Linda Quint, a Realtor® with Century 21 Market – Tech Realtors, enjoys introducing buyers to Grosse Pointe. "It's a wonderful, safe, and friendly place," she says. "Downtown, with all its sports, concerts, nightlife and shopping, is less than 10 minutes away," she says. "But, it's also far enough away that it's tranquil and relaxed. It's the best of both worlds." Linda should know; she not only works in Grosse Pointe but also lives there.
There are many gorgeous homes to be found here, including one she represents on Grand Marais St. on Lake St. Clair. This waterfront oasis, with over 12,000 square feet, boasts an impressive five bedrooms and 10 bathrooms but still manages to be cozy and warm. "For such a big house, it's really comfortable and family oriented," says Linda. "With many big houses, you often feel like you're in a sterile building, not a home."
Although it was originally built in 1925, it has all the modern amenities buyers seek, thanks to a complete renovation in 2015. Even with all the changes, the home still maintains the charm of the original design by famed architect Robert O. Derrick. Its beautiful stained glass windows were preserved, although the rooms they are in now have different uses. "Its grand parlor with vaulted ceilings used to be the music room, so at the top of every window is a stained glass harp," says Linda. "The room that was used as a library is now part of a bathroom, so there's a stained glass window showing a book."
During the renovation, the house more than doubled in size. "The original kitchen was very small because back then, the woman of the house wasn't in the kitchen," she says. "She had people cooking for her." Today, the large gourmet kitchen has granite counters and custom cabinetry, a turbo chef oven, a stove that heats water in minutes while keeping the stovetop cool, and two dishwashers. The walk-in pantry is vast with plenty of storage. "I feel like you could have a small store in there," says Linda, laughing.
The house initially only had four small bathrooms. "Now it has 10 bathrooms with an unbelievable en suite spa-like master bathroom," she says. "The tub has a waterfall, where the water fills up and then runs over the top, goes back to the bottom where it gets heated and comes back up again." The bedroom itself boasts a lovely fireplace which makes the space extra special.
It's also an excellent house for entertaining. The finished basement with its theater room is a fun spot for family and friends to watch movies, and outside, a resort-like pool and outdoor kitchen are surrounded by lush landscaping. It's a place where people can gather, take a dip, and enjoy some delicious fare. There's also an observation deck on the roof for an even bigger thrill. "I don't think anybody else in Grosse Pointe has that," says Linda. "It's up three stories and you could have 15 people up there. And what a view!"
The home also offers a family room downstairs and another one upstairs. If a couple wants to host a party on the lower level, the kids will still have a comfortable place to hang out. "The people who own it now had a party there with a couple of hundred people and it was not crowded at all - there was room to spread out," says Linda.
Something else the house provides, which is often in demand these days, is an open-concept floor plan. "It has one big room with the kitchen, the family room, and a little game room all combined in one, so the family can be together," she says. "It also has a big table in the main room if you want to have a formal dinner, which I don't think people have much anymore. People are getting less formal all the time - they're more into comfort. But, at the same time, they still like luxury."
Due to this property's size, a geothermal system was installed for energy efficiency and environmental considerations. This is something many homeowners appreciate.
To tour this home to see if it's right for you and your family, make an appointment with Linda Quint at Century 21 Market – Tech Realtors. "If you can afford it, you'll want it," she says.
To find out more, go to realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/714-Grand-Marais-St_Grosse-Pointe-Park_MI_48230_M39125-97296.
