A Dramatic Gut Renovation in South Florida Yields a Lovely, Tranquil Home

South Florida interior designer Nicole White Quinn of Nicole White Designs really likes a challenge. Leaving a successful journalism career to pursue her dream of interior design, the Jamaican-born designer has carved out a reputation as one-to-watch in the field. So when a pair of clients approached with a home in need of a top down redesign starting with a gut level renovation, they had come to the right place.

“We are known for dramatic transformations,” Nicole says of her firm. And in the case of this South Florida renovation, that skill set was undeniably helpful. “Our clients needed a full gut job including raising the sunken floor of the living room, installing all new vinyl floors and removing walls to expand the kitchen.” One of the simpler requests was a new look for the foyer, which employs a mix of neutral tones and natural textures to create a soothing entrance to the home.

Nicole’s clients, a lawyer and a dentist, had been in the home for 10 years. With more than 2,500 square feet to work with, they knew that their house had potential. But it needed the right eye to find it. “My aesthetic is very contemporary,” Nicole explains, “with loads of bold moments.” One of the bright spots of this living room is a built-in wine cabinet, perfect for the clients' lifestyles. “They love wine, so converting that unused hallway closet just made sense,” the designer recalls.

For the years that Nicole’s clients had been in the home, the living room had always been something of a pain point. “They'd given up on how to make sense of the space and never even bought furniture for the living room,” Nicole remembers. Nicole added depth and dynamism by filling the space with layers of color, pattern and most of all, comfort.