This Florida home was built in 1938 and had undergone a handful of additions over the years. When it came time to update the kitchen and laundry room, the owners reached out to designer Nicole Roe. They had a wish list, but Nicole ultimately pulled inspiration from the property itself. “The home has a lake in the front yard, a lake in the backyard and a canal in the side yard that connects the two lakes,” she says. “Even with being surrounded by water, the home is nestled back in a nicely wooded lot and private from the road. The landscaping is lush and visible from every window.” The end result is a bold, colorful space that clearly represents the lush landscape you’d only see in Florida. 

Nicole’s clients are creative entrepreneurs, and had done a lovely job updating the upstairs, bedrooms, and additional living spaces. “But when it came to their kitchen, laundry, dining and family room, they knew they wanted it done at a level that represented what the home deserved,” she explains. At the initial consultation, there were nearly a dozen adults living in the home: grandparents, the owners, their four grown children and partners, and a few dogs. “That number fluctuates now based on the season, but we knew it had to be a hardworking space,” the designer says. “They needed dedicated areas for cocktail making, food prep, and plenty of seating. The main appliances had to work hard, the small appliances had to be accessible but hidden, and there needed to be plenty of room for food.”

After a few dozen drawings, they landed on the perfect cabinet layout and color palette—largely inspired by the exterior and the family’s love of plants. “We chose brass design elements from Rejuvenation, rich greens (Isle of Pine by Sherwin-Williams), a black leathered countertop, and the look of original wood floors and beams,” Nicole shares. “We matched the original floors from throughout the house as the base, while A Ward Designs worked with us on the custom cabinet designs and fabrication including the metal grates in the upper cabinets. The countertops were originally meant to be soapstone, but we pivoted to a leathered quartzite, and the backsplash is Fireclay Tile.”

With the project well underway, they opted to add the laundry room to Nicole’s scope of work. “The client threw out the idea of a shade of pink for the cabinets and we all dove into wallpaper ideas,” she recalls. They chose a Milton and King paper, Smokey Salmon by Sherwin-Williams for the paint, and added black hardware to complement the lighter tones. 

Though there were a few surprises throughout the renovation, including delays and temporary fixes, patience was key for both designer and homeowner and resulted in a successful renovation and a beautiful home.  “Scott Taylor of Taylor Building Elements had to troubleshoot and pivot on the daily while we had to keep the house operational for the family to live through. We were blessed with extremely talented trades and vendors that did a wonderful job,” Nicole shares.