Thanks to Kitchen Trends Magazine for a great article. Our first international publication!

Post-modern kitchen from Kitchen Trends

Sleek, streamlined and uncluttered – this remodeled kitchen is everything the former Mediterranean-style kitchen wasn’t.

Story by Colleen Hawkes
Photography by Jessica Klewicki Glynn
Published May 22, 2014

Compromises are often made when you buy a property, but accentuating the positive and changing the negative can give you the home you always wanted.

The owners of this house loved the open, flowing layout of the interior, but they weren’t keen on the heavy, traditional Mediterranean-style cabinetry in the kitchen, says designer Krista Watterworth Alterman.

“The existing kitchen was also small, lacked the required functionality, and there was no sense of symmetry,” she says. “And even though large windows frame the room, it felt like a dark, cluttered space.”

Alterman says her clients wanted a post-modern look, without sacrificing comfort. The kitchen needed to be fresh, vibrant and contemporary, and have plenty of storage.
Alterman’s solution was to utilize every inch of space to make the kitchen larger. A multifunctional island was introduced, providing a generous work space, casual dining area and a place for family and friends to gather and socialize.

“We chose dark-stained sapele wood for the cabinetry, so the rest of the palette is light and airy,” says the designer. “The doors are sleek and clean lined, as are the countertops. Those on the perimeter feature low-maintenance engineered stone, but for the island we chose a stained concrete top, which provides the urban undercurrent the owners desired.”

Alterman says the main challenge was marrying the traditional elements of the home with the contemporary furniture and cabinetry.

“I love to wed rustic with minimalist. The bar stools, for example, have a traditional form, but with contemporary oversized chrome nail heads.”

Storage has tripled with the new cabinets. Overhead doors pop up easily, and have automated interior lighting. Alterman also provided custom drawer inserts for the clients’ collections of cutlery, glassware and ceramics.

Credit List:

Kitchen designer : Krista Watterworth Alterman, Krista Watterworth Design Studio (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)

Cabinet company : Cabinets By Design>
Cabinetry : Quarter-cut sapele
Cabinet automation : Blum Aventos
Cabinet lighting : Hera
Countertops : NQ09 Woven Wool; stained concrete, Daltile quartz
Backsplash : Daltile City View tiles
Floor tiles : Naturella marble
Paints : Benjamin Moore
Bar stools : Marcello by Ballard Designs
Dining chairs : Restoration Hardware
Lighting : Restoration Hardware barrel shade pendant; FontanaArte Flute 3 pendant lamp, Moooi Random light
Sink : Kohler Vault
Faucets : Kohler Purist

Read more from Kitchen Trends

At Home With HGTV Designer Krista Watterworth
By Kara Franker
Published in HGTV’s FrontDoor.com on 4/25/2014

A superstar designer who specializes in creating fashionable but functional spaces, Krista Watterworth opened up her home to share her design inspiration and her favorite things about living in South Florida.

Photo by: Jessica Glynn

Krista Watterworth is a television personality, interior designer and founder of her own company – Krista Watterworth Design Studio. One of HGTV’s go-to designers, Krista shared photos from her Mediterranean-style house in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. She completely designed her home in record time – just three months. Her goal was to create a family-centered home that’s both fashionable and functional for her husband and two kids. It was important to her to create a space that worked for her whole family, but still showcased her sense of style. The designer chose durable furniture and treated fabrics that could withstand abuse and repel stains. Her designs are approachable, yet contemporary, casual and elegant.

From hosting HGTV’s Splurge and Save, to appearing on shows like DIY Network’s The Vanilla Ice Project and HGTV’s Save My Bath, Krista Watterworth is a television personality, interior designer and founder of her own company: Krista Watterworth Design Studio. We chatted with Krista about her current projects, inspirations and what she loves about living in Florida.

Take a Peek Inside Krista’s Florida Home

Q: How would you describe your signature design?

Krista: Casual elegance in a classic contemporary setting. I love designing spaces that look like a million bucks, but guess what? My clients actually have to live or work there! It’s important to me to make each one of my designs approachable. Remember the old saying, “fashion over function?” I think it’s truly possible to have both. Why buy a sofa that looks good but isn’t comfortable? Why choose fabrics that you can’t touch? I’d rather buy a rug that my feet will sink into. I will never design a space that isn’t chic and sophisticated, but it will always be livable, no matter how much it costs.

Q: What inspires you?

Krista: I’m obsessed with fashion and photography. Both of these elements always seem to find their way into my designs. I love fashion because it’s always changing, always propelling forward. Certain colors and textiles become popular in the fashion world, and I find ways to bring those trends into the spaces I create. Photography is similar for me — a really good photograph can tell an interesting story through color, shading and texture. The same can be said for really good design.

