This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

mango design co provided interior design services to rize.ca for a multi-unit residential project at broadway & quebec street in vancouver. this display suite shows a sample interior and eclectic interior styling to reflect the artistic bent of the mount pleasant neighbourhood. while we wanted to keep things fresh & modern, shaker style cabinets were chosen to show some heritage roots. furnishings from a number of local sources including design house, mint, fullhouse, bombast and attic treasures. photography by eric saczuk of spacehoggraphics.com

mango design co provided interior design services to rize.ca for a multi-unit residential project at broadway & quebec street in vancouver. this display suite shows a sample interior and eclectic interior styling to reflect the artistic bent of the mount pleasant neighbourhood. while we wanted to keep things fresh & modern, shaker style cabinets were chosen to show some heritage roots. furnishings from a number of local sources including design house, mint, fullhouse, bombast and attic treasures. photography by eric saczuk of spacehoggraphics.com

The key to this project was to create a kitchen fitting of a residence with strong Industrial aesthetics. The PB Kitchen Design team managed to preserve the warmth and organic feel of the home’s architecture. The sturdy materials used to enrich the integrity of the design, never take away from the fact that this space is meant for hospitality. Functionally, the kitchen works equally well for quick family meals or large gatherings. But take a closer look at the use of texture and height. The vaulted ceiling and exposed trusses bring an additional element of awe to this already stunning kitchen. Project specs: Cabinets by Quality Custom Cabinetry. 48" Wolf range. Sub Zero integrated refrigerator in stainless steel. Project Accolades: First Place honors in the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s 2014 Design Competition

