Finance + Legal Services

Building Peace of Mind

Attorney David Das sees estate planning as investing in your family's future. Article by Erica Hobbs When Bloomfield Hills-based attorney David Das lost his father, he found himself struggling with more than just grief. Despite his father having had an estate plan, it was inadequate and Das still found himself in probate court, trying to recover lost assets. Many years later, it's yet to be resolved. Soon after the death of his father, Das became a father himself and worried about what would...

March 2024

Real Estate

Favorite Things

Get to know six local realtors — and what they love about what they do. Article by Lynne Konstantin LISA LIPARI Dobi Real Estate, Birmingham; wearedobi.com Who is your role model? I have different role models for different qualities. My mom is one because she has so much drive and determination to be successful and never stops educating herself. My dad is one because he always taught me to work hard and to be my own boss, so I don’t have to answer to anyone but myself and the sky's...

March 2024

Home Services

Brick By Brick

Customized masonry offers functional curb appeal. Article by Erica Hobbs From chimneys and porches to walkways and siding, masonry marries the worlds of practical and aesthetic value. Garden City’s Next Level Custom Brick ( nextlevelcustombrick.com ) offers expertise in both, infused with a family-owned sense of pride and service.   “We focus on the needs of the homeowner and their project. We are a team, and we work together with our customers from start to finish to ensure a smooth and...

February 2024

Home + Design

A True Joy

Mariella’s Custom Drapery celebrates 40 years of passion for fabrics — and community. Article by Erica Hobbs At a young age, Sicilian-native Mariella Trentacoste found true joy in fabrics and bringing them to life. The youngest of five children growing up in Italy, Trentacoste grew up with a love of sewing and fabrics, often scooping up scraps of material from a friend’s textile shop and transforming them into clothing, table coverings and more.  As an adult, Trentacoste landed in the U.S...

February 2024

Home + Design

Catching Up With Bri Thiede

The owner of Cozy Haus Designs talks Southern hospitality, hard work and timeless design. Article by Lynne Konstantin Everything that Bri Thiede touches exudes warmth and hospitality. This may be attributed to her Southern roots, having been born and bred in Nashville, or the constant comings-and-goings of family and friends visiting her family, including her pastor father. More likely, it’s simply her style — and talent. The principal designer and founder of Cozy Haus Designs, a...

February 2024

Home + Design

Peaceful, Easy Living

Life is lived to the fullest at this Northern Michigan home, created to last for generations. Article by Lynne Konstantin | Photography by James Haefner When a Birmingham couple was ready to retire — that’s when the fun really started. Craving the ultimate lake life — equal parts serenity and adventure — they moved full-time to their cottage Up North with plans to renovate.  Already beginning preliminary designs for the home, builder Jamie Cracchiolo, partner with his dad, Joe, of Joseph...

February 2024

Finance + Legal Services

Get To Know: Lisa B. Kirsch Satawa

The co-founder of Kirsch Daskas Law Group tells why community matters. Article by Lynne Konstantin When Lisa B. Kirsch Satawa was 12 years old, her family drove to Lansing to see her uncle get sworn in to the State Bar of Michigan. Upon witnessing this officious occasion, Satawa turned to her parents and informed them that someday, she, too, would be a lawyer. “I didn’t even know what that meant,” she says. “But I loved the pomp and circumstance, the oath. It resonated with me that this is...

January 2024

Entertainment

In The Spotlight: Matt Rappaport

Local musician and event-company CEO tells the story of his long and winding road. Article by Erica Hobbs Law school or music. That was the choice Beverly Hills resident Matt Rappaport faced when graduating from the University of Michigan in 2003. Though he studied at U-M’s prestigious Stephen M. Ross School of Business, Rappaport loved to perform and played with his band Collision Six on school breaks. It was ultimately a mentor who would convince him to pursue his passion.  “[He said], ‘It...

January 2024

Life + Culture

Enchanted Birmingham

Birmingham photographer Marla Michele Must shares her favorite local spots to shoot. Article by Lynne Konstantin | Photography by Marla Michele Must Marla Michele Must has lived and worked in Birmingham for 13 years, specializing in photographs of families, high-school seniors, dancers and equestrian portraiture under the name of Enchanted Photography by Marla Michele Must (enchantedbymarlamichele.com).  “I’m often asked about the creative process of choosing locations for portrait sessions,”...

January 2024

Event Planning + Services

Meet The Treat Makers

We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Article by Lynne Konstantin Whether you’re throwing a Valentine party for the kids, a Galentine for the girls or just want to treat yourself, we’ve found the local makers that will punch up your gathering. SUGAR SHACK BAKING Since launching Sugar Shack out of her Bloomfield Hills home in 2011, Rani France has juggled motherhood, a full-time day job plus her sweet side hustle — hand-crafting the most adorable cake...

January 2024