Let’s take a little trip down to the Florida Keys. A chain of islands trickling south of Florida’s mainland, the Florida Keys are famous for their fishing and vacationing. The first island off the peninsula is Key Largo, which translates into the largest key of all 1,700 islands that make up the Keys. On this island sits a house that was built in the 1950s, but was refurbished with 1980s armaments and alterations. Kevin Gray saw a lot of potential with this house and took the helm in installing tranquility in Tavernier Key by gutting and stripping this entire home and transforming it into something both classic, yet fitting for the Keys life.
Mr. Gray’s re-imagination of this house on Tavernier Key, which is on the tail end of Key Largo, was to restore it to its former glory. He sought to restore the school of mid-century modern style and splendor. For all the rooms in the house, the flooring was replaced with sandstone porcelain. The living room was filled with beige or soft color furnishings to capture that Florida Keys vibe – almost as if you’re in a royal sandcastle. The living room also opens up to a beautiful backyard with ocean views. If you haven’t noticed already, the furniture is positioned towards the outside so all who are in the house can admire these lovely views.
The kitchen was designed in lacquer and light wood and was opened up to flow into the dining room. The eye continues on to the enclosed front porch that ends with magnificent ocean views. It’s perfect for hosting guests during the day or for hosting the most intimate of dinners during the night. The glass finish underneath the cabinetry go with the ocean views you can view from the kitchen.
Even for the bathrooms and bedrooms, Mr. Gray wasted no expense or talent. These two rooms were opened with the use of large windows and finished with light blue and green glass stacked brick tile. The color and style of the stacked brick tile create an underwater experience that truly is indicative of the Florida Keys. Everything in this house compliments one another, from color to placement to design.
The stairway in this home was also completely renovated. The stairway was stripped of all tile and wooden colonial handrails to expose the structure. Its handrails were replaced with custom steel and teak to flow from not just the stairway, but also to the exterior terraces. Once upstairs, there is a cozy yet stylish TV room that is filled with mid-century and art deco furniture. With the club chairs, you might think that an episode of Mad Men was filmed here. On the terrace, the handrail is replicated from the stairway to create a sense of congruency and beauty, perhaps comparable to the ocean that lies in front of you. A most ambitious project, Kevin Gray once again succeeds in bringing out the full potential of any home. Don’t forget to enjoy the view.
