34 | MAY 18 • 2023
“I think people who are good at space
planning understand lifestyle and propor-
tion and how human beings really move
through their spaces,
” Weinstein says. “I
have a really good instinctual understanding
of that. When I space plan, I don’t work on
a computer — I’m old-school. I’m very con-
nected to my pencil and my visual under-
standing of the space. I enjoy the challenge
of that — I know what’s going to work.
”
Adds Roberts, “I actually did not want
a wide-open layout. I didn’t even want to
knock down walls, because I like a little
room separation. Amy found so many ways
to create what I wanted, even when I didn’t
know how to express it.
”
A large hall closet, for example, was sized
down to a strip closet; in its place, the space
became a coffee nook with all of the kitch-
en appliances and sinks, a collaboration
between Weinstein and John Morgan.
“It added so much more function to our
kitchen,
” Roberts says. “There’s so much
more prep space. It was big before, but this
was such a smart use of the space.
“There’s a coziness while being contem-
porary — she showed me that it doesn’t
have to be cold, using lots of layers and
textures, another talent of hers. Each room
is very different, but it all flows together. She
does it with the way she dresses, too, com-
bining and layering. I love seeing her think.
”
While very comfortable and livable,
Weinstein’s designs are very intentional,
with curated artwork from favorites like art-
ist Kaiser Sudan and his Next Step Gallery
in Ferndale, Lisa Spindler’s photography in
Detroit and Judy Frankel Antiques in Troy.
Custom pieces are also a personal philoso-
phy: “I want things to fit properly,
” she says.
“
Amy finds art everywhere,
” Roberts says.
“But she doesn’t shop at typical places. She
will find something marvelous at a tiny little
place that you’ve never heard of. She goes
to the student shows at College for Creative
Studies or art fairs Up North, or shops in
Chicago. She’s always looking in different
places — she even made us a little booklet
about all the art and artists in our home.
“She doesn’t like when it’s expected, and I
love that,
” she says.
“I walk in and feel like it’s a dream home,
”
Roberts says. “I just love it. I make my bed
every day, I put everything away every day.
The house wasn’t shabby before, but now it’s
got a whole new lease on life. It’s like living
in a hotel.
”
continued from page 33
HOME
LEFT: On the main floor, “they wanted a ‘wow’
powder room,” Weinstein says. “I think I gave it
to them.” Dark floors, dark walls have a moody
effect, while gray silk wallcovering, grained
zebra wood wrapped around the vanity and an
integrated black leathered granite sink gives
it texture and warmth. Above the mirror is a
photograph by Lisa Spindler. BELOW LEFT:
Weinstein re-space planned the entire master
suite, changing the orientation of the room,
closets and bathroom. “It’s not a huge bedroom,
but it’s cozy, with wall-to-wall carpeting, a TV
wall with storage space and, of course, the
views,” Weinstein says. The couple was not con-
cerned about people seeing in, and they want-
ed to wake up and see the lake, so Weinstein
designed custom drapery with a sheer ‘eyelash’
fabric from Tennant & Associates, which frames
a cozy tete-a-tete. “She’s really quite a talent
with textiles — something I couldn’t see at all,”
Roberts says.
BELOW RIGHT: Above the custom tete-a-tete
in the master bedroom is one of many photo-
graphs throughout the house by Detroit-artist
Lisa Spindler. “She blows up details of her
photos and hand colors them,” Weinstein says.
“This one is printed on a piece of metal, so it
has a cool sheen to it.” Behind the floating con-
sole of drawers is a wall of richly grained Tafisa
wood. BOTTOM: The master bath invites with
heated porcelain-tile flooring, steam-proof vinyl
wallpaper and Tafesa grained cabinetry by John
Morgan. Roberts’ vanity area has a “girlier”
herringbone-patterned backsplash with a mix of
white tiles in glass, stone and mother of pearl.