The owners of this kitchen had spent the money to upgrade the finishes in their kitchen upon building the home 12 years ago, but after living in the space for several years they realized how nonfunctional the layout really was. The (then) two preschool aged children had grown into busy, hungry teenagers with many friends who also liked to hang out at the house. So the family needed a more functional kitchen with better traffic flow, space for daily activities revolving around the kitchen at different times of day, and a kitchen that could accommodate cooking for and serving large groups. Furthermore, the dark, traditional finishes no longer reflected the homeowners’ style. They requested a brighter, more relaxed, coastal style that reflected their love of the seaside cities they like to visit. Originally, the kitchen was U-shaped with a narrow island in the middle. The island created narrow aisles that bottle-necked at the dishwasher, refrigerator, and cooktop areas. There was a pass-through from the foyer into the kitchen, but the owners never liked that the pass-through was also located so close to the powder room. The awkward proximity was unappealing and made guests feel uncomfortable. The kitchen’s storage was made up of lots of narrow cabinets, apothecary drawers, clipped corner units, and very few drawers. It lacked useful storage for the larger items the family used on a daily basis. And the kitchen’s only pantry was small closet that had only builder-grade, narrow shelving with no illumination to be able to see the contents inside. Overall, the kitchen’s lighting plan was poorly executed. Only six recessed cans illuminated the entire kitchen and nook areas. The under cabinet lighting was not evenly distributed either. In fact, the builder had mis-placed the under cabinet lighting around the decorative pilasters which made for choppy, dark cubbies. Further, the builder didn’t include any lighting over the sink or the bar area, which meant whoever was doing the dishes was always in their own shadow. That, coupled with the steep overhang of the game room above made the bar area feel like a dim, cavernous space that wasn’t inviting or task oriented. The kitchen looked out into the main living space, but the raised bar and a narrow wall (which held the only large cabinet in the kitchen) created more of a barrier than a relationship to the living room or breakfast nook. In fact, one couldn’t even see the breakfast nook from the cooktop or sink areas due to its orientation. The raised bar top was too narrow to comfortably sit to either dine at or chat from due to the lack of knee space. The the homeowners confided that the kitchen felt more like a dark, dirty prison than place where the family, or their guests, wanted to gather and commune. The clients' needs and desires were: ➢ to create a kitchen that would be a space the family loved to be in; to relate to the adjacent spaces all around, and to have better flow for entertaining large groups ➢ to remove the walls between the breakfast nook and living area and to be able to utilize the natural light from the windows in both those areas ➢ to incorporate a functional chopping block for prepping fresh food for home cooked meals, an island with a large sink and drain board, 2 pull out trash cans, and seating for at least the 2 teens to eat or do homework ➢ to design a kitchen and breakfast nook with an airy, coastal, relaxed vibe that blended with the rest of the house's coastal theme ➢ to integrate a layered lighting plan which would include ample general illumination, specific task lighting, decorative lighting, and lots of illuminated storage ➢ to design a kitchen with not only more storage for all the husband’s kitchen gadgets and collection of oils and spices, but smart storage, including a coffee/breakfast bar and a place to store and conceal the toaster oven and microwave ➢ to find a way to utilize the large open space between the kitchen, pantry area, and breakfast nook Twelve Stones Designs achieved the owner's goals by: ➢ removing the walls between the kitchen and living room to allow the natural light to filter in from the adjacent rooms and to create a connection between the kitchen, nook, and living spaces for a sense of unity and communion ➢ removing the existing pantry and designing 3 large pantry style cabinets with LED tape lights and rollout drawers to house lots of kitchen appliances, gadgets, and tons of groceries. We also took the cabinets all the way up to the 9’ ceiling for additional storage for seasonal items and bulk storage. ➢ designing 2 islands - 1 with a gorgeous black walnut chopping block that houses a drawer for chopping and carving knives and a custom double pull out trash unit for point of use utilization - and 1 that houses the dishwasher, a large Blanco Gourmet sink with integrated drain board, woven baskets for fresh root vegetables and kitchen towels, plenty of drawer storage for kitchen items, and bar seating for up to 4 diners. ➢ closing off the space between the kitchen and the powder room to create a beautiful new private alcove for the powder room as well as adding some decorative storage. This also gave us space to include more tall storage near the new range for precision placement of the husband’s extensive oil and spice collection as well as a location for a combo-steam oven the wife wanted for baking and cooking healthy meals. The project is enhanced functionally by: ➢ incorporated USB and standard receptacles for the kids’ laptops and phone charging in the large island ➢ designing the small island to include additional open shelving for items used on a daily basis such as a variety of bowls, plates, and colanders. This set up also works well for the husband who prefers to “plate” his dinners in restaurant-style fashion before presenting them to the table. ➢ the integration of specific storage units, such as double stacked cutlery drawers, a custom spice pull-out, a Kuerig coffee and tea pod drawer, and custom double stacked utensil drawers ➢ moving the refrigerator to the old oven location - this eliminated the bottle neck as well as created a better relationship to the eating table. It also utilizes the floor space between the pantry, nook, and kitchen ➢ creating a banquet style breakfast nook - this banquette seating not only doubles the amount of seating for large gatherings but it better utilizes the odd space between the kitchen and the previous nook area. It also helps to create a distinct pathway from the mudroom room through the pantry area, kitchen, nook, and living room. ➢ the coffee/breakfast bar area which includes the perfect location for the concealed microwave and toaster oven, convenient storage for the coffee pods and tea accoutrements. Roll-out drawers below also house the smoothie maker, hot water kettle, and a plethora of smoothie-making ingredients such as protein powders, smoothie additives, etc. Furthermore, the drawers below the Keurig house measuring utensil, cutlery, baking supplies and tupperware storage. ➢ incorporating lots of wide drawers and pullouts to accommodate large cookware. ➢ utilizing as much vertical space as possible by building storage to the ceiling which accommodates the family’s abundant amount of serving platters, baking sheets, bakeware, casserole dishes, and additional cutting boards. The project is enhanced aesthetically by: ➢ new 5-piece Versailles pattern porcelain tile that now seamlessly joins the entire down stairs area together creating a bright, cohesiveness feeling instead of choppy separated spaces - it also adds a coastal feeling ➢ designing a cabinet to conceal the microwave and toaster oven ➢ the coastal influenced light fixtures over the nook table and island ➢ the sandy colors of the Langdon Cambria countertops. The swirling pattern and sparkling quartz pieces remind the homeowner of black-and-tan sandy beaches ➢ the striped banquet seating whose creamy white background and blue-green stripes were the inspiration for the cabinet and wall colors. ➢ All the interior doors were painted black to coordinate with the blacks and grays in the backsplash tile and countertop. This also adds a hint of tailored formality to an otherwise casual space. ➢ the use of WAC's Oculux small aperture LED units for the overhead lighting complimented with Diode LED strips for task lighting under the cabinets and inside the pantry and glass wall cabinets. All of the lighting applications are on separate dimmer switches. Innovative uses of materials or construction methods by Realty Restoration LLC: ➢ Each 1-1/2” x 3” block of reclaimed end-grain black walnut that makes up the center island chopping block was hand milled and built in the shop. It was designed to look substantial and proportional to the surrounding elements, executed by creating the 4 inch tall top with a solid wood chamfered edge band. ➢ The metal doors on either side of the vent hood were also custom designed for this project and built in the Realty Restoration LLC shop. They are made 1x2, 11-gauge mild steel with ribbed glass. Weighing 60 lbs a piece, heavy duty cabinet hinges were added to support the weight of the door and keep them from sagging. ➢ Under-cabinet receptacles were added along the range wall in order to have a clean, uninterrupted backsplash. Design obstacles to overcome: ➢ Because we were removing the demising walls between the kitchen and living room, we had to find a way to plumb and vent the new island. We did this by tunneling through the slab (the slab had post tension cables which prevented us from just trenching) to run a new wet vent through a nearby structural wall. We pulled the existing hot and cold lines between upper floor joists and ran them down the structural wall as well and up through a conduit in the tunnel. ➢ Since we were converting from wall overs to a gas range it allowed us to utilize the 220 feed for the wall ovens to provide a new sub panel for all the new kitchen circuits ➢ Due to framing deficiencies inherited from the original build there was a 1-1/2” differential in the floor-to-ceiling height over a 20 foot span; by utilizing the process of cutting and furring coupled with the crown moulding details on the cabinet elevations we were able to mask the problem and provide seamless transitions between the cabinet components. Evidence of superior craftsmanship: ➢ uniquely designed, one-of-a-kind metal “X” end panels on the large island. The end panels were custom made in the Realty Restoration LLC shop and fitted to the exact dimensions of the island. The welding seams are completely indistinguishable - the posts look like they are cut from a single sheet of metal ➢ square metal posts on the small island were also custom made and designed to compliment and carry through the metal element s throughout the kitchen ➢ the beautiful, oversized end panels on the pantry cabinets which give the breakfast nook a tailored look ➢ integrating a large format 5 piece Versailles tile pattern to seamlessly flow from the existing spaces into the new kitchen space ➢ By constructing a custom cabinet that jogged around a corner we could not remodel (housing the entry way coat closet) we were able to camouflage the adjacent wall offset within the upper and lower cabinets. By designing around the existing jog in the structural walls we accomplished a few things: we were able to find the space to house, and hide, the microwave and toaster oven yet still have a clean cohesive appearance from the kitchen side. Additionally, the owners were able to keep their much needed coat closet and we didn’t have to increase the budget with unnecessary structural work.

