A John’s Island seaside condominium constructed in the 1980s is rebuilt to reflect modern trends.
THE JEWEL BOX
BY ANN TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON NUTTLE
I
magine having to raze and rebuild an outdated 2,400-square-foot John’s Island condominium in less than six months. No small feat, but Harry Gandy Howle Architects P.A., Croom Construction Company and Spectrum Interior Design have tackled similar projects together and were more than up to the task. Preparation was key. By May 15, the date demolition was scheduled to begin, architectural plans had been approved, permits were in hand, and construction materials stood ready and waiting. Following the private community’s building regulations, all noisy construction activity had to be completed by the first of November. It was. The tale of a condominium built 30 years ago undergoing a total transformation that would meet the owners’ expectations while adhering to stricter building codes and using modern construction systems tells of both challenge and opportunity. Hurricane impact glass; rolling, projectile-proof, hurricane shutters and energy-efficient products all came into play.
VERO BEACH MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2014
114
Architect Harry Howle reorganized an obsolete 1980s condominium floor plan, creating an open space with windows offering multiple views of the Atlantic Ocean. The layered moldings and bulkheads define spaces as well as conceal electrical lines and AC ductwork.
VERO BEACH MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2014
115
But back to the beginning. The possibility of purchasing a beachside condo first came to the owners’ minds five years ago when they were invited to visit longtime friends who reside there. The timing couldn’t have been better. It was January, their New England home was blanketed by snow, temperatures flirted with zero and the wind-chill factor was brutal. After savoring a slice of life on our sunny shores, they returned the following winter and the one after that, renting and stretching their stays until deciding it was time to purchase a place of their own. As luck would have it, they found just what they were looking for – a second floor, two-bedroom end unit in a building that, because it was slightly slanted away from the ocean, featured water views up and down the beach. Large enough for their seasonal needs, yet compact and easy to maintain, it suited perfectly – for the short term. Having seen how others had renovated their units, the owners came to the conclusion that nothing short of a gut-and-rebuild approach would achieve their objectives: to shrink an oversized, outdated kitchen and reposition it to integrate more closely with the dining and living areas and free up space to add a third bedroom and full bath. Luckily, they met a couple who had recently completed a major rebuild. Hearing about the positive experience they had working with Howle, Croom and Spectrum, the owners knew they had found their answer. For Harry Howle, who refers to the condominium as “The Jewel Box,” it was the type of project he relishes. “The challenge was to reorganize an obsolete floor plan into a new configuration that addresses today’s market and brings new life and functionality. That’s the fun of being in a relatively confined space,” he says, referring to before-and-after drawings. To achieve the owners’ objectives, Howle eliminated a wall that ran the length of a long hallway, creating an open floor plan that celebrates the views. “Now when you enter the condominium, you can look through and out a six-by-six-foot window and see the ocean. It’s a wow effect,” Howle explains. “The sensation is as if you are on a large ship with a panoramic view.” To further reinforce this nautical effect, spaces were opened so that your eye would be drawn along the windows to multiple views of the ocean.
VERO BEACH MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2014
116
The kitchen island boasts a seamless quartz countertop that Croom Construction Company had brought in by crane through the lanai sliders. The LED lighting reflects off the countertop and highlights the green glass in the kitchen cabinets.
