Kitchen Case Study: Old Florida, New Vision

One hundred years ago Addison Mizner brought Spanish style to Florida.  Incidentally, the state's written history begins with the arrival of Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon in 1513. Functionally, the tall open arches, windows and loggias typical to that architecture invite sea breezes within and were the perfect antidote to our hot steamy summers prior to air conditioning.

The range hood picks up rich wood tones of the new floor. Counter tops are quartz by Silestone. Photo by Shanna Morgaine

Mizner subtly adapted his designs to suit Florida and its warm climate. Although inspired by the art of Spain and Italy, his structures bear his own stamp and are a defining feature of what we think of today as Palm Beach style.

Addison Mizner’s design for the Cloister Inn, now the Boca Raton Resort & Club, relied on his signature Mediterranean Revival style.

Photo courtesy of the Boca Raton Historical Society

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Mediterranean Revival style lives on reminding us of Mizner and his contribution to the Palm Beach landscape.

Addison Mizner with his pet monkey, Johnnie Brown 

Courtesy of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County

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I was recently delighted to be a part of a kitchen remodel in one such home located in Boca Raton.  The homeowners were looking for an updated and functional kitchen for their family.  At the same time, they treasure and acknowledge the history of their hundred-year-old home.

Setting the Scene

See a new kitchen I designed in a hundred-year-old Addison Mizner home in Boca Raton. It's a bit of Florida history + updated style! For more about this interesting project visit my blog at ArtfulKitchens.net I would love to help you with your project too!

Design wise I saw my biggest challenge as taking the existing kitchen space plus a butler’s pantry area and making them into one decent sized unified kitchen full of function. At the same time, it had to feel fresh yet look like it belonged in the house.

Challenges of an Older Home

The previous main sink location before we combined the two rooms

Denali Construction Corp, with architect Adriana Finnvold, expertly addressed issues with the foundation which were discovered during demo.  They also were able to remove the wall separating the existing kitchen and butler’s pantry. Since we were removing a hallmark arch we added one on the entry to the dining room as well as one in the hallway.

Design Thoughts

The existing wood floor was in poor shape so it was replaced with a similar but darker wood with slightly wider, more updated planks. We picked up the rich finish with a matching range hood hood, traditional but clean lined.  Floating shelves in the same wood material tied it all together and added a modern touch.

Floating shelves add a touch of modern. Photo by Shanna Morgaine

Function & Flow

In order to really integrate the old butler’s pantry, I decided to locate the main sink and clean up work area there below an existing window looking out on a courtyard garden.

New main sink and clean-up work zone in former butler’s pantry area

The relocated main sink and clean-up zone with a new arch to the dining room. The apron style sink is the iconic IKON Silgranit sink by Blanco. Photo by Shanna Morgaine.

The old kitchen sink became a prep sink, closer to the refrigerator allowing the two separate functions of food prep and clean up to happen simultaneously.  Voilá we now had a two cook kitchen.

We also added some glass doors and took the cabinets up to the ceiling for maximum storage. A peninsula provides additional seating for the breakfast area. Bernier Cabinetry by Devine Design Kitchens & More brought this design to life with their careful planning and expert installation. I always say the best projects are great collaborations.

Some Final Words from a Happy Client

My client dishes on exactly what she loves about her new kitchen! Gloria@artfulkitchens.net 561-254-7736

See more photos of this kitchen here in my portfolio.

Architecture Inspired Furniture: Brasilia by Broyhill

I often tout the benefits of designing to the architecture of a building.  Integrating your interiors with your architecture makes for a look that is always right.  This is the best way to avoid a strictly trendy or out-of-place look.For example, if you have a MidCentury ranch style home, honor that and incorporate it with your furniture, cabinets and finishes.   If your choices go with the house they'll never go out of style. Look to the structure for cues.  If you have arched windows then complement them with a few arch details in the kitchen.One style that exemplifies this concept on a grand scale is Brasilia furniture by Broyhill. Contemporary architecture of Brasilia, the capital of Brazil circa 1956-1960, was the inspiration for this style of furniture.  The line was first introduced at the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle.  It is easy to see how the city influenced the furniture inspired by it.One place you can find Brasilia furniture today is at Retro Vegas on Main Street in Las Vegas Nevada. Owner Bill Johnson says, "The principal architect of Brasilia, Oscar Niemeyer, loved the parabolic arch and used it frequently.In addition, the aerial view of the city was designed to look like a plane or bird from which Broyhill used a bird symbol in some of the tiles and fabrics on their pieces. For more on the latest pieces and prices at Retro Vegas, please visit their website  www.retro-vegas.com 