This elegant, classic painted kitchen was designed and made by Tim Wood to act as the hub of this busy family house in Kensington, London. The kitchen has many elements adding to its traditional charm, such as Shaker-style peg rails, an integrated larder unit, wall inset spice racks and a limestone floor. A richly toned iroko worktop adds warmth to the scheme, whilst honed Nero Impala granite upstands feature decorative edging and cabinet doors take on a classic style painted in Farrow & Ball's pale powder green. A decorative plasterer was even hired to install cornicing above the wall units to give the cabinetry an original feel. But despite its homely qualities, the kitchen is packed with top-spec appliances behind the cabinetry doors. There are two large fridge freezers featuring icemakers and motorised shelves that move up and down for improved access, in addition to a wine fridge with individually controlled zones for red and white wines. These are teamed with two super-quiet dishwashers that boast 30-minute quick washes, a 1000W microwave with grill, and a steam oven with various moisture settings. The steam oven provides a restaurant quality of food, as you can adjust moisture and temperature levels to achieve magnificent flavours whilst retaining most of the nutrients, including minerals and vitamins. The La Cornue oven, which is hand-made in Paris, is in brushed nickel, stainless steel and shiny black. It is one of the most amazing ovens you can buy and is used by many top Michelin rated chefs. It has domed cavity ovens for better baking results and makes a really impressive focal point too. Completing the line-up of modern technologies are a bespoke remote controlled extractor designed by Tim Wood with an external motor to minimise noise, a boiling and chilled water dispensing tap and industrial grade waste disposers on both sinks. Designed, hand built and photographed by Tim Wood

