Seasons
LIFESTYLES
Natural Habitat
Creative vision takes Bloomfield Hills property for a walk on the wild side TEXT BY JEANINE MATLOW | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRACY TUCHOLSKI
WILD AGAIN
Fleurdetroit helped the homeowners of this Bloomfield Hills property reclaim their acreage with a vestigial oak savanna that incorporates native shrubs and plants across 2 acres.
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s a multifaceted design house, fleurdetroit in Bloomfield Hills often creates inspiring and mindful floral creations and landscapes. In addition, its dreamy interiors and garden shop entice visitors with décor and more that delights the eye. “We build community with our client base through our old-fashioned retail hybridization,” co-owner Phillip Morici says about the inspirational brick-and-mortar location that attracts many design professionals. “It’s a beacon for them because they know the level of products.” Healthy houseplants are among the popular picks. “They’re turnkey, so you can plop them in a pot,” he says. Unique coffee table books and well-curated furniture and accents also fill the distinctive destination, which serves as a creative lab for home and garden.
Its landscape design-build firm projects are equally impressive — like the family estate on a Bloomfield Hills property that had been passed down for three generations and was previously comprised of highmaintenance turfgrass. The conservation-minded clients were able to reclaim their acreage, where today a vestigial oak savanna incorporates native shrubs and plants. In fact, more than 16,000 perennials and shrubs now thrive in the environment. “We removed all the turf and rewilded it,” Morici explains about the remarkable transformation. A management program remains in place to prevent invasive species. The new plantings span 2 acres, while a gazebo, furnished with pieces from fleurdetroit, overlooks natural grasses and plants. “Most have Michigan genetics,” Morici notes. “They’re indigenous to our area — like bergamot, monarda, and echinacea.”
Mature trees add character to the expansive property, which also includes a terrace with bedding plants and annual pots, as well as a classic parterre garden with a peaceful lily pond. Color and texture abound. “The clients are super kind. They’re a wonderful family to work with, and they know the importance of open space and pollinators, and indigenous plants,” Morici says. Other species appreciate the natural habitat, too, especially where the meandering paths lead to a river and lake ecosystem. “We left the edges empty for snappers and other turtles, and wood ducks, which are very shy,” he adds. Raptors also come to visit. Morici says he told his clients: “When we build it, they will come,” referring to the creatures. “When you’re rewilding, you accept the nuance of what nature is going to throw at you,” he says. MORE INFORMATION: fleurdetroit.com
DETROITDESIGNMAG.COM | FALL 2026
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