Vero Beach Magazine "A Designer's Own Renovation" featuring Page 2 Design

INTERIOR DESIGNER PAGE FRANZEL CREATES A TEST LAB FOR HER BUSINESS

A DESIGNER’S OWN RENOVATION

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By removing the long yellow wall that separated the living and dining room, Page Franzel waved her magic design wand and created an open, updated, welcoming space.

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Interior Designer BECOMES HER OWN Client

AN

IN HER COMPLETE HOME RENOVATION, DESIGNER PAGE FRANZEL HAD A CHANCE TO CUSTOMIZE TO HER EXACT TASTES WHILE ALSO CREATING A TEST LAB FOR HER BUSINESS WRITTEN BY ANN TAYLOR • “AFTER” PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG HILLS

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age Franzel always wondered what it would be like to have a home in the private waterfront community where several of her clients lived.

There was a natural charm that appealed. “Every time I was there I would see so many beautiful birds, and the fact that it’s an Audubon community really intrigued me,” Franzel enthuses. “I remember having a feeling of being in a very peaceful place.” That feeling, plus the desire to downsize and be closer to her Page2 Design office on Royal Palm Point, prompted Franzel to contact Kimberly Thorpe of Treasure Coast Sotheby’s Realty, put the house she had lived in for years on the market, and begin looking for a new one.

“This whole adventure started because I needed to make a change. It’s something I never would have considered when Jerry was still alive,” says Franzel, whose husband of 25 years was her business partner and chief encourager. “He would have wanted me to move forward.”

And she has, into a two-bedroom house she redesigned and made her own. It didn’t take long before Franzel saw herself in the role of a client, one with expensive tastes, but on a limited budget.

“I would walk from room to room saying this is what I would like to have here and over there. I love designing kitchens — that’s why I had so much passion about doing mine. I’d always wanted to have a quartz countertop with a waterfall on the sides, but I also did the front, something I had never done for a client before. I found they’re not only beautiful, but the front of the island never has to be ‘repainted.’ It’s perfect and indestructible,” Franzel says with obvious delight.

The open kitchen was her starting point, as the house became a laboratory of sorts where she tested new ideas, products and materials for quality and sustainability. She chose well as the end result is worthy of applause.

Yet her description of the “before” makes one wonder what in the world prompted her to choose this place to, as she says, “step out of my box.” The house was 20-plus years old and even though there had been one or two mi-

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English cocker spaniels Ali and Ziggy cuddle on the sofa next to Franzel, who takes her own advice and selects indoor-outdoor fabrics that stand up to paw prints and sticky fingers.

nor updates, it definitely showed its age. Too many walls made for closed-in rooms; the tile floors were dated as were the original bathrooms; and lighting options were minimal.

No matter. The minute Franzel walked in the front door, she knew it was exactly what she had been looking for. “I remember Kim asking me, ‘Are you sure?’ The walls in all the main living areas were bright yellow, the ones in the master bedroom bright blue. I knew I could change

The large free-form metal chandelier above the dining room table commands attention, as does Franzel’s signature starburst mirror.

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The dining room looks entirely different from what it did the first time Franzel saw it.

Once bright yellow walls are now a soft gray; outdated tile floors have been replaced with engineered hardwood floors; and draperies and plantation shutters make the perfect finishing touch.

things like that,” says Franzel, ticking off items that made their

a family heirloom or is it just ‘stuff,’ stuff I could do without,

way onto her must-tackle-project list.

stuff I should donate? I found that getting rid of things that

However, the first order of business was selling her

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don’t really mean anything is very cleansing, very freeing.”

2,900-square-foot house. Since she would be moving into one

The next order of business was contacting Joe Foglia, her

with 1,800 square feet, it was time to get serious about down-

contractor of choice for a quick turnaround. Over the years they

sizing. Not an easy task, as Franzel found herself surrounded

had worked together several times, with success. This was an

by clutter, and as she admits, “over 2,000 photographs and lots

opportunity to do it again.

and lots of tchotchkes. I always tell people that less is more, so

“The first thing Joe asked me was what was the plan. At

I had to practice what I was preaching. I had to ask myself is it

that point I didn’t have either a plan or a budget. As I started

Franzel removed the wall with a fireplace and arched entrance that separated the living room from the kitchen and dining room in order to create an open, fresh and appealing space. She designed the fireplace and contemporary surround as well as the floor-to-ceiling custom cabinetry with shelving that provides a showcase for her special treasures.

seeing what I could do, I thought wow! I could bring clients here

spaces to allow for additional light. Six-foot-eight-inch doors

to show them things I knew worked, like the engineered hard-

needed to be heightened to 8 feet. The plan Foglia had asked for

wood floors with oil finish. I wanted to see if my two dogs left

was taking shape.

claw marks, or if there were any watermarks. The floor has been

Keeping an eye on her self-imposed budget, Franzel was re-

down for nine months and it still looks brand new,” says Franzel

luctant to replace recently updated kitchen cabinets, going so far

who purchased the property two days before Christmas 2015.

as to price out what it would cost to paint the wood. The amount

By the first of February she had begun designing, putting

didn’t justify keeping them there. Instead some, sporting a gray

ideas that had been swimming around in her head down on pa-

finish, found a home in the laundry room and garage, providing

per. Walls were either to be removed or bumped out, redefining

additional storage, as sleek custom cabinets took their place.

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The five-piece crown molding houses linear air conditioning vents that run throughout the main living areas.

“Unless you look at the before pictures, it’s hard to understand all of the challenges there were. It was a lot of work, but I’m thrilled with the way everything turned out,” says Franzel, whose home became a test lab where she tried new products.