Sloane Square No.92 External Wall Cabinet. Archway House No.106 External Base Cabinets. Leadenhall No.118 Larder Exterior. Kitchen by Smallbone of Devizes. Smallbone’s Beaconsfield showroom.

The wet bar includes a built-in wine cooler and a highlight in this stunning kitchen renovation is the ceiling hung glass and metal shelving unit that is truly a piece of art.

We were instructed to refurbish an existing kitchen and specifically asked for a design that would be airy and modern to include some “wow factor” features to satisfy the very precise tastes of this design savvy client. We were told to use the ovens from the old kitchen, to include a large island with seating and to create a visually attractive feature around the main entrance doorway. We initially extended the mezzanine introducing a bulkhead above the window area which obscured the top of the units from above and this allowed mood up-lighting and task lighting to be introduced. The junction between the new bulk head and Mezzanine created a natural break between the entrance door and the kitchen and we used this to define our approach. A large solid ash pivot door was introduced to enhance the existing entrance. The angular solid ash frame was designed to absorb the angular nature of the surrounding architecture and its design considered the existing entrance and door head position with the precise pivoting position being calculated to work within these parameters. The existing under floor heating meant that a conventional pivot system couldn’t be introduced into the floor so we sourced a specialised system that could be concealed within the door which needed only an 8mm protrusion into the floor. The aesthetic impact of the pivot door was balanced with the inclusion of a matching solid ash barn door on the opposite side of the room with a solid ash tambour door helping to balance the look whilst providing the client with a small appliance garage. The island was designed with simplicity in mind with subtle hidden layers helping to deliver impact. The waterfall worktops create a monolithic presence from various angles which is purposefully contradicted by using heavily chamfered edges along the front of the island to create a floating appearance. The holistic impact is enhanced further by detaching the cabinetry from all surrounding surfaces and including LED lighting which can create a glowing effect at night. The inclusion of a custom made Gutmann Abajo extraction system delivers unobtrusive functionality enhancing the look further. The recessed grip handles were made from solid ash and designed to punctuate the design in a unique way, purposefully falling short of the door lengths and penetrating through into the tall cabinetry from the low level units. This required gables, doors and handles to be individually specified to create the look. Some of the drawer fronts were oversized so as to conceal the large filler required to absorb the angles presented by the walls. Blum Legrabox drawers and inserts were carefully programmed to deliver functional performance and these drawers helped to deliver a crisp and contemporary interior finish. Derek Robinson Photography

A small addition made all the difference in creating space for cooking and eating. Environmentally friendly design features include recycled denim insulation in the walls, a bamboo floor, energy saving LED undercabinet lighting, Energy Star appliances, and an antique table. Photo: Wing Wong

