Charismatic Retreat

Natural instinct is needed to see the potential of a dark space with little sunlight. This couple saw just that — “A diamond in the rough,” agrees interior designer Chrissy Howard and design associate Barbara Schwenk of Jinx McDonald Interior Designs.

Howard and Schwenk knew their two-woman design team had a third member when the client came to them with a clear vision of vibrant color, timeless furnishings, and hope, for a bright space with sweet feminine accents for this twenty-year-old property. “Having a client so well prepared with what she wanted elevated our team. Needless to say it was a delight,” says Howard.

Natural light now fills the great room, and the bright collection of colors and timeless details shines. “Using such vivid colors, we all wanted white walls for a balanced design,” says Howard. The apple green chairs in a solid tweed offer a solid color against the Palecek chair done in a citrine and periwinkle ikat fabric.

A large soffit running across the glass doors had cast a shadowy feel on the condo. It is now full of bright, tropical light that illuminates the playful amalgam of intricate ikat patterns and vivid fabrics. Softer interpretations of the lively color palette flow through the private spaces with gentle curves and soft powdery blues and pinks to add a feminine touch.

Matt Mendenhall, president of August General Contracting, shares, “The client, the design team, and myself all wanted to open up the space to allow more light in and offer better views of the Gulf of the Mexico.” Mendenhall transformed the choppy space by reengineering the air conditioning systems, reworking the fire sprinklers, all while contending with the constraints of a condo building.

Howard beautifully articulates the inspiration, “The cream and white pillow fabric, where birds and blooms flourish in aqua, apple green, and sapphire inspired us and gave us permission to use cream and white together.” Colorful expression harmonizes these living, dining, and kitchen areas. The white and aqua kitchen extends the view of this bountiful design and is now open to the great room. Gaby Saad of Real Wood Floors helped the homeowners, Howard, and Schwenk select the perfect finish for the French oak flooring to unify the spaces. “Gaby really understands her products and has excellent design aesthetic,” says Howard. “Ultimately, she narrowed down the options to the perfect floor for this project!”

Minka McDonald, of Jinx McDonald Interior Designs — daughter of founder Jinx McDonald, and now president of the firm — credits the success of this project and others to the firm’s strong, long-standing reputation in the industry, along with their client-centric approach to design. “We create beautiful yet livable spaces,” says McDonald. The firm’s philosophy is to ensure that each project accurately reflects the homeowners’ taste and brings out their personalities.

It takes a natural instinct to see the potential in a client’s strong vision for a space, and the team at Jinx McDonald Interior Designs, alongside August General Contracting, value inspiration and communication. Together they created this light and bright, charismatic, Gulf-front retreat.