Product: Authentic Limestone for Exterior Living Spaces. Ancient Surfaces Contacts: (212) 461-0245 Email: Sales@ancientsurfaces.com Website: www.AncientSurfaces.com The design of external living spaces is known as the 'Al Fresco' design style as it is called in Italian. 'Al Fresco' translates into 'the open' or 'the cool/fresh exterior'. Customizing a fully functional outdoor kitchen, pizza oven, BBQ, fireplace or Jacuzzi pool spa all out of old reclaimed Mediterranean stone pieces is no easy task and shouldn’t be created out of the lowest common denominator of building materials such as concrete, Indian slates or Turkish travertine. The one thing you can bet the farmhouse on is that when the entire process unravels and when your outdoor living space materializes from the architects rendering to real life, you will be guaranteed a true Mediterranean living experience if your choice of construction material was as authentic and possible to the Southern Mediterranean regions. We believe that the coziness of your surroundings brought about by the creative usage of our antique stone elements will only amplify that authenticity. whether you are enjoying a relaxing time soaking the sun inside one of our Jacuzzi spa stone fountains or sharing unforgettable memories with family and friends while baking your own pizzas in one of our outdoor BBQ pizza ovens, our stone designs will always evoke in most a feeling of euphoria and exultation that one only gets while being on vacation is some exotic European island surrounded with the pristine beauty of indigenous nature and ancient architecture...

THE SETUP Client Background: Our clients, a couple who have transitioned into the empty nest phase, have cherished their home for over three decades without undergoing any significant renovations. With a newfound desire to adapt their living space to better suit their current lifestyle, they’ve embarked on a journey to reimagine their kitchen — the heart of their home. Their aspiration is to cultivate a serene, neutral-toned sanctuary on the first floor that seamlessly merges with their family room, ensuring a harmonious and inviting environment. Design Inspiration: The renovation is inspired by the couple’s penchant for soft, calming neutrals, using their cherished family room and the kitchen’s existing tile flooring as the cornerstone for the color scheme. This approach aims to foster a sense of warmth and tranquility throughout. Design Objectives: Harmonize the kitchen with the family room by adopting a soothing, neutral color scheme, ensuring a seamless flow across the first floor. Enhance kitchen functionality with thoughtfully designed cabinetry, providing a designated place for every item and maximizing storage efficiency. Cultivate an inviting and comfortable atmosphere that reflects the homeowners’ desire for a calm and relaxing space. Design Challenges: The homeowners wish to retain the existing kitchen tile flooring and integrate it into a refreshed, modern design. Accommodating a dining area spacious enough for family visits without compromising the kitchen’s open feel or functional layout. Despite liking the current placement of plumbing and appliances, the homeowners aspire for a more open floor plan to facilitate better movement and interaction. The need to amplify natural light in the kitchen, especially around the sink area, where existing lighting is insufficient. Preserving the half-wall between the kitchen and family room, a feature the homeowners want to keep, while ensuring it complements the new design. THE RENEWED SPACE Design Solutions: By choosing a neutral color palette that complements the existing tile, the design unifies the kitchen with the adjacent spaces. The tile’s grout was cleaned and restored, enhancing the floor’s appearance and integrating it seamlessly with the new kitchen aesthetic. The inclusion of a larger island with seating for two, alongside maintaining a substantial dining table, was achieved by optimizing the spatial layout. This allowed for a sociable yet functional kitchen, accommodating large family gatherings without feeling crowded. Minor adjustments to the kitchen’s layout maintained the preferred locations for plumbing and appliances while introducing an ‘open’ design concept. Strategic modifications, such as angling the pantry wall, improved the flow and accessibility within the space. Replacing the garden window with a broader, standard window significantly increased natural light, transforming the sink area into a bright, welcoming space with enhanced views of the outdoors. The decision to keep the half-wall was ingeniously leveraged to define the dining area while maintaining an open connection to the family room. This feature not only serves as a visual separator but also ties the two spaces together through the shared color scheme and design elements. The homeowners are thrilled with their newly remodeled kitchen, which has become a hub of warmth and hospitality. Hosting a wedding shower and a birthday party, they have shared their renewed space with friends and family, who have been equally enamored. This remodel has not only met their functional and aesthetic desires but has also enriched their home with a fresh sense of serenity and joy. The upstairs part of the home is shaping up nicely. Here’s their newly remodeled primary bathroom.

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Interior Designers Firm in Miami Florida, PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL NEWCOMB, PALM BEACH GARDENS. This one-of-a-kind 2,400 SF condo unit is located in Allison Island. The 2-story first floor unit has a direct view of the bay with floor-to-ceiling windows that blend the exterior with the interior. The large terrace allowed for a beautiful landscape design with citrus trees and lush plants, including artificial grass and natural stone floors. With the 40” x 40” white glass tile throughout, the living area in the unit was amplified. The kitchen counters were dressed with Calacatta Marble and stainless steel appliances for an impeccable clean look. The custom doors were done incorporating exotic cherry wood with etched glass details, adding a warm detail to the space. J Design Group. 225 Malaga Ave. Coral Gables, Fl 33134 305.444.4611 https://www.JDesignGroup.com Miami South Miami, Interior designers, Interior design decorators, Interior design decorator, Home interior designers, Home interior designer, Interior design companies, Interior decorators, Interior decorator, Decorators, Decorator, Miami Decorators, Miami Decorator, Decorators Miami, Decorator Miami, Interior Design Firm, Interior Design Firms, Interior Designer Firm, Interior Designer Firms, Interior design, Interior designs, Home decorators, Interior decorating Miami, Best Interior Designers,

The project is a single-family home designed to amplify the awareness of nature through the manipulation of key viewpoints. Photo credit: Ben Hill
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The kitchen was redesigned as a central gathering space that supports the open floor plan and captures views beyond. Clean lines modern cabinetry and integrated appliances create a streamlined aesthetic while maintaining everyday functionality. Large openings connect the kitchen to adjacent living areas and the outdoors, allowing light and views to flow through the space. The result is a refined yet highly functional kitchen designed for both daily living and entertaining.

This exquisite Spanish one-story house sets the tone for what's ahead from the minute you lay eyes on it. The meticulous level of detail starts with the front yard hardscape and landscape, and continues through the hand-carved door to reveal a well-curated showcase of collected valuables.

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The project is a single-family home designed to amplify the awareness of nature through the manipulation of key viewpoints. Photo credit: Ben Hill
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"We have enjoyed a rewarding collaboration with Jay Jeffers Design for many years. Here are a few shots of custom work from one of their fabulous projects on which we worked with Kelly Hola. Please check out Jay's new book "Collected Cool" published by Rizzoli.

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