Seattle-based MWWorks Design Studio undertook a down-to-the-slab renovation of this 6,000-plus-square-foot beachfront Ocean Drive Apartment for a family of six. They combined two smaller units into a five-bedroom whole, whose impeccable finishes and well-crafted design give the vacation getaway the quality of a luxurious permanent residence. The modern interior architecture along with the furnishings aim to keep the focus on the ever-changing water views through floor-to-ceiling windows.
The extensive built-ins and walls are clad in dark tropical hardwood, with floors of the large-format concrete slab in the main gathering spaces. HVAC and other services are entirely hidden, door jambs are timeless, most lighting is recessed and even power switches are integrated into the walls, all to reduce visual clutter and keep the focus on the spectacular scenery on the other side of the glass.
The pale, sandy tones of the furnishings and rugs in the living areas achieve the same purpose: to provide a serene human-made backdrop for the wonders of nature. In the kitchen, subtle texture rules and visual noise is reduced to almost nothing, leaving clean, elemental volumes intended to defer attention to the landscape. As a whole, the outstanding level of the design and finishes belie this residence’s humble goal: to defer to nature’s daily spectacle.