Like many folks around the world, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Mike Wong and Tammie Soto realized remote work offered the opportunity to live anywhere. They had been residents of Oakland, California, for 15 years, and the high cost of living in their two-bedroom, 1,100-square-foot apartment propelled them to look elsewhere.
Determined to find a historic home, they scheduled trips to Omaha, Nebraska; Indianapolis; Chicago; and Detroit. Detroit real estate agent Austin Black II helped them to view Boston-Edison, Sherwood Forest, Palmer Woods, and Indian Village in May 2023. He set up a tour with City Institute.
“The tour gave us a great understanding of Detroit’s history,” Soto says. “We saw a few homes in Indian Village, which we liked the most because of its walkability, community, and proximity to downtown. We agreed to keep an eye out for any new listings in the neighborhood.”
Early that June, the listing for a home on Iroquois Ave. came on the market. Architects Malcomson & Higginbotham designed the residence built in 1913.
“We knew we had to act quickly because this is a very sought-after neighborhood,” Soto says. “We contacted Austin immediately, and he FaceTimed us to tour through the home. It needed a lot of work, but it had good bones and much of the original woodwork was preserved. We made an offer the same day.” They closed on the property in July and moved into the home in September.
Without a functional kitchen, “I had the unique opportunity to design the entire kitchen from scratch,” Soto says. “I selected copper-colored art deco tiles for the hearth and carefully integrated the original cabinets into the design to honor the home’s history. We refinished the pine floors, updated the hardware, added a butcher-block island along with new cabinetry, modern appliances, and a butler’s sink. We also renovated the adjoining nook to create a seamless flow. The result is a harmonious blend of Old World charm and contemporary functionality.”
The couple also refinished the oak floors on the first and second levels and reimagined the master bathroom, pulling inspiration from Maison Athénée, a Parisian boutique hotel with sentimental value for the couple. They extended the space, installed a claw-foot tub, and added tile with copper accents, while also upgrading the electrical components.
Soto and Wong converted one of the six bedrooms into a nursery and playroom for their year-old twin daughters. Another room was opened into an office for two.
After years of neglect, each room needed to be replastered. Soto and Wong painstakingly sourced 24 new sconces to bring light back into dim spaces; they bought three chandeliers and installed door hardware — over 60% of which was missing — ensuring the home’s charm was revived. In the basement, fresh concrete was poured, and DTE Energy completed an overhead-to-underground conversion for the electrical equipment. The front door, a centerpiece of the home’s facade, was completely rebuilt, restoring the entryway to its original grandeur.
In January 2024, Soto’s parents also moved to Detroit from California into the 1,200-square-foot carriage house. Plans for brick masonry and balcony repairs are underway.
“The move has been transformative for us,” Soto shares. “We love being able to walk through the neighborhood with our girls, grab coffee, and run errands nearby. It was important to us to maintain the sense of diversity we cherished in Oakland, and Detroit offers that and so much more. The energy here is unmatched. The pride, the sense of community, the warm and welcoming spirit make it a truly special place. Detroit stands out as one of the rare big cities in the U.S. where you can feel this kind of connection and belonging.
“From celebrations to casual gatherings, there’s always something bringing neighbors together. The neighborhood’s resurgence is tangible, with young families breathing new life into historic homes and filling the streets with laughter, fostering a sense of safety and warmth.”
Last November, Soto’s sister Vickie and her husband closed on a home within walking distance.
“I always envisioned a multigenerational home where my family could be close,” Soto says. “Now, that dream has come true.”
This story originally appeared in the April 2025 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Our digital edition will be available on April 7. And click here to see more metro Detroit interiors.
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