Fashionable Lobby Facelifts

The overall look and feel of a condominium lobby is one of the most important considerations when developing a design concept. An impressive lobby serves to offer up the first impression of the condominium, the owners and their guests. Realizing this fact, the owners of several landmark condominiums recently hired Agostino’s Design Group and presented them with the challenging assignment of updating their buildings’ entry lobbies and social areas.

When three venerable buildings, The Biltmore and The Remington, both in Bay Colony, and the Lausanne on Gulfshore Boulevard, needed lobby facelifts, Agostino’s Design Group appointed Michelle Marburger, Licensed Interior Designer, ASID, to the task.

Working with Kit Mathews on the Remington and Biltmore and forging ahead single-handedly on the Lausanne, Marburger took up the gauntlet and transformed these entry spaces into gracious reflections of not only the building, but of the owner’s lifestyles.

The lobby at The Biltmore in Bay Colony had not had an update in ten years. As it stood, the lobby presented a tired face to the world; the colors had faded over time and the furnishings were outdated.

According to Marburger, “When you first walked into the lobby, there was a lot of wonderful wood detail, but it had been painted in an overall light color tone that was rather nondescript. We enhanced all of the existing detail by giving it a wood grain and then painted the walls in a creamy faux finish. We carried through the dark wood grain finish on all of the existing wood, including the chair rails, arches, columns, the coffered ceilings and the picture frames. This change made the space really pop with interest.”

In addition, Marburger combined the two existing seating areas into a single area which is much more intimate and conducive to conversation. She then installed a grand, bronze metal chandelier in the middle of the space and replaced the heavy drapes that were blocking the views of the swimming pool and the Gulf beyond.

“We replaced the outdated curtains with elegant side panels in persimmon and a creamy sheer material, trimmed with gold tassel fringe, which ties into to the overall color scheme,” Marburger says. “The artwork was changed to fit in with the more traditional and elegant look of the new lobby.”

At The Remington in Bay Colony, Agostino’s Design Group transformed both the Social and Pub Rooms, whose decor had not been changed in twelve years, by bringing in a more traditional and slightly transitional fee. The Pub Room was initially used as a card room, and still is, and Marburger wrought changes by developing a more masculine feel using darker woods in both the furniture and card tables, adding chairs covered in a warm and supple brown leather, and setting these amidst a palette of beige, blues and gold.

The front of the existing bar, made from burl wood and mahogany, was given rich faux wood grain detail and topped by creama marfil granite. Darker wood tones were used as accent and a new carpet in light beige was installed to off set the entire room. Two stunning buffets were installed with mirrors above and the room was crowned by artwork with a more pub-like flavor. Updated draperies were hung at the windows, including chenille side panels with a soft valence top treatment in a masculine print fabric.

In the Social Room, the seating area, consisting of a sofa, four oversized, tufted back chairs and cocktail table, was reconfigured so that the main focus of the room became the new plasma television, which was installed on the wall above the grand buffet. When not in use, the television screen is hidden by a picture that gives the appearance of framed picture. Beneath the television, Marburger placed a 4 hand-carved European credenza in a dark walnut finish, which completes the area.

The entire space was done in soft blues and an elegant light aqua. The couch is covered in a tone on tone beige chenille, while the chairs were done in beige and light aqua damask. Round tables and chairs covered in a light aqua diamond pattern serve residents’ needs while providing a welcoming touch to the overall design. When Marburger first saw the lobbies at The Lausanne on Gulfshore Boulevard, she was confronted with another outdated design that needed a boost.

“Before, the redesign,” Marburger says, “The security desk was located to the right when you entered. On the left was a single, large seating area and angular sofas and too much furniture. The feeling of the space was rather cold and not welcoming whatsoever.”

The first thing Marburger did in order to add warmth to the space was to remove the existing discolored acoustical ceiling tiles and replace them with new, pattern tiles. She also dry walled a portion of the ceiling along the main walkway and added two coffered ceiling with a decorative torn paper treatment. Crown moulding and baseboards were installed and finished in a warm mahogany tone.

Once the new bones were in place, Marburger placed an elegant entry table beneath a stunning new chandelier. The large, impersonal seating area was rearranged into two distinct areas and the tailored sofas were covered in light gold woven fabric, while the cross back chairs received fabric in an elegant tropical motif.

Finally, the security desk was redone in mahogany in an updated “L” shape and is perfectly set off by the hanging triptic sculpture above, featuring blue palm fronds that have been sculpted from bronze.

Michelle Marburger, ASID
239 430-9108
Agostino's
24971 South Tamiami Trail North
Bonita Springs, Florida 34134
239 992-3300

www.Agostinosdesigngroup.com
Written by Helena Wellsley
Photography courtesy of Randall Perry