arts&life
at home
Founding Sister
The founder of the Temple Israel House Tour opens the doors to her Bloomfi eld Hills condo,
blending glam, nostalgia and practicality .
LYNNE KONSTANTIN ARTS & LIFE EDITOR | BRETT MOUNTAIN PHOTOGRAPHER
W
hen Janie Roth says “downsize,” there’s still plenty of spectacular to
go around.
After her children were grown, Roth and her builder husband
moved into a 15,000-square-foot beauty. But now, with kids and grandkids
coming and going, she wanted something easier to maintain.
She found the bones of what she wanted in a Bloomfield Hills condo, half
the size of her previous home, and to be a stop on the Temple Israel House
Tour on June 1. Roth, the founder of the popular annual tour, and her longtime
designer Richard Ross, owner of Richard Ross Designs in Royal Oak, set to
work bringing the space alive.
“Richard is very talented using space,” Roth says. “And he’s able to keep it
both fresh and timeless. He tends to like clean lines, but all of his houses look
different.” Though Ross tore a few walls down, his job was mostly about mak-
ing the most of the space and creating functional, livable and cozy pockets.
“Downsizing can be fun and glamorous,” Roth says. “I wanted it bright —
colors and lighting all affect me very much. But I wanted it to be usable for my
grandchildren. We have vinyl cushions in the dining room, we can eat without
worrying. But I’ve collected a lot of artwork, especially from local artists, so
I’m also surrounded by what I love. I was able to keep my favorite pieces of art,
and find places for them.
“I love that I can come home and plop down,” Roth adds. “It’s my baby — it’s
home to me. I’ve found home. •
ABOVE: In the living room, a curved Donghia sofa from Roth's previous home was reupholstered with a dot-patterned Pollack fabric; a pair of curved loveseats in the foyer adds a second
sitting area to the enormous space. A painting by Pakistani artist Jamali — the founder of Mystical Expressionism whose art is collected by Oprah and Prince — hangs over the fireplace.
jn
May 11 • 2017
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