master bedroom
I have had the pleasure of knowing my dear friend, Christopher Kent, since I was six years old. Christopher is an incredible person and an equally outstanding interior decorator. He has amazing natural talent and a wonderful eye for timelessly chic style.
Last year, I wrote about his NYC apartment on this blog that he styled and designed. This time around, I was lucky enough to cover his family home in Naples that he recently decorated and photographed this spring.
I hope you enjoy his work as much as I do. I adore the clean modern feel and his bold use of color within this space. It’s eclectic, beachy, light, airy, and certainly not overdone.
His use of an all-white palette with deliberate bursts of aquas and blues is positively brilliant. I can’t wait to cover he and his sister’s (Lauren Kent) newly redone Chicago condominiums this fall! So, enjoy this interview with Christopher and find out more information about his company: C. Alexander Design!
FROM CHRISTOPHER KENT of C. ALEXANDER DESIGN:
Where did you begin with this project?
When my parents purchased this condo, built in the early 1980s, the architecture lent itself to contemporary design. Even though we knew it needed a gut renovation, we pictured an open floorplan, reminiscent of a NYC loft.
the master bath
And, when it comes to the inspiration?
Open loft spaces of NYC. After building/renovating 15 plus houses over the years, my parents knew they wanted something a little different. They had never had a contemporary, all white residence.
Because they wanted mostly white, I knew that it would need to be grounded so it wouldn’t feel too institutional. Thus, we added rich woods of teak and oak and pops of colors reflected from the ocean.
the living room
master living room
This couch!! What was your inspiration?
The couch in the master sitting area acts as a second guest room when the curtains are pulled separating the bedroom from the sitting area.
First and foremost, the couch had to be comfortable enough to use as a bed, as well as, colorful enough to hide a multitude of sins when the grandkids come to visit.
the family room
The flooring?
To create a seamless transition from room to room, flooring throughout is all the same- white glass tile.
Where did you source your materials?
A lot of time was spent in Miami’s Design District. Poliform and B & B Italia were our two main sources for furniture.
Do you have a favorite room?
My favorite room in the house is the kitchen. Blue Louise is the most gorgeous stone I have ever seen. The colors throughout are the perfect combination of the turquoise waters of the Caribbean mixed with the cobalt waters of the Mediterranean.
I had seen a slab of Blue Louise (Brazil) in a showroom in Phoenix while I was designing my condo. We were told it is a very hard stone to source. It took us a couple months to find the right blend of blue, green, and rust, but eventually found it in Dallas and had it shipped to Naples.
kitchen
kitchen: how incredible is this stone?? Blue Louise
And, how about the kitchen? The cabinets?
The kitchen is Varenna by Poliform. We chose a mixture of white lacquer and oak. Didn’t want the kitchen to feel too sterile so the oak almost gives a feel of driftwood washed up on the beach.
The artwork is breathtaking. Where did you find it?
Artwork was commissioned from an artist in South America. He had spent years in the Mediterranean and several of the paintings are scenes from where he once lived.
the dining room
What was the most challenging aspect of the design process?
Most challenging aspect of the design was getting the floor level. The flooring itself took one man 8 months to complete.
Where did you source the gorgeous rugs throughout the space?
All rugs throughout the condo are antique Chinese silk. The colors are brilliant blues, turquoise, and greens. They give an elegant feel to the space.
the powder room
the guest room
the guest bath
the guest closet
The fabrics…. where???
All of the fabrics throughout: pillows, cushions, couch were purchased through Designers Guild in London.
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And, that’s a wrap - Naples anyone??
Interested in contacting Christopher about C. Alexander Design for a consultation and information on his services for decorating and designing your next abode? Email him here.
