After living in their Colonial-style home for 20 years, a Grosse Pointe Shores couple turned to Tami Kessler of Tamara Kessler & Associates “to recreate spaces and freshen the interiors,” says Kessler, an award-winning designer.
One goal was to make everything lighter and brighter. They took out a wall between the kitchen and dining space, and the kitchen windows now extend down to the counter.
Instead of featuring dark wood, “the kitchen now is white and bright with brass accents and white porcelain countertops,” Kessler says.
Similar changes were made to the family room, which was beige and teal with a couch in front of the door wall. “By lightening everything and not having a couch in front of the door walls, the outside was brought in,” she says.
After refurbishing the indoors, the couple wanted to head outdoors and create a relaxing respite from work (he’s an ophthalmologist, and she’s a realtor) as well as a nice entertaining area for warm days.
Kessler started with a blank canvas, as there was pretty much “nothing there but a little patio and a simple koi pond,” she says. “They wanted something attractive, calming for morning coffee but interesting enough for parties, too.”
Kessler, the daughter of modernist architect William Kessler, who designed the Detroit Science Center, Detroit Receiving Hospital, and the W. Hawkins Ferry House, among others, could envision beautiful furnishings and decorative elements to make the most of the yard.
“We designed patio areas and had gas lines extended to the yard for a beautiful fire feature that they use year-round,” she says. Gorgeous landscaping with a pretty pathway to a night-lit koi pond with waterfalls adds to the appeal, all of which can be accessed from the updated family room and kitchen. “It just evolved beautifully,” she says. “It’s magical.”
Cue the canopy: A day bed with a canopy offers comfortable lounge seating. It’s from CAI Designs at the Michigan Design Center in Troy.
Overall style: “The fire feature is more contemporary in design, but the rest of the area is on the traditional/transitional side,” Kessler says. “Note the upholstery’s classic navy blue piping. There’s a youthful, fresh look about it.”
Pleasing palette: “We used a clean, white palette with blue accents,” Kessler says. “We wanted it spa-like.” Meanwhile, colorful flowers fill matte black pots that anchor the seating areas.
’Mallow moments: The fire feature, from Montana Fire Pits, is fun central, especially when toasting marshmallows for s’mores.
Pillow talk: The blue-and-white accent pillows are from Serena & Lily (Birmingham).
Pave the way: Large bluestone slabs connect the main bluestone terrace with the koi pond. The design of the pathway and terrace was a collaborative effort between Kessler and Bill Whetstone of Warren-based Greater Detroit Landscape Co.
Living large: “I wanted the furniture to be on the large side for extra comfort,” Kessler says. Most of the furnishings are from Restoration Hardware (now RH).
Mood makers: Lighting is key; lanterns (from Pottery Barn) provide a soft glow, while underwater lighting in the koi pond adds to the calming ambience.
Finessing the family room: The family room is bright and airy, with a beautiful black-and-white rug (from Ghiordes Knot, Michigan Design Center, Troy), furnishings in light shades, white walls and trim (with a gray shade — Sherwin-Williams’ Cityscape — behind the shelving), and a glass coffee table from Stark in Troy. The fireplace has a new cristallo quartzite surround, chosen for its elegance and soft, warm colors. Shelf accents include a large white vase, a colorful sculpture, and blue glass, all from Lori Karbal in Birmingham.
This story originally appeared in the May 2026 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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