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August 16, 2019

By Carrie Whitney

For snowbirds from Michigan, a vacation home in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., offered respite from cold Midwestern winters. The seasonal homeowners wanted a comfortable space that could serve as a gathering place for their adult children and grandchildren and knew their 2001 Mediterranean-style house needed some updates. However, when they consulted designer Krista Watterworth Alterman, creative director of KRISTA + HOME, on replacing their kitchen cabinetry, they realized accomplishing the welcoming space they desired would require a renovation of the entire home, including the kitchen, master bathroom and powder room.

“I told them in order to achieve what they wanted, we really needed to do a full-scale renovation,” said the designer. “I am so happy they agreed to do the whole thing.”

Trading a heavy Tuscan theme for one that is open and airy served as the overarching design strategy.

“We wanted to give these spaces a fresh, modern look,” said Alterman. “The home was quite dated and dark when we started. Creating an open, light, bright and inviting vibe was key.”

One major change was installing wood-look French oak porcelain tile throughout the home, and the cooler palette continued from there.

Opening Up the Kitchen
The original kitchen featured Tuscan-style details, an awkward floor plan and mustard walls. Alterman completely gutted it and took down a wall that divided the kitchen from the living and dining rooms to fully open up the area, making it more suited to entertaining. The new kitchen was designed as the central hub and is now open and accommodating for the clients’ large family during holidays.

The homeowners did get the new cabinets they had initially requested, and Alterman chose three variants of gray for the finish. The bold, pewter island adds drama, and champagne hardware is mixed with brushed nickel on the faucets and pot filler.

“I think that kitchens that are one single hue can look stark,” said the designer. “It creates visual interest and breaks up the space to use some variety with the palette.”

Another point of interest is the shiplap hood, which Alterman incorporated to create a cozy vibe. Shiplap makes a second appearance in the custom bar and entertaining station located between the formal living room, kitchen and family room.

Creating a Tropical Oasis in the Master Bath
With a huge central tub, the former master bathroom featured heavy cabinetry, stuffy wallpaper and odd drywall details. Although the layout did not change other than a reorientation of the tub, everything else did. Alterman replaced the dated whirlpool tub with a freestanding white unit, which serves as a focal point of the space and benefits from customized, hidden grab bars.

“I wanted to create a sensual vibe in the space, as the shower is exposed with floor-to-ceiling views of the lush, tropical foliage on the property,” said the designer, who chose a sultry charcoal finish for the cabinetry, which provides a striking contrast to the porcelain oak flooring. “In the master bath, this flooring really adds a cozy and sensual element. [It’s] much more inviting than the cold tile in the ‘before’ photo.”

Floating vanities with marble countertops provide the illusion of even more space and extend the light and airy impression. From its dark, ornate beginnings, the bathroom has become a spa-like oasis with an upscale boutique hotel feel where the couple can relax on vacation, according to the designer.

While the clients’ seasonal schedules kept them away during some of the renovation, the designer easily stayed in touch with phone calls, emails and even Facetime to show real-time progress. In fact, the couple’s travels worked well for the project because big, messy work could be handled while they were away.

Source List

Designer: Krista Watterworth Alterman, ASID, IIDA, IDS, KRISTA + HOME
Photographer: Jessica Glynn

Kitchen
Backsplash: American Tile Depot
Cabinet Hardware: Top Knobs
Cabinetry: Omega
Counter Stools: Lazar
Countertop: Calcutta Natura
Cooktop, Dishwasher & Refrigerator: GE Monogram
Flooring: Tesoro
Lighting: Visual Comfort
Microwave & Oven: Bertazzoni
Paint: Benjamin Moore
Range Hood: Monsoon

Master Bathroom
Accessories: Delta
Cabinet Hardware: Top Knobs
Cabinetry: Rachel Eve Cabinets
Flooring: Tesoro
Mirrors: Restoration Hardware
Paint: Benjamin Moore
Sconces: Visual Comfort
Shower Tile: Bella Casa
Stools: Target

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