A Miami Ranch Glow-Up From Outdated to Contemporary

Interior designer Kenzie Leon Perry created an airy, open-plan space highlighting artwork in this revamped Miami ranch.

By: Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Justin Helmick

Updating an Outdated Ranch Home

Specializing in spaces with a sense of culture, interior designer Kenzie Leon Perry was the perfect choice for a family looking to breathe new life into a Miami home that hadn’t been updated for more than a decade. The nearly 2,400 square foot ranch-style house had been expanded several times. The increased area includes a larger kitchen, laundry space, breakfast area and a small workspace.

Miami Interior Designer Kenzie Leon Perry

Miami-born artist and designer, Kenzie Leon Perry, is the creative mind behind Ze Haus Interior Design Studio. Raised in the midst of his mother’s interior design business, Kenzie augmented his early training with a bachelor’s degree in interior design and a number of years working as a senior designer for a major Caribbean resort chain. Now at the helm of his own brand, he’s looking to bring that same sense of luxury to the business and personal spaces of all his clients.

A Full Kitchen Gut Job

From the beginning, the kitchen was the focal point of the whole remodel project. “The existing kitchen was very traditional with extremely dark cabinets and marble countertops in addition to an odd-shaped island that swallowed up a lot of space,” Kenzie recalls. “We did a full gut renovation that elevated the design and made the home more modern.” The process began in July 2020 and would last until just before Thanksgiving of that year.

Designing a Kitchen With Plenty of Amenities

A modern kitchen update comes with a lot of new conveniences and amenities. “Along the way, we added upgrades like a built-in coffee maker, a double combination built-in oven, an additional cabinet, and a custom floating media unit.” But every inclusion wasn’t so simple. “The kitchen island was the most complicated part of the home to design,” Kenzie remembers. “Lining up the existing electrical points for the stove and retractable range was important. Several cavities had to be designed within the island to make sure everything functioned properly.”

Displaying Art In The Kitchen

One of the best parts of the finished kitchen is the space it made for a new eat-in breakfast area. Perfect as a kids' table for family gatherings or just as a place for grabbing a quick bite, it’s a quiet space apart from the rest of the room. Its best feature: a hidden moment of whimsy courtesy of a colorful wall mural cleverly overlaid with framed portions of the same image. It’s a surprising spark of color, putting a final accent on an inviting, relaxing space. “What I love most about the home is how the architectural elements, warm leather and wood furniture make the home feel warm and welcoming,” Kenzie says.

A Cozy Neutral Living Room

In the living room, warm, natural wood tones dominate the space giving it the relaxed feel of a tropical resort. “The warm leather and wood furniture act in contrast to the linear kitchen and media unit design,” says Kenzie.

Find Ways to Include Artwork in Every Room

A hidden gem in the living room are these three illustrations of dancers. Located on the media unit in the living room. These small woodblock sketches add a feminine touch that makes the room even more inviting. “The furniture in the space is a combination of mostly new pieces and family heirlooms,” says Kenzie.

Embracing Tiled Floors

“Initially, the couple only wanted to update the kitchen millwork and layout,” Kenzie explains. “However, after the kitchen design presentation, they were convinced to change the floors throughout with a large format tile.” The tile fits perfectly into the aesthetic of the space, which Kenzie describes as “midcentury modern with an Asian flair.” Straddling between a modern and vintage look, the tiles are warmed up with rugs in the living room.

An Open Plan Dining Room

Bridging the gap between the living room and kitchen, the dining room is simple and intimate, taking full advantage of the generous amount of natural light that pours in through the patio door. The dining set itself is one of the space’s nods to modernity, contrasting with the heirloom art pieces and more vintage finds in the living room.The rich woods tones connect the furnishings, regardless of era, and the feature wall for a seamlessly coherent look.

Statement Lighting in the Dining Room

The dining room is also home to one of the designer’s favorite features: “I love the dining room pendant lights,” he says. The ultra-modern ring-light crowns the vignette, made it all the more special by the fact that it was custom made and sourced from Kuzco Lighting. “Most of the other new pieces were sourced from West Elm.”

Asian Art Creates an Impactful Design Moment

These bodhisattva statues stand out as one of the home’s most impactful vignettes. “The praying buddha statues are my favorite thing in the room,” Kenzie confesses. The beautifully crafted pieces are inherited pieces purchased abroad that give the home its unique flavor.

Art in the Home Can Celebrate Culture, Family and Travels

Artworks like this elaborately carved sculpture are placed throughout the space. “The design honors the family’s culture,” says Kenzie.

A Miami Ranch Glow-Up From Outdated to Contemporary

Related To:

Shop This Look

Updating an Outdated Ranch Home

Miami Interior Designer Kenzie Leon Perry

A Full Kitchen Gut Job

Designing a Kitchen With Plenty of Amenities

Displaying Art In The Kitchen

A Cozy Neutral Living Room

Find Ways to Include Artwork in Every Room

Embracing Tiled Floors

An Open Plan Dining Room

Statement Lighting in the Dining Room

Asian Art Creates an Impactful Design Moment

Art in the Home Can Celebrate Culture, Family and Travels

A Whole House Makeover: Ugliest House Ever Gets Transformed 15 Photos

Tour a North Carolina Ranch Filled With Global, Contemporary Design 12 Photos

Spacious Modern Ranch With Towering Barn Beams and Western Art 13 Photos

Oklahoma Ranch House With Historic Style 27 Photos

Dallas Ranch House With Big-City Artistry 32 Photos

Contemporary Curb Appeal With Clean Lines and Trailing Vines 11 Photos

Related Pages