Curated rooms are a hallmark of Michigan designer
Career inspiration came early in life for Lauren Tolles. The founder of Birmingham, MI-based Maison Birmingham’s foray into design began as a child, following her mother around the San Francisco Design Center as she searched for treasures for her home.
These experiences led Tolles to pursue design as a career, earning both a master’s degree in architecture and NCIDQ certification as an interior designer. With Maison Birmingham, the custom design-build studio she opened in 2016, Tolles employs both skill sets. She believes that understanding the design and character of the whole home makes her a better kitchen and bath designer.
During her three years of operation, Tolles has been awarded the prestigious “Rising Star” Award by Detroit Home Magazine, and won over two dozen design awards. Some of those awards are for her own 6,500-sq.-ft. home, which she designed and built while launching her showroom.
Tolles is building a local reputation as a leader and innovator, and has even had her company’s cabinet suppliers request her assistance with the development of new products. She has also been asked to consult on the development of new upscale stone showrooms, both local and out-of-state.
She is known for creating truly unique kitchens, which she describes as “curated,” as they are typically a mix of multiple styles, various materials and metals. Creative storage is a passion of hers, and she recently developed a vertically sliding stone hidden backsplash.
