Cannon Frank's creativity led to the design of the award-winning swimming pool with cascades, fountains, colonnades, mosaic murals and pergola. The swimming pool features Ann Sacks custom mosaic Greco/Roman pool tile with bronze custom railings, gates, fencing and pergola.
This 15-seat, 900 square foot old-fashioned Art Deco movie theater complete with ticket booth (which received first place honors in a national competition), bar/lounge came about simultaneously through the clients' love of old movie theaters and the Orient Express.
The entryway was designed to serve as the introductory showcase for the clients’ collection of Art Deco furnishings. Most prominent is the sculpture by Paul Vera with gold leaf over gesso and plaster, originally from the SS Normandy. The fluted, plaster ceiling in gold leaf was created as a backdrop for the chandelier. A long, mitred mahogany console and wall panels balance the scale of the entry foyer. Rosa Zarcci marble for the floor complements the two Biedermeier silver leaf chairs with embossed leather posted with gold studs.
The master bedroom suite epitomizes the seldom-used term boudoir. The upholstered silk walls, bedcovers, chaise and rich woods make sleeping in this room a sumptuous experience. The bed is from Frank Pollaro, an exact copy of a Ruhlmann bed with custom nightstands by Cannon Frank to match.
By working with a neutral, earth-inspired palette, a sense of peace was achieved inviting the outdoors into the space. The home also fulfilled the clients' dream (and requirement) to allow unobstructed views into their surrounding abundance of nature. The final result was a stage in which they could present their innermost thoughts of peace, serenity, privacy and love for each other and their family.
By removing the plain closet in the 2nd bedroom, the space became a video and work retreat with a custom designed, sumptuous ebony and anigre built-in which not only displays the client's collections, but houses all the audio/video components for the entire apartment. The use of millwork instead of a closet (and wrapping it around the corner) gives the space a much larger feeling and draws people into the space from the corridor.
The living/dining room has been incorporated into one space as a quiet retreat with a white and ice blue stone fireplace, lacquered paneling and a coffee table which rises to become either dining or luncheon heights since our client loves to entertain.
This is the quintessential Michigan family home, located on the shores of Lake Michigan, which spans 3 generations of the Harry Brown family, the maternal grandfather of Cary Frank. John Cannon joined the family in 1981 and they transformed the house from a summer home to an extraordinary year-round residence. With so much history, great care has been taken to keep the original details: updating all the systems and making changes without any noticeable alterations. The most expansive addition was a 1,700 sq. ft. deck to the front of the house so John and Cary could sit and enjoy the front gardens, barbeque and create a container garden.
When John and Cary decided to add the hot tub, they wanted to be able to control the access into the lakeside gardens with so many neighbors coming over unannounced, so they found an old Federal door surround, copied a second one and created the pergola and garden gate, which is on an remote-controlled electric magnetic hold-open device and a magnetic release lock system. So, if they want, they press a button and the gate closes or the gate can be unlocked from the tub.
After spending a day in the sun at the beach or working in the elaborate and extensive gardens, it is nice to relax and refresh in the hot tub, sipping a cocktail and looking out at the sunset over Lake Michigan.
