“Unlike working with a client, I didn’t have existing furniture to work with; I didn’t have any criteria,” says Hilario regarding the interior design. “But my goal was to ensure the home appealed to the masses. So we developed a storyline, if you will, that a family of four were moving into the home and they loved to entertain.”
With that in mind, Hilario focused on the most-used spaces: the kitchen and living and dining rooms, all of which seamlessly flowed together. “We wanted each space to have its own distinct features,” explains the designer. In the living room, a tall fireplace surround with custom fluted millwork lacquered in black was the focal point. In the dining room, contemporary artwork allows the view off the back of the home to play center stage.
The kitchen, though, was the star of the shared spaces. A stunning custom plaster hood in black is complemented by an elegant partial waterfall marble countertop and custom white-oak millwork and cabinetry stained a warm honey-beige. “We also loved the double volume above the kitchen that the architects designed,” says Hilario. “Traditionally, we see a lower ceiling and dropped pendants above a kitchen island. But this featured a bonus room above, so we opted to forgo island lighting. It keeps the home feeling connected and open.”
To soften the architecture, Hilario opted to add an archway into the butler’s pantry allowing for sight lines from the kitchen as well as the opportunity for a change in material finish.
The coupling of the modern black architectural details and finishes with the warmer white-oak millwork and varying textures in the soft goods of the home made it comfortable and functional for a family while also feeling elegant and sophisticated. “We really wanted the space to feel warm and inviting,” says Hilario. “And I think we achieved that.”
Open Window
Designer Kadie Hilario offers these three tips on making an open floor plan feel warm and inviting.
Cohesion. “While it’s important that each space features its own distinct personality, it’s equally important that certain design elements are repeated for cohesion,” she says. “Elements found in each room of this open floor plan were pulled from one palette, whether it be the hardscape finishes or furniture and decor, and incorporated into the others.”
Warmer Tones and Layered Textures. “We opted for a warmer palette in this home and used light oak, warm whites, sandy beiges, and accents of brass and rusty reds, which allowed for the space to feel warm and inviting,” says Hilario. The layering of many different textures created an interior that allowed visitors to feel welcomed.”
Vertical Space. “The open concept featured near thirteen-foot ceilings, so it was easy for one to feel engulfed in the space,” she says. “We combatted these feelings by working with the vertical space—bringing the draperies, cabinetries, and fireplace cladding up to the ceiling.”
