Michigan House Envy: Mansion had 2 architects, 22,000 hours of carpentry work

How much personal effort went into this house? So much that the owners hired two architects one who designed the house and one who just planned the woodwork.

The owners also played major roles. Carrying blueprints, they traveled to antique dealers, auction houses, salvage shops in town or out of town, it didnt matter. They shopped online, bought pieces on eBay.

In the 2 years they were building the house finished in 2005, now listed at $5.4 million their finds filled their basement and two climate-controlled storage units with stained glass, leaded glass, chandeliers, sconces, fireplaces.

Meanwhile, the house plans morphed around their treasures. For example, they found the large, lighted dome of stained glass that now lights the center of the foyer. That dome was not part of the original plan, the owner said. But when we found it, it just changed the whole house.

Similarly in the living room, the coffered ceiling was designed around antique stained glass they found salvaged from a Chicago theater which they wanted to turn into a light for the pool table. The same with the fireplace mantels, the owner said. The house was adjusted around the pieces we bought.

Back up a minute pool table in the living room?

Yes. For all its grand details, the house is geared for their big, active family four grown kids and 11 grandkids, all living nearby. Theres no precious dont-touch room reserved for royalty.

That includes the kitchen, an inviting country French space big enough for the whole gang to hang out. Theres also a large playroom with multiple bunk beds for sleepovers and a wooden play structure out back.

Throughout this house, though, the dominant feature is massive mahogany woodwork. Not only did this woodwork have its own architect, by the owners count, it took 22,000 hours of carpentry.

Second to that is the extensive plasterwork. Halls, main rooms, even some minor rooms have barrel ceilings, tray ceilings, etched plaster or carved plaster. Then there are the doors mahogany and the windows, many stained, beveled or leaded.

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Michigan House Envy: Mansion had 2 architects, 22,000 hours of carpentry work