arts&life
at home
“My mother would swear that she had
me, at 6 years old, selecting all the
materials, countertops, wallpaper and
paint for our new house.”
— MICHAEL BERMAN
M
ichael Berman
moved from
Michigan to
California when he started col-
lege, but he regularly returns to
browse the Woodward Dream
Cruise. A car-design fan and
vintage-car collector, he likes
to see all kinds of vehicles as
he walks along Woodward
with his brother, Bill, who still
lives in the area.
Berman returned to
Michigan in October to cel-
ebrate a different family of
designs — home furnishings
— which make up the focus of
his career. Through Michael
Berman Ltd., the former
Detroiter offers interior-design
services as well as his own col-
34
November 9 • 2017
jn
lection of furniture and room
accessories.
Berman, branching out
beyond his own firm, works
with other manufacturers to
come up with products for the
home. Some of those are being
spotlighted at the Michigan
Design Center in Troy, where
Berman has showcased his
furniture line for Theodore
Alexander — including pieces
inspired by automotive creativ-
ity.
“Theodore Alexander just
started in a new direction
with products that are a little
more upscale, and I have about
80 individual pieces called
Califolio,” says Berman, whose
work has been the subject of
articles in magazines such as
Architectural Digest, Elle Décor
and House Beautiful.
“It’s a portfolio of California-
inspired designs, comprised
of really comfortable, gener-
ously proportioned upholstery
as well as dining tables and
chairs, end tables and coffee
tables.
“California is where I’ve
been designing for the last
30-plus years,” Berman adds.
“The pieces have unique and
original finishes that convey
the coastal California lifestyle
because they have somewhat
dry and light wood. What’s
happening in the industry in
general is a direction away
from what we call ‘brown
wood.’ Now we’re seeing more
textural wood finishes, gray
tones and neutral tones mixed
with some beautiful dark wood
pieces.”
Berman, who calls his
approach trans-modern as
inspired by American modern-
ists, remains proud that his
products are made in America
and can be quality tested.
There is a “sit test” on chairs
and sofas so that people with
different types of anatomies try
the furniture to ensure it’s all
deep enough to be really com-
fortable, but not so deep that
feet don’t touch the ground.
Other Berman designs
include ceramic tile and stone
for Walker Zanger, textiles