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“I told myself this is how I would use my kitchen, and this is

that opened within the framed side panels. She decided to try

what I would love to have if I was a client. The most important

the Liebherr and couldn’t be happier. Her decision to choose five-

thing I wanted was a separate icemaker that makes clear ice. I now

piece crown molding housing the new linear air conditioning that

have my very own and it was worth the investment,” she says.

runs through the main living areas also made her smile.

“I only needed one large sink, an arched contemporary faucet

While she usually goes with all-white cabinets, this time

and a water filter, so that’s what I have,” says Franzel, who added

around Franzel decided to stretch beyond her comfort zone and

to her list of wants and needs a higher end refrigerator with doors

see what a soft gray would look like. Perfect. “I chose Pale Oak

For her kitchen, Franzel chose something she had always wanted — quartz counter tops with a waterfall on sides and front. Not only are they beautiful, they’re indestructible.

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The master bedroom features soft and serene shades of gray and pale blue. Here, too, Franzel tested new products, selecting a carpet with a viscose blend. “When you walk on it barefoot, it almost feels like silk,” she enthuses. Flowing draperies frame the views that attracted her to the Audubon community.

by Benjamin Moore, which is a more transitional and peaceful

faith and opened Page 2 Design. Looking back, she says, “I really

color with just enough warmth in it. I really like the effect. It’s

started from scratch, which was very scary. I renovated a place

become our signature color and I can bring clients to my home

that used to be an art gallery, painted the floor and kept things

so they can see what it looks like. Before, I never felt comfortable

as simple as possible.

showing clients my home, but now I do.”

it was just Jerry and me. Then I got one client, followed by an-

makes sure everything she selects meets her exacting standards.

other. Everything that happened was by word of mouth. It got to

Since the mid-’80s while living in Hawaii designing for corporate

the point where I had to bring in an assistant to do paperwork,

and hospitality clients, it wasn’t long before Franzel expanded

purchase orders, and it went from there to finding a designer.”

her portfolio to include high-end residential projects.

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“There I was in this beautiful new office with no employees;

Franzel not only thrives on creating beautiful spaces, she

Today Franzel not only has a staff of seven, she has a show-

It’s been 12 years since Franzel arrived in Vero Beach via

room next door where she herself often “shops” when looking

Atlanta and Delray Beach. In 2009 she decided to take a leap of

for a particular item. That’s what happened when it came time to

When it came time to update the guest bedroom and bath, Franzel made minor structural changes while creating a welcoming space. Custom furnishings and accessories spell “welcome” in any language.

furnish the open dining area. Yet subtle enhancements needed to

overall plan. “I wanted to learn more about how smart homes

be made to a few of the pieces she chose. The buffet, formerly a

really work to our advantage, so I tested a system I’ve never used

driftwood color, is now white; the pair of once gold sconces on

before,” she notes. “I can control all the lights from my iPhone.

either side of her signature starburst mirror are now silver.

The house didn’t have any recessed lighting, so I put them ev-

Yet it’s the metal chandelier above the glass top dining ta-

erywhere, making sure they were in zones so they all didn’t have

ble that commands attention. “It makes a statement,” Franzel

to be on at the same time. If I hear a noise in the middle of the

says. “I wanted something that was free form, not rigid. When

night, I can turn on a lighted pathway from my bedside table.”

you walk in, your eyes want to follow it. I tell clients that while

When it came time to make changes to the master bath,

chandeliers can be expensive, they’re focal points and well worth

Franzel the client knew exactly what she wanted: floating rift

the cost.”

oak cabinets, a large marble shower, enclosed toilet/bidet com-

As Franzel made significant design improvements through-

bination and above all, a Jacuzzi tub. Fitting the latter into a

out her new house she included a Smart System as part of her

very tight space was more than a challenge since every piece of

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Updating the master bathroom turned out to be a major challenge. In order to accommodate the Jacuzzi tub — a top priority — the original plumbing needed to be replaced. The expense was not in the budget. Fortunately, Franzel’s other priorities, which included floating rift oak cabinets, a large marble shower, and enclosed toilet/bidet, were.

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plumbing had to be moved, and the cost wasn’t in the budget. In

perfect example. “When you walk on it barefoot, it almost feels

order to get back on track, instead of using all Kohler products,

like silk because it has viscose in it. I wanted to see how it held

she selected Altmans Plumbing fixtures in polished chrome,

up, and I couldn’t be more pleased.”

finding them easier to keep clean. She also tested the upper end

One constant is Franzel’s use of indoor-outdoor fabrics. “I al-

line DXY by American Standard for the sink and the sleek look

ways go with durable fabrics because of kids and dogs,” says the

was just what she was aiming for.

owner of two English spaniels who have occasionally been sighted

Franzel was having more hits than misses when it came to testing new products. The carpet in her master bedroom is a

curled up on the living room sofa in front of the fireplace.

“Unless you look at the before pictures, it’s hard to understand

Contractor: Joe Foglia, Foglia Custom Homes Audio: Greg Roux, Vero Home Audio Countertops (kitchen and bath): Macata Stone & Tile Design all the challenges there were. It was a lot of work, but I’m thrilled with the way everything turned out,” says a smiling Franzel. “I hadn’t entertained for three years. This past Christmas I was excited to invite people in, to show them what I created.

“I knew I’d be happy here. Every day I look around and see so many birds, even an occasional otter. When I walk in my front door and soft music begins to play, I know this is my serenity,

Custom cabinetry (living room, hallway, guest bath): Phillip Warren Custom Cabinetry Custom cabinetry (office, master bath): Chris Harrington, Premier Millwork & Cabinets Plumbing fixtures: The Plumbing Studio & More, Stuart Kitchen vendor: Sadun Suranofsky LLC Appliances: Jetson

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my peaceful place.” `

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