Ocean Reef

When Armina Interiors and their client surveyed the fire and water damage after Irma destroyed their winter home in the Ocean Reef Club – they escaped the horrific ruins to take a refreshing bike ride along the shore. And the inspiration to transform a traditional Florida home into a refreshed, fun and open space for entertaining with family was born.

The original 5,000 square foot house was done in a traditional French Provincial and Tuscan style – and ultimately the small windows and closed off, dark rooms did not provide any space for entertaining with family and friends. Armina Interiors provided their client with completely new home plans – creating a space that was uniquely theirs with many of the furniture pieces custom made in the U.S.

“The family wanted to move in as quickly as possible, so time was the biggest challenge for this $2 million+ project,” states award-winning Interior Designer Armina Kasprowicz. “Overall, it was an amazing experience – trying to raise the pool and even designing the bedrooms to suit the personalities of the adult children for when they come to visit. It made me so happy that they loved the bright and sunny personalized spaces we created for them. They already were able to entertain with friends and open their home to family and that means everything,” concludes Kasprowicz.

A Living Kitchen Opens to the Outdoors
The kitchen and living room spaces were connected to the exterior so there was as much open space for family and friends to spend time together. The $225,000 kitchen is now inviting and has space for people to congregate with room for the overflow to go outside. The porcelain counter is Laminam and the floor is Unicomstarker. The faucet is Kohler, globe pendants from Tech Lighting and range from Wolf. The open white porcelain surfaces are grounded with wood décor cabinetry that was custom-made in the U.S. and accents of blue connect the home to its ocean vibe.

Exterior Transformed
The design team (which included Armina Interiors, Timothy James Slawson, architect and Keys Green Builders) raised the pool from a lower ground level to the first level so that family and friends could enjoy the infinity pool views. Sunbrella, Kravet, Hubberton Forge and Henry Hall were a few of the brands used in the exterior furnishes made to withstand Florida’s weather while providing a scenic and relaxing spot to entertain. “So many outdoor areas in Florida are screened in,” states Kasprowicz. “It feels so caged in – I wanted the spaces outside to be open and connected with the interiors. For a very traditional Florida neighborhood, this home is literally a breath of fresh air. It’s turquoise and yellow – still sunny and very Floridian, but it’s also a refreshed, fun look that celebrates U.S. craftsmanship,” concludes Kasprowicz.

Extensive changes to the front of the home were also made to transform the boxy French Provincial into a sophisticated entry with classic modern appeal.

Living Room – Custom-made in the U.S.
Vogue furniture – a high end furniture maker in Michigan provided custom pieces that were selected for their finish, tone, hardware and more. Everything was lovingly selected and local craftspeople in Florida were brought in for installation.

Tile as a solution
Since tile stands up to fire and water – it was a main design element installed everywhere from master bath to kitchen. Given the speed of the makeover which was started in January 2018 – five crews of tile installers worked around the clock to complete the home in time for the family to move back in December of 2018. The remaining interiors were finished in early 2019.