What Dr. Arnkoff does with his money

[SplitDik (imported)]

Expand his house to 5500 square feet and decorate it with antiques of course. Here is an article on his house (sadly his wife Terry has since passed away in 2012):

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... /902140301

Long-married couple lavish home with art, antiques

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Empty-nesters Dr. Marc and Terry Arnkoff made the decision not to sell the family home, but instead added on and re-thought the decor. The dramatic and inviting living room features Bowen Kline's "Parking Lot Attendant" over the fireplace and a vintage Karl Springer alligator-leather cocktail table. Purchase ImageZoom

Empty-nesters Dr. Marc and Terry Arnkoff made the decision not to sell the family home, but instead added on and re-thought the decor. The dramatic and inviting living room features Bowen Kline's "Parking Lot Attendant" over the fireplace and a vintage Karl Springer alligator-leather cocktail table. (Daniel Mears / The Detroit News)

It's obvious Dr. Marc and Terry Arnkoff are in love as they sip Champagne, nibble on strawberries and scones and gaze into each other's eyes.

"We've been married for 37 years," says Terry, a svelte fashionista whose shoe collection has been compared to Imelda Marco's stash. "We've been in this house for 37 years, too, raising four children with three German shepherd dogs underfoot."

Nearly four decades of daily abuse from kids and pets can take its toll on a house, however. So two-and-a-half years ago when the couple found themselves living in an empty nest, they looked at each other and asked, "Do we move or re-do?"

The easy answer, says Terry, was re-do, but do it right with antiques and art that spoke to their hearts.

"Our home's Bloomfield Hills location is perfect since Marc, who's chief urologist at Providence Hospital, works at medical facilities in Southfield, Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills and Novi," she adds.

Ideally timed to celebrate Valentine's Day at home in style -- a red-patterned Stark staircase runner was just installed -- the Arnkoffs, their decorator Marlyn Ross, and antiques connection Judy Frankel showed off their recently renovated, contemporary abode to Homestyle.

Homestyle: How did the house's footprint change?

Marc: It went from 3,600 square feet to 5,500 square feet. Countryside Builders did the construction. Ryan Ross was in charge.

Terry: We bumped out the kitchen and installed a modern kitchen, eliminated the wall between the kitchen and living room, added an enclosed, sophisticated porch -- that's my space -- on the first floor and a master bedroom and sitting room above the porch on the second floor. We also reconfigured some rooms. My son's former bedroom, for example, became my walk-in closet/dressing room. When we redesigned and enlarged the black marble master bath, I created a linen room. Marc got his own walk-in closet, too, complete with a singing Elvis head from Sharper Image. He also got an exercise room full of equipment on the second floor.

Marc: My exercise room is 24- by 35-feet with two flat-screen TVs and piped-in music. Our builder, who's a Jack-of-all-trades, jokingly told my wife, "You've got to give your husband a crumb!"

Homestyle: What was the goal in decorating and furnishing the basically new home?

Terry: Marlyn Ross, who I've known for years, and I collaborated. I wanted a sophisticated look with lots of black, silver-gray and shots of red. I love red, and, it turns out, Marc realized he does, too. I really wanted a home where I could entertain. I love to cook and have family and friends over.

Marlyn: I made some suggestions, such as replacing the foyer's tired tiles with hardwood that goes into the kitchen and living room. I suggested double doors into the formal dining room. I also wanted to panel the boring den, and I changed the Lucite staircase to dark wood and steel. I helped Terry with big and small purchases, but most importantly, I introduced the couple to Judy Frankel of Judy Frankel Antiques in Troy.

Marc: The first time I went to Judy's store, I was like a kid in a candy shop.

Terry: Every Saturday morning, we would go shopping for antiques, but we always seemed to end up purchasing treasures at Judy's. Marc finally said, "I can't believe she has anything left in her store." We simply fell in love at first sight with antiques.

Judy: A mid-century round, leather conference table and six matching leather chairs from Paris was the first furniture purchase Marc and Terry made with me. They use the set as their breakfast table and chairs. They're partial to art deco, art nouveau and mid-century furnishings, but they also like new and vintage crystal chandeliers and contemporary art. The first accessory they bought from me was a 19th-century, ebonized and hand-painted cloisonné vase that's now a focal point in the foyer. The 1775 Swedish white cabinet on the porch was a significant purchase, too, and the vintage Harold Springer alligator-leather coffee table in the living room is a favorite piece.

Marlyn: We only kept a few of the Arnkoff's original pieces, such as a Chinese-influenced armoire from Crate & Barrel and a granite dining-room table that seats eight. End tables, lamps, an art deco tea cart, Tiffin pottery, French clocks and crystal chandeliers all came from Judy.

Homestyle: The kitchen by Jodi Caden of Caden Design Group in Birmingham is Architecture Digest-worthy. Tell me about it.

Terry: The countertops are Silestone; the cabinets are a sapelli exotic wood; appliances, including the Wolf range with its bright red knobs, are stainless steel. The pot-filler and faucet are by Waterstone Hunley. A glass-and-metal half-wall separates the eating area from the living room. I love my kitchen -- it's my dream come true.

Homestyle: A dream come true for the most romantic day of the year -- it just doesn't get any better than that.

[modernist (imported)]

Well, he's found his niche market. I guess we all win