Tile Tuesday: Parente to Parasol, Old Tradition-New Expression

Welcome to the second installment of the Tile Tuesday series! If you missed part one you can find it right here.  If there is one big takeaway from last week's post it is that there are two sides to Sevilla, the constant play between old and new.We were able to really dig in to both aspects on our Tile of Spain tour of Sevilla led by architect Gonzalo Cantos. As we explored not only tile but the culture from which it originates, we were constantly presented with old and new, separate but not entirely mutually exclusive.  What came before certainly influences the contemporary production. Later in the series we will take a look at modern state-of-the- art tile production in Spain but today I want to introduce you to a true old world style artisan, living and working in Sevilla.  Meet Isabel Parente.  We visited the studio where she creates her handmade tile and custom glazes.  By the way, did you know that most ceramic glazes used today come from Spain? Isabel is mostly self-taught but briefly attended art school in Sevilla, followed by an internship in Perugia, Italy.  She demonstrated a few different traditional methods including hand painting.  Her practice includes the creation of new commissions as well as restoration. It is interesting to note that with old world techniques (she doesn't even utilize a computer), Isabel is addressing the very current trend towards personalization.  You can't get much more custom than what she does! Just about a five minute walk from Isabel's studio you will find Encarnacion Square, the oldest part of Seville and home to one of its most controversial residents, Metropol Parasol.  I posted our visit to Parasol in real-time.  If you were one of those who wondered exactly what this was, today's your lucky day. Encarnacion Square was home to a neighborhood market starting in the 19th century up until the 1970s when the area began to languish.  Excavation to create a parking lot in the 1990s uncovered ancient Roman ruins below! It wasn't until 2004 that the city decided to develop the property. Architect Jurgen Mayer-Hermann was selected and his Metropol Parasol was completed in 2011 at approximately double the 50 million Euro budgeted for the project. Part of the expense was due to technical flaws in his design that had to be overcome.  This paired with the fact that its unexpected dramatic  presence rubs "traditionalists" the wrong way, is what makes the Parasol a continuing subject of controversy. Here's my another perspective.  Mayer-Hermann's inspiration came from the cathedral vaults of nearby Seville cathedral as well as from the large shade producing ficus trees of a neighboring park. In fact shade from the sweltering summer sun was one of his major objectives. In this way it does reference its location quite well.  The project is an excellent example of the modern Spanish architecture of undulating curves and waves.  Sevillanos refer to it as "Las Setas"(The Mushrooms).  Giant "waffles" are made of birch hardwood with a polyurethane finish. The excavation and restoration of the ruins below continue.  On level zero you will find an Antiquarium where you can walk among old Roman buildings. The Parasol above is wholly supported on 8 points so as not to disturb the ruins below. On level one there is, once again, a market. The upper levels house restaurants and a meandering walkway offering various views of the city below.I will say that because of the design of the structure, I felt safely embraced on these walkways, sort of nice if you have a fear of heights!So what's your take?  Ugly intrusion or a dramatic blending of old and new concepts exemplifying the new Spanish architecture?Before we leave Seville I want to share my pics with you.   In addition to what I have written about here, and in part one, photos include: Plaza de España, Alfonso XIII Hotel, Royal Alcazar of Seville and Seville Cathedral.  Now go grab some sangria, kick back and enjoy the sights.Next Tile Tuesday:  On to Valencia and what I learned about tile and trends I saw at Cevisama 2015 