VERO BEACH MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2014
117
VERO BEACH MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2014
118
“The owners wanted an aesthetic that was casual and ‘beachy,’” Howle continues. “The differential of textures, the use of wood-grain materials in the flooring, ceilings and doors creates this sensation. In the kitchen the pearlescent, oyster-shell-tile back splash is a reminder of this, and the satin-nickel fixtures are in keeping with the nautical theme.” Howle began the design process two years ago. In the end the owners selected what he notes, was “one solution out of half a dozen Project Manager James Stein and I presented to them.” That solution included built-in custom cabinets, drawers and shelves that eliminated the need for bulky furniture and added to the sense of overall spaciousness. In the meantime, the Croom Construction Company team was ready and waiting for what Vice President David Lyons calls the green light. “It’s an evolutionary process, and most people don’t realize how much preparation has to be done. Materials need to be selected, there’s a budgeting process to go through – the pre-construction process took as long as the construction did.” Lyons, who manages the firm’s pre-construction activities, dealing directly with owners, architects and engineers, gives high praise to the team that made it all come together: Aaron Benson, the renovations division manager, contracts subcontractors; Mike Campbell, the field superintendent, is at the building site daily; and Marilyn Kolar, project coordinator, oversees materials selection using today’s technology to expedite the process. Lyons says, “I give a lot of credit to the owners who were excellent at planning and successful at staying ahead of us. They were there every step of the way. Because of that, we effectively had everything ready to go 45 days before the start date.” Bright and early on the morning of May 15, Campbell and his crew arrived to begin the demolition process, intent on taking the unit down to the bare bones. By the time they were finished, the condo resembled a maze with studs where walls would be, and wires, cables and pipes running everywhere. “We recycle as much as we can to places like Habitat for Humanity. Our priority is to go to nonprofits who can find a use for things like plumbing fixtures, sinks, and tubs,” says Campbell. Lyons notes that one of the biggest challenges was moving the plumbing and AC ductwork through a concrete wall. “We had to figure out how to cut through the concrete without damaging the integrity of a three-story building. It wasn’t easy, but we did it.” More cutting was necessary to raise door heights from seven to eight feet and to make room for elevated, coffered ceilings. Layered
In keeping with the nautical, beachy aesthetic, the painting over the custom built-in bar features a harbor scene.
moldings and bulkheads not only define spaces such as the kitchen, dining and living areas but also conceal electrical lines and AC ductwork. “Today’s building codes call for LED lighting instead of incandescent, which was used when the building was constructed,” says Lyons as he turns on kitchen ceiling lights and those in glass-front cabinets where glassware in shades of the sea gleams. So, too, does the custom-island quartz countertop. “Look closely and you’ll see there is no seam. It’s so large that we had to bring it by crane through the lanai sliders,” says Campbell. “The owners picked it out while they were living here during the winter, and it helped set the beachy tone. If you look closely, the ripples in the stone resemble waves.” By shrinking and repositioning the kitchen, Howle was able to free up space for a new guest bedroom and full bath, a section of which can be closed off for use
A clean blue and white palette and spectacular ocean views add to the casual elegance of the condominium. The rebuild included the elevated coffered ceilings highlighted by wood-grain materials.
VERO BEACH MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2014
119
Spectrum’s design touches included the kitchen’s pearlescent oyster-shell-tile backsplash and the satin-nickel fixtures, in keeping with the nautical theme.
VERO BEACH MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2014
120
as a powder room when desired. Other enhancements included reconfiguring a second guest bedroom and bath to accommodate a laundry room and pantry, and opening the master suite by interrupting what the architect refers to as “an over abundance of hallways and circulation in the unit’s original layout.” An energy-efficient Green Zone heating and air conditioning system was installed, enabling the owners to customize the temperature in different zones or areas throughout the condo. “We used smart thermostats that allow the owners to control the temperature from anywhere in the world,” Benson explains. “We also installed a FloLogic system that automatically shuts off the water if an abnormal flow is detected anywhere in the condo. There’s also a ‘home’ and ‘away’ mode, so all the owners have to do when they return here is hit ‘home’ and the water’s back on.” Added to the list of technical bells and whistles is Sonos, a system of hi-fi wireless speakers and audio components that unite a digital music collection in an app that can be controlled from any smart device.
Spectrum’s design touches can be seen in the kitchen’s oyster-shell tile backsplash, and the mosaic-tile floor in the master bath and dressing room. The wave-like pattern, defined by pieces of marble, is the same color as the marble countertops, which were raised to accommodate the owners’ height thanks to Project Manager Natalie Holtom. When all work was finished, the stage was set, ready for the owners to personalize with furnishing and accessories. Selecting a white and blue color palette, they complemented the nautical theme with matching, shellbase table lamps. A painting over the custom built-in bar in the dining room features a harbor scene, and a large framed mirror on a kitchen wall reflects a shimmering ocean image. “After the project was completed, the owners were so excited that they had a cocktail party to show off their new place,” says Howle. “It was just as they envisioned it would be. I can’t help but think that when they come to stay, they feel as if they are in a large stateroom anchored along the shore of a remote island.” ❀