Health + Wellness

The Smile Architect

Dr. David Kam and his team are redefining what it means to feel truly cared for — one smile at a time. Article by Susan Thwing | Photography by Simran Bajwa For David Kam, DDS, dentistry has always been about more than clinical skill. It’s about trust, relationships and treating people the way you would want to be treated yourself. That philosophy has guided him for more than three decades and shaped the growth of Lifetime Dental (lifetimedentalgroup.com), now serving patients with locations...

Finance + Legal Services

Planning With Purpose

How Chuck Vercellone can help you build the life you’ve envisioned. Article by Susan Thwing | Photography by Simran Bajwa When Chuck Vercellone talks about financial planning, it’s never just about the numbers. The longtime Troy-based financial advisor, owner of Wealth Strategies (wsgllc.net) and an Investment Advisor Representative with Osaic Advisory Services, believes that true financial wellness comes from clarity, purpose and relationships built on trust. “I don’t want to be looked...

Fitness

The 401(K) of Fitness

Inside the West Bloomfield gym that trains for longevity. Article by Susan Thwing When Ryan Kurrle talks about fitness, he rarely frames it as a short-term goal. “It’s definitely an investment,” he says. “We all invest in 401(k)s and retirement accounts. But if we don’t keep muscle mass on our bodies and keep ourselves mobile, we’re not going to be able to enjoy any of that later.” Kurrle and his wife, Candice, own LIFT Training (lifttraining.co) in West Bloomfield, where Kurrle approaches...

Style + Beauty

Invest in STYLE

Four timeless fashion investments that will make a statement, from the personal stylists at the Somerset Collection. Article by Lynne Konstantin Kelley Muzingo @adornedbykelley THE PERFECT BAG “This spring, I’m investing in a medium-sized tan suede everyday handbag. It’s the one color I’m missing, and I think it will be the perfect addition to my lighter color palette.”   Merna Makdisi @ablondestyling MIDWEST MUST-HAVE “Whether going out casually or running errands, a...

Health + Wellness

A Place To Breathe

Local nonprofit Yoga Moves MS celebrates 20 years — and MS Awareness Month. Article by Susan Thwing | Photography by Elayne Gross March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month, a time to spotlight the people and programs helping patients live with greater strength, connection and hope. In Southeast Michigan, one nonprofit has been quietly changing lives for more than two decades — one carefully supported pose, stretch and breath at a time. Yoga Moves MS (yogamovesms.org) recently celebrated its...

Home + Design

The Diamond Standard

Diamond Developments redefines what it means to build well. Article by Todd Haight Most people who have lived through a major remodel carry the same memories: dust in the air, unanswered phone calls, a schedule that keeps slipping. And the nagging fear that what was promised might never arrive. Paul Livernois has heard those stories for decades. And every time he does, he shakes his head. “It doesn’t have to be that way,” he says. He smiles in an easy, unguarded way that has become his...

Home + Design

Modern Love

At Italcasa, high design meets human connection. Article by Susan Thwing Walk into Italcasa Design and you’ll notice two things pretty quickly: the boldness of contemporary European furniture and the ease of the conversation happening around it.  There’s no hard sell, no pressure to “know” design before you arrive. Instead, owner Bill Bahoora starts the same way he always does: with questions, stories and, depending on the time of day, espresso, water — or maybe a glass of Prosecco. For...

Home + Design

Whimsical, Wonderful

Designer Carrie Long’s own home is a functional, friendly and polished sanctuary. Article by Lynne Konstantin | Photography by Diana Paulson Carrie Long has an uncanny ability to see beauty in bones. For example, when the founder and principal designer of Royal Oak’s Carrie Long Interiors set eyes on the circa-1936 Colonial in West Bloomfield Twp., she saw beyond the long-neglected foreclosure. What she envisioned was a light-filled, welcoming and livable home for her own family — her...

Health + Wellness

Pop Culture

Local student Alina Morse built a candy empire by creating lollipops that love you back. Article by Patti Zielinski | Photography by Simran Bajwa Why can’t candy be good for your teeth? This simple question asked by a curious seven-year-old became the catalyst for a revolution in the candy industry. When Alina Morse was offered a lollipop at a bank, her father said “no,” explaining that it would rot her teeth. Not one to take “no” for an answer, Morse got to work, mining YouTube videos to...

Food + Beverage

FLAVORS TO SAVOR THIS VALENTINE'S DAY

Whether it’s date night or girl’s night — where to wine and dine on Feb. 14. Article by Lynne Konstantin SYLVAN TABLE 1819 Inverness, Sylvan Lake Sylvantable.com Worth the drive: Nestled on five acres in Sylvan Lake, Sylvan Table is a farm-to-table destination where sustainable meets spectacular. Owners Nicole and Tim Ryan transformed a 300-year-old barn — relocated piece-by-piece from Maine — into an intimate dining space surrounded by a three-acre farm including vegetable gardens...