Tile Tuesday: The Inspiration of Antiquity

Welcome Tile Tuesday! This is the first installment of a series inspired by my discoveries exploring Seville and Valencia, Spain with Tile of Spain. Not only did we attend Cevisama, the renowned trade fair showcasing the best of the Spanish tile industry, we also explored two cities, their history, culture and architecture with two very passionate local architects.Along the way I learned a lot about ceramic tile in general and that was one of my goals for this trip. Each Tuesday I will be sharing something interesting about tile and the cities we visited. Ceramic tile is the product of the culture in which it is made. Whether you’re talking 1300s or today, tile really is an artefact of the time in which it was produced.Even the examples we saw of cutting edge 21^st century Spanish tile manufacturers such as Peronda, Inalco, Aparici and more have their roots in a much older tradition. What better place to begin than at the beginning. Our adventure started in Seville with a visit to Centro Ceramica Triana, a ceramic museum which was once a tile factory. Several years ago the city of Sevilla wisely decided to preserve and showcase the old Santa Ana Ceramic Factory, which itself was built upon centuries old prior factories.Last year it was opened to the public. What intrigued me the most is that this museum is a structure consisting of layers. You can find antiquity dating back to  the 16^th century on the bottom followed my those of the following centuries above it. Architecture is honored. What has come before is respected and preserved. The new lives together with the old throughout Spain and this museum is a perfect example of that. Run by Enrique Rodgriguez Garcia, Santa Ana was still a productive factory up until the seventies. They survived up until that point selling all genres of ceramics including murals, shop signs, pottery, lettering, and religious items. Garcia passed away in 2005 but has left his artisan legacy to his descendants.The barrio of Triana sits on the banks of the River Guadalquivir. The ceramic industry, which dates back to Roman times,  grew here, in this neighborhood, due to the proximity of natural clay resources. In addition, it is interesting to note that most ceramic glazes come from Spain.    This film, by Direccion TVArq,  gives you a real feel for the space, outlining the blend between the modern museum and the antiquity revealed below. Note the original 16^th century kilns and if you are fortunate enough to speak Spanish you will hear about the history of the site and the process of creating the current museum.There are many ways to form and decorate clay to create ceramic tile.  Niculoso Francisco Pisano, born and trained in Italy, lived and worked in Triana in the early 1500s. He devised a way of mass producing tiles.  This is piece circa 1529 is one of the examples from his workshop.Ceramic tile is a creation of clay, earth, water, air and fire, a perfect balance of elements.  I felt a soulfulness about this place, a passion for artisanship that lingers.Next Tile Tuesday: A look at Metropol Parasol,  feat of engineering or folly?https://www.facebook.com/kitchensforliving

The New American Home, Inspired by the Possibilities

In some ways, although it was all fantastic, the Modenus Blog Tour saved the best for last.  On our final day we made a trip to Henderson, Nevada to visit The New American Home. This project was to showcase the latest technology in home building and featured flooring by Mohawk Flooring and Karastan, a division of Mohawk.  Believe it or not this is not a custom home but a production model in the Sky Terrace community.  The purpose is to showcase what can be done with different finishes and technologies for varying budgets so that it feels custom to the homeowner.  In my opinion, that's where creative design comes into play.  I love to be inspired by the finest and be able to translate that for a specific lifestyle and budget.  I know it can be done.  Notice how the neutral color palette reflects the desert landscape.It wasn't all eye candy and hors d'oeuvres, we also learned about Mowhawk and Karastan's SmartStrand made from 37% corn product.  This bio-based material is eco-friendly and stands up to stains!   The protection is there for life because it's built into the fibers.  SmartStrand can be found in both Mohawk and Karastan carpets. They have a fun and interactive website here.Thanks for following along on my adventures with Modenus Blog Tour Vegas.  For more coverage check out what all the bloggers had to say.  You can find them here. Stay tuned for recaps of my trip with Tile Of Spain to Cevisama.  It's all about tile, with maybe a little sangria in the mix ;).  I'll be on the road from Friday February 6-13.  Follow along on FaceBook, Instagram and Twitter!

Luxury Living, California Style

“All the leaves are gone and the sky is gray…” Yeah I thought you’d be in the mood for a little California dreaming right about now. My esteemed colleagues over at Brizo Faucets asked me to review one particularly awesome coffee table tome that will definitely warm up you design senses. It is California Luxury Living: A Private Tour by John Finton.

 Finton started his own construction company before graduating from college and he’s still building.  A vagabond by nature, Finton was inspired by travel and the great outdoors.  Today he’s added the influence of international travel to the mix and resides and works in sunny California.Check out this video for a little peek into what this luxury living is all about.This is some bold-in-your-face design and there is something in this book for everyone ranging from ultra sleek contemporary, featuring vast expanses of uninterrupted glass, to the ultimate in highly detailed Beaux Arts design,  think Versailles.  I did enjoy the balance between interior and exterior shots.  Mr. Finton is known for his sourcing and use of the highest quality materials photos ooze luxury at every turn of the page.John Finton is also a friend of Brizo Faucets.  In this video he chats with their creative guru Judd Lord to chat about what makes them tic in the creative sense.  Loving the part where Judd got faucet inspiration from those Asian style sticks in the waitress's long hair!As a designer in this world of Houzz, it’s nice to sometimes have a real book to peruse when in the market for inspiration.  This would be a good one for your design library.  It’s chock full of widely diverse styles of design, all 278 pages, totally worth $39.00.  I found it on Amazon.