The Historic John E. King House, at 512 Washington Road in Grosse Pointe, has been selected as the Junior League of Detroit’s 2022 Designers’ Show House. It is the 24th residence to be so honored.
Every other year the JLD selects a prominent local estate and curates a team of local and national interior designers to transform the home into a Designers’ Show House. League members Shelia Minetola of Grosse Pointe Park, Gabriela Boddy of Grosse Pointe, and Dianne Bostic Robinson of Detroit are co-chairs of the 2022 Designers’ Show House.
“The Junior League of Detroit is very excited to announce our 2022 Designers’ Show House,” says Christina Jackson, president of the JLD. “It is with great pride that we carry on this longstanding League tradition as our main fundraiser.
“The event will allow us to continue our league’s philanthropic work that supports our community impact initiatives with Alternatives for Girls and Brilliant Detroit which help meet the needs of Detroit children, young women, and families. It also allows us to provide community-based grants and scholarships.”
Dianne Robinson, co-chair of the show house program, says, “The John E. King House presents an opportunity to work with renowned national sponsors and talented designers while honoring one of the first homes constructed on this prestigious street as part of the new ‘Grosse Pointe Colony’ development.”
The John E. King House was built in 1920 and is a 4,632-square-foot Georgian colonial designed by Harlow N. Davock. It features six bedrooms, six bathrooms, and an eight-column portico entrance that spans the front elevation and includes a wrought iron balcony on the second floor.
The formal symmetrical brick-built property has an abundance of small sash windows with delicate limestone detailing, typical of homes created in this style during this era. King, the original owner, was born in Detroit in 1879 and worked with his father in the coffee and tea business up until he enlisted in the Spanish-American War. Upon returning home, he started the John E. King Coffee Co. wholesale business.
Area design enthusiasts will have the opportunity to glimpse the John E. King House in its pre-renovated state during the JLD’s “Sneak-A-Peek” weekend event in July (date to be announced) before the home’s grand redesigned reveal in Fall 2022.
For more information about the Junior League of Detroit’s Designers’ Show House visit JLDetroit.org.
