From the moment you enter this sprawling Spanish Colonial home, almost a hundred years old in age, you are transported to decades past. You are enveloped with curiosity and admiration for the essence that makes this home a bridge between the here and now and the heyday of a 1920’s South Beach. This home evokes the wonder and desire of "if walls could talk." You can’t help but conjure visions of what life might have been like with each passing decade and the lives this home has seen.

When the new homeowners undertook the kitchen remodel, their primary goal was for the new kitchen to hold the same undeniable magnetism. They approached our firm with a very specific vision of details that drew from deco and Spanish influences. The palette envisioned would complement the warmth and richness of the natural materials employed through the home as well as feel like an extension of its glamorous character and coastal proximity. Under the design direction and project management of our very own Oscar Corona, their new kitchen was everything they had hoped for and more.

The custom pattern of the cabinet door style is reminiscent of the stepped outlines in art deco architecture. The sink wall is free of wall cabinets for simplicity. The interest and detail of the cabinet doors are balanced by their colors, which steer the design into a timeless and neutral take on deco decadence. A deep shade of navy is used for the tall cabinetry and the island, adding elegance and a subtle reminder that this home is steps away from the ocean. The appliances are from Dacor’s Modernist Collection. This new collection of graphite stainless steel appliances lends itself to be seamlessly integrated into the design, both physically and visually. The commanding visual presence of the dark cabinetry and appliances is contrasted by off-white cabinetry along the perimeter. These brighten the edge of the room, enhancing the feeling of spaciousness. Above, open wood shelves in a custom finish, to match the floor, heighten the sense of lightness and openness while adding Old World charm. Undoubtedly, the focal point is the hand-painted tile that borders the island, almost like a carpet, continuing on the floor up to the cooktop and over on the hood wall. This design statement is kept to one section. All else recedes in elegant restraint to allow this gesture to become the dramatic, focal point of the kitchen.

Through meticulous execution of details and finishes, careful thought and creative design, we were able to bring to life a kitchen of simultaneous striking singularity and retro nostalgia. It is a kitchen that feels organic to the original home and becoming of the present day.

Photos provided by The Kitchenworks

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The existing oak floor was bleached to a white-washed tone. The walls were coated in an ever so slightly creamy shade of white that radiates brightness and warmth. The cabinets are finished in a powerful balance of contrasting colors- a taupe-y off-white and a show-stopping brown-grey hue. The dark color is a bold and refreshing choice that deviates from readily used neutrals, a choice that makes all the difference. This new kind of neutral sets this kitchen apart; it has a commanding presence that completes the warm scheme. The countertops are white quartz, albeit not the starkest of whites. The hardware is a brushed brass, reminiscent of a soft casting sunset glimmer. Every finish holds a warm undertone, carefully selected to be discernibly crisp- a more contemporary take on a neutral palette.

The kitchen layout follows much of the original footprint. The location of the kitchen, already having an open plan surrounded by windows overlooking the lush landscape beyond, the pool and waterway, was an attribute that made this home a hidden gem. There was no need to move the location of the kitchen to another part of the home and undertake extensive renovation.

Perhaps one of the most impressive elements in the kitchen is the dining built-in. This piece is comprised of a working tall pantry cabinet flanking the left end and a matching false pantry cabinet to flank the right end. This false cabinet is made up of tall doors to disguise the entry into the pantry room. The built-in is meant to read as a symmetrical piece that occupies the focus of the wall. It keeps the composition of cabinetry as clean as possible without the visual break of an opening. The center section of the built-in features glass door cabinets with doors in the contrasting finish, a continuation of the two-tone contrast concept in the kitchen.

The cabinets in the kitchen and dining area keep these two spaces reading as an extension of one another. These are supporting elements, part of a remodel impeccably and tastefully done, but most of all, successful because it reveals everything that this home had to offer.

The post A New Take On Neutral For This Kitchen Remodel By The Kitchenworks appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo courtesy of Brianna Bitton of Bitton Design Group

The comeback trend of 2019:

“Art Deco is back but with a fresh look to it.” -- Natalia Neverko of Natalia Neverko Design.

The colors and patterns to look out for:

“A lot of brighter colors with an earthy twist. I’m thinking mossy greens, dusty blues, ochre, and of course coral (Pantone said it first.)” -- Brianna Bitton of Bitton Design Group and the interior designer behind Halsey's Los Angeles home. 

Best item(s) to splurge on:

“Art. Every penny you spend on artwork will always yield a return. It’s one of the best investments you can make toward achieving a truly beautiful and meaning interior design.” -- Sandra Diaz of EOLO A&I Design.

Photo courtesy of eolodesigns.com by Sandra Diaz

What will be the aesthetic of 2019?

“Unapologetic. People are less afraid to decorate with the things that make them happy, to defy traditional design expectations.” -- Susan Rocco of the Kitchenworks.

The number one design tip:

“Listen to your heart, spend time filling the space and sketching around. Don’t make fast decisions, don’t rush it. Everything will come to you if you read and interact with the space. Trust yourself.” – Pepe Calderin of Pepe Calderin Design.

Photo courtesy of Pepe Calderin

Where do you see the market trends heading into the new year?

Bolder furniture and unique original pieces will be the trends of this year. People are looking more and more for handmade object that stand out from the mass-produced items. -- Sergio Mannino of Sergio Mannino Studio. 

The post 6 Interior Design Professionals Weigh In On The Design Trends and Tips Of 2019 appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.