Alexis Elley Keeps A Bathroom Serene And Welcoming

The Junior League of Detroit—veterans of almost five decades of showhouses—hosted its biennial event in September 2020, bringing together 27 design teams to reimagine the city’s historic Bingley Fales House. Migrating for the first time to Detroit’s Indian Village neighborhood, the 2020 Designers’ Showhouse transformed the first two floors of a more than 100-year-old Georgian mansion into a dynamic mix of decorating styles. “The home has a very interesting history, and it has all its original features,” says charity chair Liana Dabir of the 16,000-square-foot estate set on over an acre of meticulously manicured land.

In our recently released aspire design and home Showhouse Issue, we sat down with Alexis Elley to learn more about her creative process in designing the Bathroom for this project.

aspire design and home: How much time did you have to complete this room, start to finish
Alexis Elley: This was an interesting year as the SH was postponed due to the pandemic. I would have normally had about 6 months… this time I had about 14 months!

aspire: What was your biggest challenge? Did you have a “Eureka!” moment during the process?
Alexis: The design process of this project ran very smoothly actually. Mainly I think that due to the open channels of communication I had with the owner of the house. He and I have a very similar aesthetic.

aspire: What was your inspiration for this room? 
Alexis: Clean classic, and fresh. A modern update to a traditional home.

aspire: Did you step out of your comfort zone for this project, and if so, why?
Alexis: Not really, however, I would have gone for a bit more modern plumbing fixtures, but the homeowner wanted more traditional.

aspire: Is your preference for a showhouse a small space or a large space? Does one or the other provide a better opportunity to stretch your creativity?
Alexis: This was my first show house so I wanted to start small however I would not be opposed to doing a larger space in the future. My space was tiny, my little jewel box, so I don’t think size matters when it comes to creativity.

aspire: Describe Detroit in one sentence. 
Alexis: Detroit’s combination of spirit, integrity and beauty create a style that radiates through the city and its people and a culture that is impossible to duplicate.

This or That?

aspire: Paint or wallpaper?
Alexis: Wallpaper for texture
aspire: Hardwood or rug?
Alexis: Rugs for warmth
aspire: Beach or Mountains?
Alexis: Mountains for inspiration
aspire: Saturated color or black and white?
Alexis: Black and white for clean lines
aspire: Brunch or Dinner?
Alexis: Dinner
aspire: Mid-century or 18th Century?
Alexis: I like to mix the two
aspire: Draperies, shades, or nothing?
Alexis: Drapes and natural woven shades (love Hartman and Forbes)
aspire: 2001: A Space Odyssey or The English Patient?
Alexis: The English Patient
aspire: Week at the spa or week of Broadway shows?
Alexis: Spa (Cal a Vie is my favorite!)

Photography by Jeff Garland.

Click Here to view more interviews with our Detroit Showhouse designers.

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