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Houzz Tour: Refined, Contemporary Florida Apartment
Gallery walls, a Zen-like bath and a palette reflecting sand and sea create a serene part-time home for a young family
After having a child and upgrading to a larger apartment, interior designer Arnold Schulman's clients needed his help with another new addition in their lives: a collection of fine art in their part-time home on Fisher Island, Florida, once a one-family island home to the Vanderbilts.
Schulman's clients wanted to create a seamless and collected look while resisting a Smithsonian-like feel. "This is a home that needed to reflect my clients' discerning taste," Schulman says, "without taking away from their warmth and personality."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Part-time home for a family of 3
Location: Fisher Island, Florida
Size: 3,800 square feet
That's interesting: The apartment is located on an exclusive island accessible only by boat.
Schulman's clients wanted to create a seamless and collected look while resisting a Smithsonian-like feel. "This is a home that needed to reflect my clients' discerning taste," Schulman says, "without taking away from their warmth and personality."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Part-time home for a family of 3
Location: Fisher Island, Florida
Size: 3,800 square feet
That's interesting: The apartment is located on an exclusive island accessible only by boat.
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| In its previous incarnation, the apartment had a dated design with large beamed ceilings that made the space feel smaller. Schulman removed the beamed ceilings and replaced them with 3-inch drop ceilings, allowing the use of low-profile recessed lighting that emphasized a clean, open space. The transition from the dining area to the patio is made seamless with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that let light in and provide a view of the surrounding palm trees and other vegetation. Dining room table, light fixture: DCOTA; sculpture: Corbin Bronze |
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| Schulman, an art gallery owner, felt tremendous joy in helping his clients select a few art pieces to complement their collection. "Art is a personal addition to any space," he says. "There are several key locations throughout the house where the art becomes especially important. The main hallway is really a prime location." Schulman created a gallery-like feel in the apartment, devoting wall niches and surfaces to manipulated photographs by Richard Bluestein. Here, the mirror reflects one of Bluestein's "Lifeguard" photographs in reverse; the walls' artwork pays homage to Fisher Island's coastal setting. |
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| The stylish entry is anchored by Jurgen Selleck's oil on canvas "Connections 1 and 2," with two separate components. The subjects' bent arms soften what could have been a stiff and staid tablescape and a static wall space. The entry sets the tone for the rest of the house and lets visitors know that artwork and exquisite pieces abound in the home. Schulman encourages his clients to mix media: oils, prints, photography and sculptural art. "Consistency is achieved in the home's art display when the collection reflects the design period of the space," he stresses. In this case the design is contemporary with touches of art deco. |
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| Schulman avoided framed art pieces in the main living area near the sliding balcony doors. "The glass creates a glare and makes it hard to appreciate the piece within the frame," he says. Instead he helped the couple display their sculptures on floating shelves. The neutral palette of creams and wood tones complements the deeper ocean hues, a refined resistance to the splashy Miami Beach lifestyle. Chiseled limestone walls and Crema Marfil marble floors represent sand. |
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| The evocative lighting, decor symmetry, sleek and shiny curves of the table legs, and wood accents of the club chairs hint at the room's art deco influence, but the oversize his-and-hers artwork roots the interior design in contemporary style. Schulman's clients love the leather club chairs fronting their bed; they're among "the most comfortable recliners in the world," he says. Chandelier: Boyd Lighting; club chairs: De Sede |
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| Much to the clients' delight, Schulman combined what used to be separate his-and-hers bathrooms that felt dated to create one luxurious space. He used chiseled limestone, honed French limestone floors and walls, and pecan wood accents to create a spalike environment. A tubside still-life photograph by Che Sandoval encourages meditative thoughts. Toilet and bidet: Duravit; tub: Le Bain; area rugs: Kyle Bunting |
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| A backlit onyx counter base reflecting the colors of the sand and shoreline heightens the contemporary look without overwhelming the bar, where the homeowners can unwind and entertain. Pendant lights: Xian, Estiluz |
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One of Schulman's favorite areas of the home is this stunning powder room, with a backsplash swathed in precious mother-of-pearl wall tiles. Elegant framed art deco–inspired artwork hangs on the wall adjacent to the mirror. "If you think a piece can be appreciated in the powder room, then go for it," says Schulman. "There are certainly optimal placement areas in the home for art, but there is no right or wrong place to display art that you simply love."
More: 10 Jewel-Box Powder Rooms
Mirror: DCOTA; sconce: Brand Van Egmond; wall tiles: Maya Romonoff; art: Jurgen Selleck, Ambiance Gallery; wallpaper: Phillip Jefferies; sink: glass, Vitraform
More: 10 Jewel-Box Powder Rooms
Mirror: DCOTA; sconce: Brand Van Egmond; wall tiles: Maya Romonoff; art: Jurgen Selleck, Ambiance Gallery; wallpaper: Phillip Jefferies; sink: glass, Vitraform
Comments
Judy Althought this home is not my personal style there were many elements I found really interesting and appealing. I thought it was modern without being cold. Thanks for showing it.
12 months ago · Like
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mgb222 Stunning. I would like to live here.
12 months ago · Like
mblues18 Love those lifeguard stand photographs!
12 months ago · Like
seaview223 Absolutely stunning!!
12 months ago · Like
pauloroberto Excelente trabajo una buena composicion cromatica aunque parezca monocromatico.
12 months ago · Like
Cathy Lara mblues18, I really like the lifeguard stand art as well. I have to find out more info on Jurgen Selleck... there's hardly anything on him but out of all the art in the house, I really enjoyed his.
12 months ago · Like
· 1
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patscats2 Modern is not my style, but this apartment is gorgeous. I love all the artwork. It rocks.
12 months ago · Like
morgana44 Loved it!
12 months ago · Like
j0dy Love it!
12 months ago · Like
Glentruan Furniture Ltd. Very nice dwelling, but it needs this TV cabinet 
11 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on May 15, 2012.
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