shaded seating
area, as it is now, the porch was
enclosed at some point, so "we simply
extracted what had been added and
salvaged it back to the outdoors,"
says architect Frank Carnovale.
Secret Retreat on page 48
August 14 • 2014
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