19480 Cumberland Way
Built in 1928 for automotive executive and inventor Clarence F. Tollzien and his wife, Lenore, 19480 Cumberland Way is a storybook Tudor Revival residence rich with historic character and thoughtful modern updates. Designed by architect Lewis C. Miller in the English Cottage style, the asymmetrical façade features an artful combination of random ashlar stone, red brick, half-timbering, and stucco. A whimsical tower with a conical roof and weather vane—featuring a Mother Goose motif—frames the arched stone entry, while original leaded and stained glass windows lend colorful charm throughout.
Once featured in a 1934 issue of The Michigan Catholic, the home was praised for its dignified, elegant exterior of “varied hues” and “warm Briar Hill stone.” Its architectural highlights remain intact today: carved plaster cove ceilings, intricate wood moldings, Flint Faience and Pewabic tile, paneled library, and original bath fixtures are just a few of the preserved treasures found across three stories and more than 6,000 square feet.
The home was first featured on the Palmer Woods Holiday Home Tour in 2006 when it was vacant and staged as a designer showcase. It returned to the tour in 2012, less than a year after the current owners purchased it and began an ambitious restoration. The kitchen was entirely reimagined to harmonize with the home’s period detailing: salvaged leaded-glass doors from the former dining room were repurposed, custom cabinetry was modeled on the original built-ins, and a discreet pantry doubles as a hidden entrance to the back staircase. Marble counters, gourmet appliances, and antique light fixtures complete the renovation. Other upgrades include converting the nursery into two spacious walk-in closets and an office, and transforming a maid’s quarters into a creative sewing and art studio.
Inside, an eclectic collection of Detroit and international art, colorful textiles, and vintage furnishings reflect the homeowners’ artistic sensibilities while complementing the home’s historic elegance. But the true showstopper is found out back. After acquiring the property, the homeowners commissioned Detroit landscape architect Jeff Klein to transform the deteriorated grounds—which once included a defunct in-ground pool—into a modern interpretation of a formal English garden.
The result is a serene, sustainable retreat anchored by a rectangular koi pond, designed with the owners’ collection of Japanese koi in mind. Crushed limestone walkways replace lawn, and layered beds of native perennials ensure something is always in bloom. In late July, visitors may see red and blue Lobelia, Coreopsis, Bee Balm, Russian Sage, Joe Pye, and Butterfly Weed, along with tall ornamental grasses and blooming water lilies. A raised vegetable garden and underground cistern fed by disconnected downspouts support a lifestyle rooted in ecological responsibility. A rain garden, added in 2020, further enhances the site’s stormwater management and biodiversity, capturing runoff and supporting pollinator-friendly plantings.
The front garden continues this sustainable ethos: grass has been steadily replaced with an evolving collection of hostas, hydrangeas, vinca, and liriope—many of them propagated from neighborly gifts, estate sales, or local nurseries. With both its architectural richness and garden artistry, 19480 Cumberland Way offers a compelling and inspiring portrait of restoration, creativity, and care.