Baker College interior design students impress owners of landmark home

Students at two Baker College campuses—in Auburn Hills and Clinton Township—never suspected that when they registered for a historic preservation course last spring that they would actually become involved with the restoration of a 112-year-old landmark house that was designed by well known Macomb County architect Theophilus Van Damme. But that’s what happened.

The 10 students, who are all earning bachelor’s degrees in interior design, worked as a group and individually to devise solutions for the complete interior renovation of the 6,800-square-foot Victorian home located at 215 Cass, Mount Clemens. They presented their design concepts to the new owners as the final project for the course.

Now, the students have an impressive real-world presentation in their portfolios, and Dave and Dana Moore have a wealth of ideas as they begin the interior renovation of their mansion this winter when the exterior and foundation work is complete.

“We were overwhelmed by the creativity and professionalism demonstrated by the students,” Moore said of the design presentation. “The presentations were brilliant, and the students provided solutions that we would have never thought of for several spaces. There were ideas that we immediately knew we wanted to implement. It was an extremely fun evening.”

Moore said that it was obvious “the students had done their homework. They knew our children’s names and incorporated special features for all of us individually.”

The Moores are restoring the house to its original grandeur by repairing or duplicating the original framing, woodwork and other structural elements, including the tile in the home’s original six bathrooms. It took extra time to find qualified carpenters familiar with workmanship of the late 1800s-early 1900s, but the couple is determined to stay historically consistent with Van Damme’s architecture.

One unique aspect of the project is the intended use of the home: The Moore’s plan to raise their three children there and turn it into a bed and breakfast when they become empty nesters. For now, the first and second floors will be true to the era, the third floor will be an apartment for their oldest daughter, and fourth floor will be divided into two areas: one for a yoga studio and the other for an art studio.

The idea of using the home as a course project belongs to Ann Jacob, director of interior design at Baker College of Auburn Hills. She lives near the mansion and noticed that it had been purchased recently. She knew the house was large enough that each student would have an area to design, yet be able to work as a member of a group to implement a general design theme.

“The entire process of creating a design plan, locating sources in keeping with the historical nature of the home and pitching their ideas to a client was a valuable exercise in real-world work for the students,” Jacob said. “This particular home is a signature example of a historical renovation project. It was built for the son of the founder of Chicago’s Union Stock Yard Co., and no expense was spared. Real-world projects, such as this one, expose students to real-world challenges that, when overcome, build confidence that helps our students hit the ground running at their first jobs.”

During an initial visit to the house, students took field measurements and learned the homeowners’ vision for the restoration. They worked as a group, and ultimately each student was responsible for designing one exterior and three interior elevations. This allowed the students to apply every concept they learned in class. The historic preservation course covers restoration planning techniques and procedures and strategies for identifying community restoration and preservation efforts.

By including students from the Clinton Township campus, Jacob created another situation faced by professional interior designers.

“Many people have the misperception that interior design is an independent profession,” Jacob said. “It’s an extremely collaborative process. In addition to the owners/clients, a project can involve architects, contractors, vendors, municipal employees and other designers. The students at both campuses experienced the value and importance of cooperating with other professionals remotely.”

Students participating in the project from the Auburn Hills campus were Kevin Stankovich, of Emmett; Mary Prough, of Shelby Township; Heather Nevicato, of Grand Blanc; Bonnie Prosser, of Lake Orion; and Goldy Fehir, of Fenton.

Representing the Clinton Township campus were Jerry Anderson, of Sterling Heights; Holly Sabo, of Rochester Hills; Kristin Stanton, of Rockwood; Melissa Wiles, of Warren; and Laura Wohlgemuth, of Eastpointe.

Wohlgemuth, who was responsible for the second floor design, said that this project was among her favorites and one for which she produced some of her finest work.

“It was an incredible experience to put all of the knowledge we learned in the classroom to real-world use,” she said. “The Moores said they loved some of my ideas. I’m anxious to see if they are incorporated into the final design.”

Cynthia Schroud, interior design instructor at Baker College of Clinton Township, immediately saw the benefit to her students when Jacob offered the joint project. “As a former student of Ann’s, I knew that her goal would be to provide an amazing learning opportunity. Contributing to the renovation of such a prominent structure was a source of pride among the students and elicited some innovative designs.”

As for the Moore’s renovation plans, they’ll cull from the students’ presentations and develop final plans themselves. Major ideas that will most likely be used include repurposing space from the oversized kitchen for a much-needed mudroom, locating a powder room under the first-floor staircase, and moving a doorway in the master bedroom.

“The master bedroom is a huge room,” Moore explained, “but because of architectural elements, there was no place for a bed. Kevin Stankovich suggested that one of the doorways be moved to create more wall space. Everything else fell into place at that point.”

For more information about the interior design program, visit the recently updated Baker College website at baker.edu to find extensive program and career information. For the Auburn Hills campus, contact Nicole Chirco in the admissions office at nicole.chirco@baker.edu or 248.340.0600. For the Clinton Township campus, contact Annette Looser in the admissions office at annette.looser@baker.edu or 586.791.3000.

The largest private college in Michigan, Baker College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. It is a nonprofit higher education institution, serving more than 28,000 students on 12 campuses and in three satellite locations. Baker grants certificates and associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business, health sciences, education and human services, and various technical fields, as well as a doctorate of business administration. As a career college, the Baker College system is pleased to report that 97 percent of its available graduates are employed. For more information about Baker College, please check out our website at www.baker.edu.