Designer Showcase

After renovating a showstopping ‘historic modern’ craftsman home in the heart of Venice, California, the teams at Abramson Architects, Joan Behnke & Associates and M.E. Development have reunited for a neighboring project in the famous Venice Walk Streets. Coining the term “Scandifornian Modern,” the firms designed the home to be a hybrid of multiple styles – pulling in Scandinavian simplicity, Californian casual, and sleek modernity. The home is not only identified by its Scandinavian minimalism and relaxed Californian vibe, but also by its nod to Japanese design through color mixing, natural materials and contemporary silhouettes. In addition to its charming style, the home’s proximity to the beach and open layout – with a stunning kitchen at its center – creates an enviable environment ideal for a convivial coastal lifestyle. Interior designer Joan Behnke called it “an entertainment home, with the ability to open all the doors and enjoy the pool as well as all the various outdoor spaces from the front yard to the roof terrace.” The group’s first renovation, a 1907 craftsman bungalow, was required by local ordinances to keep the historic architecture intact. This time around, the team “had more flexibility in terms of design, which allowed for greater creativity.” Because the Scandifornian Modern was a new build with fewer restraints, the design team “kept the aesthetic cleaner and more modern so that it could appeal to a broader, current audience,” Joan said. That clean and modern aesthetic is best exemplified in the luxe kitchen, where dark, rich cabinetry meets bright countertops, geometric brass lighting and gourmet appliances. Complete with a Waterstone Modern PLP faucet suite, Contemporary Potfiller and Contemporary Cabinet Hardware, the kitchen was designed with timelessness and pro-level functionality in mind. “The Waterstone fixtures are sleek and aesthetically mix very well with the style of the house. We loved the contemporary look without the harsh corners or lines, [which] will not look dated over the years,” Joan said. “The kitchen is also very functional, whether it’s for a family’s daily use or for a chef to create a special evening, the means and methods of operations is very hands-on.” Beyond its state-of-the-art fixtures, the kitchen also flows into the dining and living spaces, with views of both the front garden and private deck. The kitchen’s sliding doors open out to a private pool and jacuzzi, which are nestled on the side of the house. The wood deck, lounge furniture and television make the space feel like a cozy room that happens to be outdoors. There’s even a sliding pass-through window that gives quick access to the kitchen sink and faucet suite, so guests can easily grab a glass of filtered water from the Waterstone filtration faucet or pass along food and drinks from inside. Learn more about the Modern Venice Homes here: Modern Venice Homes