Interior Designers Firm in Miami Florida, PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL NEWCOMB, PALM BEACH GARDENS. This one-of-a-kind 2,400 SF condo unit is located in Allison Island. The 2-story first floor unit has a direct view of the bay with floor-to-ceiling windows that blend the exterior with the interior. The large terrace allowed for a beautiful landscape design with citrus trees and lush plants, including artificial grass and natural stone floors. With the 40” x 40” white glass tile throughout, the living area in the unit was amplified. The kitchen counters were dressed with Calacatta Marble and stainless steel appliances for an impeccable clean look. The custom doors were done incorporating exotic cherry wood with etched glass details, adding a warm detail to the space. J Design Group. 225 Malaga Ave. Coral Gables, Fl 33134 305.444.4611 https://www.JDesignGroup.com Miami South Miami, Interior designers, Interior design decorators, Interior design decorator, Home interior designers, Home interior designer, Interior design companies, Interior decorators, Interior decorator, Decorators, Decorator, Miami Decorators, Miami Decorator, Decorators Miami, Decorator Miami, Interior Design Firm, Interior Design Firms, Interior Designer Firm, Interior Designer Firms, Interior design, Interior designs, Home decorators, Interior decorating Miami, Best Interior Designers,

By far the most striking features in the kitchen are the 'pop colour' wall hung cabinets on the main wall. These units are bespoke high gloss lacquered in marine, mustard, lime, coral and plum. Although the units look randomly placed, the kitchen was designed using a German grid system that provides ultimate symmetry of design. Against the backdrop of the highly reflective surfaces the taps sit above the under mounted stainless steel twin sink and the additional boiling tap provides instant hot water. The island features a black gloss quartz overhung work top providing a breakfast bar, an induction hob, and a down draught extractor. Built in are a wine-cooler as well as a dishwasher that cleverly projects lit numbers on to the floor to show how much time is left in the wash cycle. The side wall bank of full height and built in storage with pull out drawers features both a conventional and combination oven. The floor is finished in large format grey tiles that cover the entire open plan lounge and kitchen area.

Imbue Design | Remodeled condo unit in Park City, Utah.

Central storage unit that comprises of a bespoke pull-out larder system and hoses the integrated fridge/freezer and further storage behind the top hung sliding door.

Two reception room walls were knocked down to create an open-plan kitchen dining space for our client, an interior designer, and her family. This truly bespoke kitchen, designed by Woodstock Furniture, features striking, stepped doors in a spray-painted French grey finish and charcoal grey spray-painted finish on the long, narrow island unit. The client wanted to create more open space with an extension to house the utility room so the kitchen could be reserved for cooking, living and entertaining. Once building work was complete, Andrew Hall, chief designer and managing director of Woodstock Furniture, was enlisted to realise the client's vision - a minimalist, industrial-style, yet welcoming, open-plan kitchen with classic contemporary styling. The client had not had a bespoke kitchen so was looking forward to experiencing a quality feel and finish with all the cabinetry closing and aligning properly with plenty of storage factored in to the design. A painted, pale grey colour scheme was chosen for the kitchen with a charcoal-grey island unit for a dramatic focal point. Stepped doors were designed to create a unique look to the bespoke cabinetry and a Victorian lamp post base was sourced from an architectural salvage yard to support the breakfast bar with an original, contrasting feature to the black island cabinets. The island unit fits in perfectly with the room's proportions and was designed to be long and narrow to house the sink, integrated dishwasher, recycling needs, crockery and provide the perfect place for guests to gather when entertaining. The worktops on either side of the range cooker are used for food prep with a small sink for rinsing and draining, which doubles up as an ice sink for chilling wine at parties. This open-plan scheme includes a dining area, which leads off from the kitchen with space for seating ten people comfortably. Dark lights were installed to echo the sleek charcoal grey on the island unit and one of the pendant lights is directly above the tap to highlight the chrome finish with five lighting circuits in the kitchen and adjacent dining room.

Bergen County, NJ - Traditional - Kitchen Designed by Bart Lidsky of The Hammer & Nail Inc. Photography by: Steve Rossi This classic white kitchen creamy white Rutt Handcrafted Cabinetry and espresso Stained Rift White Oak Base Cabinetry. The highly articulated storage is a functional hidden feature of this kitchen. The countertops are 2" Thick Danby Marble with a mosaic marble backsplash. Pendant lights are built into the cabinetry above the sink. http://thehammerandnail.com #BartLidsky #HNdesigns #KitchenDesign

