Interior designer Carrie Long and her husband, Greg Sobol, founder and owner of Tekiah Kosher Spirits, celebrate the eight nights of Hanukkah much as she did growing up. “We usually have people over for a couple nights, and then some nights it’s just us. One or two nights we celebrate it big with presents and little prizes like chocolate gelt for dreidel games,” Long says. “We light menorah candles every night and also have traditional food like latkes.”
The couple’s beautiful kitchen space in their West Bloomfield Township home, built in 1936, is often the center of the activities. Their two sons, ages 5 and 7, help their parents frost Star of David–shaped cookies. “They get to frost some of their own,” Long says, “and I think they lick the frosting more than eat the cookies!” Long’s assistant, Alycyn Goldberg, joins in on the fun, too, providing a great cookie recipe and baking tips.
Long has always taken the holiday, which this year runs Dec. 14-22, seriously and adorns her home with various Judaica. The family moved into their home in 2022, after an astonishing renovation. “This house was borderline condemned, but I had a vision,” Long says. The result is a warm family home with a hint of West Coast style and livable, simple elegance.
Here’s a glimpse of a Long-Sobol Hanukkah gathering and what makes it extra special.
Accent on Judaica: “I keep our Judaica out year-round,” Long says. “It’s very important to me to have my family see it all the time and have it be part of our everyday lives.”
Easy on the feet: Long chose wide-plank white-oak flooring that complements the Orley Shabahang runners.
Sign of the times: Long and Sobol love original art. A favorite piece in the kitchen is an old street sign from Israel that Long attached to a board. It says “Rehov Eli Cohen.” “Eli Cohen is my favorite Israeli spy,” Long says.
Magical menorah: “We have menorahs displayed throughout the home,” Long says. But one of her favorites is a modern one, shown here on the island, that she discovered at Lori Karbal, a home and gift shop in Birmingham. “Lori is a dear friend of mine. I keep that one in my scullery on display at all times.”
Cool stools: Long found what she calls “the ideal counter stool” at Industry West. “They are teak with arms and with white boucle seats and backs,” she says, noting it was important to find something that fit the aesthetic while being safe for their boys when they were younger.
Kitchen confidential: For Long’s kitchen renovation, she called on DAS Contracting of Macomb, Perspectives Custom Cabinetry of Troy, Granite Source of Michigan in Southfield, and Advance Plumbing and Heating Supply Co. of Walled Lake and Detroit. Her scullery, off the kitchen and not shown, replaces the former kitchen. The current kitchen was a room that “no one knew what to do with,” Long says.
Confection affection: Rugelach, which is very popular in Israel, is a must for the holiday. Long picks up a batch of the mini-pastries at Plum Market. Star of David cutout cookies (pictured) also sweeten gatherings.
This story originally appeared in the December 2025 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Click here to get our digital edition.
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