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

Designer Nicole White Quinn reimagines a couple's staid Florida space by bringing in her signature neutral tones, tons of texture and an Insta-worthy laundry room.

By: Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason

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Photo By: Noelle Theard

Photo By: Gloribell LeBron

Photo By: Nicole White Quinn

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Photo By: Katherine Gregorio

Photo By: Gloribell LeBron

Photo By: Katherine Gregorio

No Job Too Big

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.

Starting Out on the Right Foot

“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.

A Space for Everything

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.

Bringing Life to the Living Room

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.

Shaping Space

Every homeowner shapes a home to fit certain needs. Those choices can leave a designer with a lot to undo when a home has to be redesigned. For this project, Nicole found that the previous owners had made some very specific choices, “including installing a three-sink vanity for triplets and faux stone walls in the foyer and family room.” Removing the walls in the foyer opened up the living room significantly, allowing for the inclusion of larger pieces, like this striking console and the large, green juju hat above.

The Hard Part

Every design project has its bumps, sometimes where we least expect them. “Shockingly,” Nicole reflects, “the hardest space to design was the kitchen, because that expansion needed us to take a part of the living room.” But the construction side wasn’t the only challenge. Getting the room’s best feature in place — the dramatic, wraparound backsplash — also took some doing. “The clients agonized for days leaning towards something softer/more demure. In the end they agreed we needed to go big and it's one of the most commented-on features of their home whenever someone visits.”

Raising the Roof

The kitchen was easily one of the most extensive remodel jobs of this entire project. What surprised Nicole was how creative they would have to be to make it all work. “That was nerve-racking for sure,” she recalls. “We worried for weeks because we had the sunken floors and weren’t sure how best to raise them without compromising the height of the existing French doors. In fact we had to raise the headers for the doors to get the clearance we needed once the floors were raised.” Well worth the trouble, the result of all that work and worry is a seamless floor in a beautiful kitchen.

The Lonely Laundry Room

Prior to the redesign, Nicole describes her client’s laundry room as a “sad and lonely” space, with no real personality. Knowing that no room wants to feel unloved, the designer took it upon herself to give this functional space a vibrant new life. “We knew right away that if we could add a statement wallpaper and a mudroom for loads of storage and function it would be a winner,” she says.

Mudroom Miracle

All that TLC paid off. A new color palette topped off with a stunning, patterned wallpaper quickly turned this room into a genuine visual treat. A massive upgrade in storage also made it far more functional. But the key to getting the room the affection it deserved was adding stylish seating and a mirror combo. The room is now a favorite for both the clients and the designer. “It gets the most use and it has become a selfie station!” she exclaims.

A Well-Earned Rest

Renovations this extensive aren’t easy on anyone, least of all the homeowners. “The clients moved out of the house for a few months so we could tackle it all at once,” Nicole recalls. When they made it back to their new home, one of the first things they were looking for was a good rest. This bedroom was exactly what they needed. A simple, modern design with a classic black-and-white palette provides for instant relaxation. Small touches like the metallic table accessories and pink throw blanket add the perfect finishing touches.

Cabana Bathroom

In addition to its four bedrooms, this house contains three bathrooms. One of the smaller ones, this space was given a light, energetic color palette, for a cabana-style feel that fits in well with the rest of the home. “What stands out at us with this project is how cohesive the home now feels,” Nicole says.

Bringing It All Together

The master bathroom is a beautiful extension of the bedroom’s aesthetic. The mirrors, floor tiles and even the sink fixtures give the space a vaguely Moroccan feel. “I love seeing how much our clients now love being at home,” Nicole muses. “It truly reflects their love of travel, wine, comfort and entertaining. They finally have a home that truly reflects their personalities.”

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

Related To:

Shop This Look

No Job Too Big

Starting Out on the Right Foot

A Space for Everything

Bringing Life to the Living Room

Shaping Space

The Hard Part

Raising the Roof

The Lonely Laundry Room

Mudroom Miracle

A Well-Earned Rest

Cabana Bathroom

Bringing It All Together

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