As part of a rear extension leading to a garden via two sets of bi-folding doors, this bright open plan kitchen comprises a larger lifestyle space with a living and dining area. It was designed by Jo Johal, managing director of Vogue Kitchens, using furniture by premium German brand, Leicht. The client has a large family, is a keen cook and likes to regularly entertain, so the kitchen was designed with those requirements in mind. This contemporary handleless kitchen features a wealth of storage with one wall featuring a run of tall lacquered gloss cabinets in Frosty White colourway with carcases in Platinum, together with overhead cupboards in the same finish that are lit from beneath via LED’s. Further undercounter units and pull-out drawers are also in Platinum and integrated within the undercounter storage is a 60cm Siemens dishwasher. Internal storage is highly detailed with lots of shelving, drawer units and a full cookware centre incorporated. Breaking the run of overhead units is a section of backlit decorative shelving for glassware and crockery. To the right of the kitchen the tall units include an integrated fridge and freezer, and to the left there are further tall cabinets that house a bank of ovens by Siemens, which include a 60cm oven next to a 45cm steam oven with a 14cm warming drawer beneath – all fitted at waist level to make it easier to view what’s cooking. Situated within the Quartzform worktop against the back wall is a wet area for food preparation with a sink and tap by Blanco and a Boiling Water Tap by Quooker. The central island is designed so that the cook can face out to the room, whilst entertaining. It is also designed in an L-shape to accommodate seating on two sides. The undercounter units are featured in a laminate finish in Liton grey colourway and the Quartzform worktop in Veined Michelangelo corresponds with the same worktop colour behind. Installed within are two types of hobs, a 90cm gas hob and 30cm domino induction hob, all by Siemens. A the front of the island is a 60cm wine cooler by Caple, while a ceiling extractor by Air Uno is directly above. Three long pendant lights are located above the island.

