After eight international moves in 22 years, thanks to her husband’s role at Ford Motor Co., Laura Hilditch, a native of the U.K., translated her expat experience into a design language all her own. For her family’s new-build in Birmingham, she drew inspiration from previous homes in places like Russia, China, and Turkey, layered with a distinctly European sensibility.
Hilditch says the home balances “classic architectural detailing, warm natural materials, and curated global pieces, rather than adhering to a strictly modern or traditional approach.” She intentionally planned every detail of her 4,200-square-foot home, and worked with Lynch Custom Homes, Oak Street Design, and Perspectives Cabinetry. As the founder of House of Hilditch, this is her first full-home design project. “Basically, the house is my portfolio now,” she says.
“From the outset of our design process, we focused on creating thoughtful vignettes throughout the home that celebrate the furniture and artwork that hold special meaning for Laura and her family,” explains Jenna Campbell, director of design and founder of Oak Street Design. “As one moves through the house, thoughtful moments and intentional views reveal layers of texture, material, and character, allowing these collected pieces to become an integral part of the experience. The result is a home that tells the globally-inspired story of Laura’s family in a beautifully personal way.”
WORLDLY FEEL
“Every element, from millwork to lighting, was thoughtfully selected to support a timeless, collected atmosphere. The result is a home that feels established and soulful, blending personal history with enduring design,” designer Laura Hilditch says.
A focal point of the Turkish bath-inspired primary bathroom is a tiled arch that required top-tier tiling skills, and even required the contractors to buy a new tool to complete the job. “The tile work is in a category of its own,” says Dan Lynch, owner of Lynch Custom Homes. “The selection, layout, handcrafted miter cuts, arched tile details, and grout joint spacing across multiple rooms required an extraordinary level of craft.”
The bathroom’s herringbone floor tiles are a nod to a former home in England, and the natural colors create a serene and spa-like feeling. Meanwhile, the walnut and Taj Mahal quartzite in the primary bath tie in with the kitchen’s island and countertop.
John Morgan, president of Perspectives Cabinetry, designed a kitchen that’s both highly functional and beautiful. “The space stands out through its layered mix of materials — painted cabinetry, warm wood tones, and carefully selected metals,” Morgan says. “The island was designed to feel like a fine piece of furniture, with a custom stain and radius open shelving for displaying art, while still functioning as the primary prep area.”
CUSTOM CREATION
“I love how the nook has become the heart of our home, used for everything from homework to family game nights. The channel-tufted back echoes the fluted detail on the table edge, subtly tying the space together,” Hilditch says. She worked with Pontiac-based My Upholstery and JMR Carpentry to construct the one-of-a-kind piece. A bespoke Remington table was made to fit this space perfectly.
A Pinterest post inspired the kitchen’s show-stopping pantry, but achieving Hilditch’s vision required reworking the original floor plan so the space wouldn’t be tucked away in a hallway. “I remember thinking, ‘What can he do? He can’t move walls,’ ” Hilditch says. “But sure enough, he moved the walls around and reimagined the space. He sketches out the kitchen design right in front of you — he took what was in my head and drew it out in real time.” The result is a take on a traditional English butler’s pantry complete with a rolling library ladder, swinging doors, and a pop of blue.
Just off the kitchen is the breakfast nook, Hilditch’s favorite place to sit. “It gets really lovely light in the morning,” she says. “We don’t actually sit at the long dining table; we always sit (in the breakfast nook). When all my children were home, we’d gather around this table every night playing board games.” Family gatherings are especially meaningful for Hilditch, as two of her adult children live abroad, another returns home from college during the summer, and her youngest still lives at home. Visits often include her three grandsons, as well.
GLOBAL TREASURES
Elements of the family’s life abroad show up in various rooms, including the cabinets and a custom coffee table from China in the living room (above) and the slanted shelves in the office that display books from all the countries they’ve called home (below).
Other elements of the family’s life abroad show up throughout the home: there are cabinets and a custom coffee table from China in the living room, and the drying racks in the laundry room are reminiscent of washing lines in England. Slanted shelves in the office display books from all the countries they’ve called home; the color-drenched room is painted urban bronze, the same color used on the house’s exterior.
Layered with furniture, artwork, and details gathered from years abroad, the house may be new, but it feels timeless. Hilditch says the combination of stone, materials, and color gives the home a sense of permanence. “I feel like this house looks like it’s always been here,” she says. 
B E H I N D T H E D E S I G N
PRINCIPAL DESIGNER
Laura Hilditch, House of Hilditch,
Birmingham, houseofhilditch.com
PROJECT CONTRIBUTORS
Builder/Contractor: Lynch Custom Homes, Novi
Kitchen Cabinetry: Perspectives Cabinetry, Troy
Millwork: JMR Carpentry, Southeast Michigan
SMOKY BLUE
Sherwin-Williams, sherwin-williams.com
CUSTOM PANTRY DOORS
JMR Carpentry, Southeast Michigan
“Painted in a soft smoky blue, the pantry doors introduce a pop of color. The double-acting design is practical for everyday use, while the glazed panels allow light to filter through and keep the space feeling open.” Hilditch explains
ACCESSIBLE BEIGE
Sherwin-Williams, sherwin-williams.com
“I used a tonal approach throughout the home, applying the same color in varying strengths to create depth,” Hilditch says. “The slightly stronger tone on the trim highlights the architectural detailing in a subtle way.”
GRACIE DOME PENDANT
Visual Comfort, Birmingham, visualcomfort.com
“I chose the dome shape to mirror the arches used throughout the home, helping to carry that detail through in a subtle way. The antique nickel finish adds softness and works easily with the other materials in the kitchen.”
BRIZO 14-INCH LINEAR ROUND H2O-Kinetic® SINGLE-FUNCTION RAINCAN SHOWER HEAD
Brizo, brizo.com
“The oversized rain shower head enhances the spa experience, with its soft, immersive waterflow. The luxe gold finish adds warmth and elevates the space, complementing the surrounding materials.”
URBANE BRONZE
Sherwin-Williams, sherwin-williams.com
“Urbane Bronze provides a strong contrast to the over-grouted stone,” designer Laura Hilditch says of the exterior siding. “The depth of color enhances the natural materials and gives the exterior a more defined architectural presence.”
ROLLING LADDER IN WALNUT AND BRASS FINISH
Putnam Rolling Ladders, putnamrollingladders.com
“The rolling ladder provides easy access to higher storage, while adding character to the pantry. The walnut and brass introduce warmth, with a subtle nod to classic British design influences.”
JEFFREY COURT DERBY NOBLE TILE
Dwyer Marble, Farmington Hills, jeffreycourt.com, dwyermarble.com
“The Derby Noble tile wraps the walls and ceiling of the primary bathroom, creating a spa-like space. It was inspired by our time living in Istanbul and the atmosphere of traditional Turkish hammams, and brings a sense of calm and retreat into the home.”
LA CORNUE INDUCTION RANGE
Ferguson Home, Troy, fergusonhome.com, lacornue.com
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