Maison Memoirs.

Personally Curated with Historic Integrity.

For this edition of Maison Memoirs, we’re stepping inside Deb's stunning Mies van der Rohe townhouse in Detroit’s historic Lafayette Park. This project represented a full journey for me, Laura, as I had the privilege of acting as the Buyer's agent for the initial purchase before transitioning into Designer for the renovation.

The mission was a delicate balancing act of honoring the architectural integrity of Mies’s mid-century vision while infusing the space with Deb’s distinct, creative personality.

Mies, Modernized.

While the unit required significant updates, we took a sustainable approach by embracing the high-quality materials left by the previous owner. By integrating these existing elements with Deb’s specific tastes, we created a home that feels personally curated rather than staged. The result is a space that respects the rigid, glass-and-steel soul of the building while feeling warm, lived-in, and uniquely Deb.

The Design Philosophy:

Lafayette Park stands as one of Detroit’s most significant architectural landmarks. Completed between the late 1950s and early 60s, it represents the world's largest collection of residential buildings designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a true pioneer of modernist architecture.

What makes Lafayette Park unique is its status as a cohesive superblock neighborhood. It features 186 townhouses, like Deb’s, and three high-rise towers, integrated into a single 78-acre urban park.

• A Park in the City: The neighborhood was a masterclass in collaboration between Mies, planner Ludwig Hilberseimer, and landscape architect Alfred Caldwell. Their goal was to create a rural feel within the dense city, using expansive green spaces and floor-to-ceiling glass to blur the line between nature and the indoors.

• The Coveted Townhouse: While the towers define the skyline, the low-rise townhouses offer a rare sense of privacy and community, tucked away in a quiet canopy just steps from the energy of downtown Detroit.

• A Living Landmark: In 2015, the district was designated a National Historic Landmark, cementing its status as one of the most enduring examples of mid-century urban renewal in the United States.

For Lovers of Mid-Century Modern Design.

Rendering of Bedroom Design

Rendering of Living Room Design