Designer Natalie Erickson from architecture and interiors firm Deep River Partners recently completed two renovation projects in Milwaukee: one a sleek and modern waterfront pied-à-terre, and the other a traditional Gothic Revival. The former, Harbor Front Renovation, is an industrial condo located in Milwaukee’s historic Third Ward, the city’s trendy, revitalized warehouse district, while the Gilded Age Restoration was an 1890s home refresh meant to bring modern functionality while honoring its history. Natalie joined us to discuss her experience designing these kitchens with distinct design (and faucet) needs What did each home look like before the renovations? Harbor Front Renovation: the interiors of this existing condominium were a bit tired, which did not reflect its trendy urban neighborhood. There were shiny maple floors and cherry cabinets that dated the space, and the open concept lacked definition between the kitchen, dining and family room. The existing ceiling was maintained as an element we wanted to play up. Through changing the finishes of the interiors, the wood ceiling became more cohesive with the space and an integral part to reflect the desired industrial design. Gilded Age Restoration: the renovation of this historic home touched all four levels and was inspired by gorgeous artisan details in the original woodwork, leaded glass, and finishes. The kitchen area was original to the house as was the floorplan, which was compartmentalized into an undersized kitchen, pantry, and butler’s pantry. The space was quite dated and lacked the features and functionality of a modern working kitchen. What were the goals in designing each project? Were there specific requests from the homeowners? Harbor Front Renovation: As their pied-à-terre, the homeowners wanted to walk into their renovated condominium and feel they were arriving at a high-end hotel. The design solution balanced the urban setting with the desired modern industrial theme comprised of a refined palette of black, white, and rift cut oak, with metal and concrete industrial accents. The new kitchen design brought better function and balance with the introduction of a strong centerline maintained by the range and sink as focal points. The black cabinets add a modern edge while white oak cabinets provide relief, and white quartz countertops marry the design elements together. Gilded Age Restoration: The homeowners wanted to update their residence to include modern conveniences while honoring the home’s historic character. They requested a larger kitchen with a casual dining space. The design solution combined the original kitchen, pantry and butler’s pantry to deliver a modern open design for the new semi-professional kitchen and built-in banquette for casual dining. The new floorplan improved connections to the entertainment areas of the home and increased lighting to brighten the space. The home welcomed a modern refresh with a transitional aesthetic, while staying true to the integrity of the home’s historic elements. What are the new outstanding features in each kitchen? Harbor Front Renovation: One of the greatest challenges was illuminating the kitchen without penetrating the existing wood ceiling or obstructing the views through the expansive windows. A rectangular LED fixture frames the island from above to define the kitchen and provides the main source of light, with both indirect ambient up lighting, and overall down lighting for cooking. Lighting underneath the upper cabinets and island counter emphasize the strong horizontal lines. The black cabinet selection provides contrast with the accent of white oak cabinetry at the upper cabinets, which really showcases the veining in the quartz countertops. Gilded Age Restoration: Playing on the original woodwork, leaded glass and finishes were inspirations for the more striking details in this refreshed design. Molding profiles and dark floors were continued into the kitchen for contrast with the new light cabinetry and countertops. Lighting elements in the leaded glass upper cabinets and ceiling further brighten the space. For a historic feel, the ceiling was enhanced with coffers and a faux finished wall covering to create the look of pressed tin. Cove lighting highlighted the new detail. A custom hood crafted with rivet details give a historic nod and provides a dramatic visual to the space. Which PLP faucets and finishes were chosen and how do they contribute to each kitchens’ design? Harbor Front Renovation: With the main selections in the kitchen being black, white, or white oak, we decided on the Modern PLP in Chrome to add some jewelry and shine to reflect in the kitchen and provide relief to the design scheme. We chose the faucet design for its clean lines and beautifully simple aesthetic. Gilded Age Restoration: We wanted a traditional faucet that looked like it could have always been with the home. The Antique Brass finish on the Traditional PLP from Waterstone is so beautiful and has just the right level of patina for an authentic look. How do you choose – or recommend your clients to choose – a kitchen faucet? When recommending a kitchen faucet, we typically start by looking for a pull-down faucet for function, especially at a main kitchen sink. To complete this workstation, we prefer a collection with a wide range of accessories and finish selections. The reason we love to source with Waterstone is because of the details in the air switch, filtered water faucets, and soap dispensers. The kitchen sink is a high use area, and these small details really add up to create a beautiful kitchen aesthetic that a client typically experiences multiple times a day. Can you walk us through the process of restoring a historic home like the Gilded Age Restoration? What are the challenges, specifically in a kitchen space? A preservation has more considerations for the exterior of historic structures. With this interior renovation, creating modern updates within the storied walls of this century old home did present its challenges. Our design team focused to honor the original moldings, millwork profiles and detailing of this historic home. The darkly lit home needed brightening, and the existing boxy floorplan was a design for another era. Opening these spaces to reconnect the heart of the home with the

Los Angeles based interior designer Joan Behnke has been known to adorn the interiors of celebrities and luxury clients, claiming recognition in the interior design industry since she founded her company Joan Behnke & Associates in 1998. One of her most recent projects involved a 1907 Japanese Craftsman-style bungalow in Venice Beach, CA, which was uprooted and relocated to an adjacent lot for a two-story addition. Waterstone Faucets was one of the brands that rounded out a modern renovation on a historic location. Joan and her firm work in tandem with the architects, Ambramson Architects, and developer of the home, M.E Development, who all three together make the team at Modern Venice Homes. They are currently working on three properties: this bungalow (the “Historic Modern”), a family home (the “Scandifornian Modern”), and a farmhouse-style home (the “Farmhouse Modern”). All of these are located in Venice Beach, upholding the integrity of the neighborhood’s character while offering a new take on their classic beach feels. “The Venice walk streets have a personality of their own,” said Joan. “This particular house was a Craftsman style house that was governed by the historic review. The original façade was complemented with a contemporary addition. Our aesthetic was in marrying the two, so we designed the interiors with modernized and updated traditional details.” The kitchen design in this house carries a contemporary feel with natural light that augments the home’s classic features. An open layout promotes the sharing of conversation and the relaxed living, all while housing many premier fixtures and appliances. “The kitchen has an ease of lifestyle, cooking and dining all while sharing conversation,” she said. Joan’s decision to use Waterstone Faucets stemmed from her appreciation for the importance of faucets, as they are something you touch and use every day. “You want something reliable and made with great quality,” she emphasizes. The Endeavor Wheel Pulldown faucet is right at home in the gourmet kitchen, surrounded by state-of-the-art appliances and even an indoor herbal garden, the “perfect detail for the Southern California healthy lifestyle,” as Joan called it.