For a couple who loves to entertain, this house is an open plan design with two guest bedrooms set on one side of the house and a completely open master suite situated on second floor. Unconventional and unique design elements reflect client’s love of color.
Almost every client has a list of wants when a project begins, but in this case, the wish list was rather unconventional. Some of these requests were:
that the house be light, bright, and airy
that the temperature of the interior is easily achieved at low 67F
that the house cleverly displays client’s art and accessories collected during travels
that the house reflects their unique interest and transitional design aesthetic.
As you walk thru the house, you realize that there isn’t a single area that doesn’t get special treatment. White marble floors and off-white walls create a backdrop for unique design features, and client’s love for color is evident everywhere. One-of-a-king elements were used in every detail on this project. These elements are particularly dominant in the living room, powder room, kitchen, and the master bathroom. Even furnishings are sculptural statements in exotic wood veneers and client’s colorful accessories are cleverly incorporated into the mix.
In order to accomplish client’s requests, careful attention was given to the lighting throughout this house. To keep client’s home bright and cold, we insulated the attic space, and used LED lighting to eliminate heat created by traditional lightbulbs. The LEDs compliment white marble floors and accentuate the brightness of the spacious living areas.
Since this house was built for entertaining, you will observe many unique lighting applications – from in-floor mounted uplights to colorful glowing surfaces. The Italian-influenced fireplace created from French limestone with Nero Portoro accents is an obvious focal point seen from the staircase, foyer and second floor master suite. The floor lighting at the fireplace highlights its architectural elements while providing dramatic shadows.
As you enter the powder room thru frosted glass door decorated with colorful Venetian accents, you are immediately welcomed by vibrantly red walls reflecting softly in the white marble floor. The red mosaic creates a backdrop that sets the playful and elegant tone for this room, and it compliments perfectly with the floating, curvilinear black ebony vanity.
The three layers of this vanity give it an elegant and sculptural form while housing LED lighting and offering convenient and necessary storage in form of drawers. As you walk thru the main floor, you can’t miss the colorful kitchen tacked away in opposite corner of the house. Here, kitchen is the center of all attention and a conversation piece at every party. It is here that the color client wanted comes to life like nowhere else.
The glowing monolithic sculpture raising out of the white marble floor is a centerpiece and an artistic interpretation of a kitchen island.
But this island isn’t just beautiful. It is also extremely practical. It is designed using two intercrossing parts creating two heights for different purposes – 36” high surface for prep work and 30” high surface for sit down dining.
The open concept continues up the staircase to the second floor. Because the entire second floor of the house was renovated into a master suite, the open concept plan is used here as well.
As you walk up the stairs or exit the elevator, you can’t miss the design of the master bathroom which is set to compliment the natural stone slab floor that sets the tone for this room. The open plan allowed the designer to increase the floor area of the bathroom and design an incredible statement piece. Honey onyx slabs were cut into oversized tiles to make them more manageable and installed in a diamond pattern. Furthermore, what otherwise would be waste cut material, it was chiseled, flamed, and fabricated into custom mosaic installed on the back wall of the bathroom and on shower floor.
The double sink vanity was floated off the floor allowing for maximum visibility of this artistic installation. It was made of rosewood and designed with three sections for drawers and storage. The three levels create a scalloping effect allowing each to be illuminated by LED lights which reflect elegantly in the onyx slab floor. Complimented by honey onyx top, and placed against a 42” high onyx wainscot, it is a functional and beautiful millwork.
A lot of engineering went to the design of this house. All unusual elements were custom designed for this particular client and fulfilled client’s wildest dreams. Not only that, this house is also very efficient. It features special filtration system and water harvesting capabilities which allow for recirculation of water. Variation of lighting types allows for various theme settings, and energy efficient LED lighting further enhance the beauty of this home with minimum energy consumption.
