This Tudor Revival home was built in 1927 for John and Bessie Miller. They purchased the home from Louis C. Miller Designers and Builders. The principal architect of the home is J. Ivan Dise, who designed only one other Palmer Woods residence. Dise was also affiliated with the design of nonresidential projects, such as the Detroit Public Library-Main Branch, the Boulevard Temple Complex, the Scott Memorial Fountain on Belle Isle, and the Grosse Pointe Pumping Station, a Michigan landmark.
Set on a corner lot, the house is executed in the style of an English Grand Manor, and utilizes an irregular floor plan and asymmetrical façade. The center Queen Anne style turret is flanked by eastward and northward extending wings, which give the exterior an imposing appearance. The façade combines contrasting materials, such as random ashlar stone, red brick, stucco and half-rough sawn timbering with a slate tile roof, all in harmonious coloring. An original iron weathervane sits on top of the turret.
The home has three floors of living space, including seven bedrooms, four full bathrooms, two half-baths, plus a fully finished basement complete with rathskeller and indoor grill. The great surprise of the house is the use of deco-style decorative wet plaster treatments and milled-wood trim accents throughout formal areas of the interior, along with a breath-taking spiral staircase extending three levels. Leaded glass doors, stained glass windows and original chandeliers with Austrian crystal can be observed throughout the house. It has been furnished with an eclectic mix of antique and classic contemporary pieces, which perfectly blend together to accentuate the unique architectural design of the home.
The third floor was originally designed for servants’ living quarters and homeowners’ storage. Very recently this level was re-purposed and redesigned as a retreat for guests and a gallery for some of the owners’ most cherished collectibles.
The current homes owners are preservationists and have not altered the original architectural design elements of the home. The architect’s original concept for living spaces was timeless and is still very functional for today’s lifestyles.