Ocean front, Luxury home in Miami Beach Projects by J Design Group, Your friendly Interior designers firm in Miami, FL. at your service. AVENTURA MAGAZINE selected our client’s luxury 5000 Sf ocean front apartment in Miami Beach, to publish it in their issue and they Said: Story by Linda Marx, Photography by Daniel Newcomb Light & Bright New York snowbirds redesigned their Miami Beach apartment to take advantage of the tropical lifestyle. New York snowbirds redesigned their Miami Beach apartment to take advantage of the tropical lifestyle. WHEN INTERIOR DESIGNER JENNIFER CORREDOR was asked to recreate a four-bedroom, six-bath condominium at The Bath Club in Miami Beach, she seized the opportunity to open the rooms and better utilize the vast ocean views. In five months last year, the designer transformed a dark and closed 5,000-square-foot unit located on a high floor into a series of sweeping waterfront spaces and updated the well located apartment into a light and airy retreat for a sports-loving family of five. “They come down from New York every other weekend and wanted to make their waterfront home a series of grand open spaces,” says Jennifer Corrredor, of the J. Design Group in Miami, a firm specializing in modern and contemporary interiors. “Since many of the rooms face the ocean, it made sense to open and lighten up the home, taking advantage of the awesome views of the sea and the bay.” The designer used 40 x 40 all white tile throughout the apartment as a clean base. This way, her sophisticated use of color would stand out and bring the outdoors in. The close-knit family members—two parents and three boys in college—like to do things together. But there were situations to overcome in the process of modernizing and opening the space. When Jennifer Corredor was briefed on their desires, nothing seemed too daunting. The confident designer was ready to delve in. For example, she fixed an area at the front door that was curved. “The wood was concave so I straightened it out,” she explains of a request from the clients. “It was an obstacle that I overcame as part of what I do in a redesign. I don’t consider it a difficult challenge. Improving what I see is part of the process.” She also tackled the kitchen with gusto by demolishing a wall. The kitchen had formerly been enclosed, which was a waste of space and poor use of available waterfront ambience. To create a grand space linking the kitchen to the living room and dining room area, something had to go. Once the wall was yesterday’s news, she relocated the refrigerator and freezer (two separate appliances) to the other side of the room. This change was a natural functionality in the new open space. “By tearing out the wall, the family has a better view of the kitchen from the living and dining rooms,” says Jennifer Corredor, who also made it easier to walk in and out of one area and into the other. “The views of the larger public space and the surrounding water are breathtaking. Opening it up changed everything.” They clients can now see the kitchen from the living and dining areas, and at the same time, dwell in an airy and open space instead of feeling stuck in a dark enclosed series of rooms. In fact, the high-top bar stools that Jennifer Corredor selected for the kitchen can be twirled around to use for watching TV in the living room. In keeping with the theme of moving seamlessly from one room to the other, Corredor designed a subtle wall of glass in the living room along with lots of comfortable seating. This way, all family members feel at ease while relaxing, talking, or watching sporting events on the large flat screen television. “For this room, I wanted more open space, light and a supreme airy feeling,” she says. “With the glass design making a statement, it quickly became the star of the show.”……. ….. To add texture and depth, Jennifer Corredor custom created wood doors here, and in other areas of the home. They provide a nice contrast to the open Florida tropical feel. “I added character to the openness by using exotic cherry wood,” she says. “I repeated this throughout the home and it works well.” Known for capturing the client’s vision while adding her own innovative twists, Jennifer Corredor lightened the family room, giving it a contemporary and modern edge with colorful art and matching throw pillows on the sofas. She added a large beige leather ottoman as the center coffee table in the room. This round piece was punctuated with a bold-toned flowering plant atop. It effortlessly matches the pillows and colors of the contemporary canvas. Jennifer Corredor also gutted all of the bathrooms, resulting in a major redesign of the master. She jettisoned the whirlpool and created the dazzling illusion of a floating tub. From an area where there were two toilets, she eliminated one to make a grand rectangular shower, which became an overall showpiece. The master bath went from being just a functional water closet to a sophisticated spa-like space. “The client said I was ‘delicious’ after seeing the change,” laughed Jennifer Corredor, who emphasized that her clients love their part-time life in South Florida more each time they come down. Even when the husband has to work from their Miami Beach digs, he is surrounded by tropical beauty. For instance, there are times when the master bedroom must double as the husband’s home office. The room had to be large enough to accommodate a working space for this purpose. So Jennifer Corredor placed an appropriate table near the window and across from the king-size bed. “No blocking of the amazing water view was necessary,” she says. “I kept an open space with a lot of white so It functions well and the work space fits right in.” She repeated the bold modern art in the room as well as in the guest bedroom, which also has a workspace for the sons when they are home from school and need to study. The designer is still happy and glowing with the results of her toil in this apartment. She gets a “spiritual feeling” when she walks inside. “It is so peaceful and serene, with subtle hints of explosive statements,” she says. “The entire space is open, yet anchored by the warmth of the exotic woods.” The client wrote Jennifer Corredor a letter at the end of the project congratulating her on a job well done. She revealed that owning a Miami Beach home was her husband’s dream 30 years ago. “Now we have a quality perfect yet practical home,” she wrote to the designer. “You solved the challenges, and the end result far exceeds our expectations. We love it.” Thanks for your interest in our Contemporary Interior Design projects and if you have any question please do not hesitate to ask us. http://www.JDesignGroup.com 305.444.4611 Modern Interior designer Miami. Contemporary Miami Miami Interior Designers Miami Interior Designer Interior Designers Miami Interior Designer Miami Modern Interior Designers Modern Interior Designer Modern interior decorators Modern interior decorator Contemporary Interior Designers Contemporary Interior Designer Interior design decorators Interior design decorator Interior Decoration and Design Black Interior Designers Black Interior Designer Interior designer Interior designers Interior design decorators Interior design decorator Home interior designers Home interior designer Interior design companies Interior decorators Interior decorator Decorators Decorator Miami Decorators Miami Decorator Decorators Miami Decorator Miami Interior Design Firm Interior Design Firms Interior Designer Firm Interior Designer Firms Interior design Interior designs home decorators Interior decorating Miami Best Interior Designers. 225 Malaga Ave. Coral Gable, FL 33134 http://www.JDesignGroup.com 305.444.4611