A fun event for Palm Beach Designers to showcase their talents. Fifteen designers participated in designing this Mizner style home to raise money for the Red Cross. KWDS did the loggia design and made a historic outdoor space chic and sexy. Thank you Carmel Brantley for beautiful photos!

As described by the Red Cross:
2014 marks the 38th year of the American Red Cross Designers’ Show House. Guests will be treated to spectacular property showcased by the American Red Cross 20 years ago!

Set off of beautiful Flagler Drive in the heart of West Palm Beach, and built in 1925, this Mizner-Style villa is constructed of clay tile and wood frame and stucco. Elaborate renovations were done to the house in 1932. At one time the property extended to the Intracoastal, but a later owner sold off most of the property to the east.

More than 15 renowned interior and exterior designers will transform the home—creating an experience that brings together the ‘best of the best’ in the world of interior décor.

The American Red Cross Designers’ Show House continues to be a unique fundraiser for the Palm Beaches-Treasure Coast Region. This highly anticipated event provides an exceptional opportunity for all to experience fine living and outstanding home design.

If you’d like to hear the interview on Real Estate Today radio go ahead… click it! Otherwise my tips are transcribed below. Hope you enjoy!

The host and my interviewer, Gil Gross, is an award winning radio journalist who has reported the news to millions of Americans and interviewed pop culture icons and heads-of-state alike.As a newsman and humorist he has also combined his talents as Paul Harvey’s chief substitute at ABC and as the main substitute for Charles Osgood at CBS. Pretty impressive! Read more about him on the Real Estate Today site.

GG: This week on Real Estate Today our special show is MAKE IT YOUR OWN, where we are taking you room by room through your new house and helping you personalize it for your lifestyle.  And if you follow the cable TV channels, you’re probably very familiar with the shows that help you with ideas to make your home special.  And our next guest stars in one!  She’s Krista Watterworth…  We’re so pleased she could be with us this week.  Krista, welcome to Real Estate Today…

KW: Thanks! I’m honored to be here.

GG: Krista, this week, we’d like you to help homeowners who’ve just moved into their new home with some tips on how to make decorate each room and really make it their very own space.  Most homeowners, after they’ve purchased that house, may not have a huge budget for decorating – so help us crack the code on budgeting so they can get the biggest bang for their buck… best advice before going room by room?

KW: I tell people with any remodel or upgrade you have to develop a realistic budget and stick to it. Do a shopping list simply by looking up Wish List items on line and create an Excel spreadsheet. And keep a tight leash on purchases no matter how excited you get. Go slow and take the remodel in stages only do things you can afford first. I’ve seen budgets get out of hand and people are stressed because they didn’t show self-control.

GG: Let’s start out with the kitchen…

KW: Incorporate stainless steel elements, such as floating shelves, to upgrade the space. Shop at flea markets and thrift stores to find vintage items, such as tractor-seat stools and design-inspired pendant lights. Paint cabinetry instead of replacing but hire a professional – I’ve been doing a lot of this lately – my clients want light and bright. Large appliances such as the refrigerator, oven, and stove should be upgraded first. Opt for energy-efficient picks. Spend big on the backsplash since it’s small area it will create wow factor. I usually use glass or marble mosaic and I love random brick pattern. I also tell clients to use miles or credit card bonuses wisely to purchase items online like tile, cabinets or appliances.

GG: Krista, one of your HGTV shows was Save My Bath!  What decorating advice do you have for homeowners to personalize their bathrooms… whether their budget is five hundred dollars or five thousand dollars?  Where do they start?

KW: Budget friendly tips include hunting for bargains like bathroom sinks on close out at big-box home improvement stores. ‘seconds’ or returned items, like a stray fixture or vanity cabinets for a bargain. Go to a local slab yard and ask to look through their remnant pile. Refinishing existing cabinets can be very inexpensive – just the cost of some sand paper and stain or paint. Opt to put in a large shower in place of an old tub using a shower pan that can fit perfectly in that size space as opposed to a mosaic tile floor. Buy most things off the shelf if possible instead of going custom.

GG: Next, help us with some design secrets for our living room… and help us stretch every dollar so we can pull together all the design elements of our living room together on a budget and in high style…

KW: Paint and pillows that coordinate in popping fun colors & patterns- you must accessorize your sofa! Easy, simple, fast. A graphic rug is a statement. Re-evaluate existing pieces by moving them around and creating different conversation areas throughout the room. Metallic accents are on trend – gold, copper or silver finishes jazz up a boring space. Ready-made drapery panels with sheers and shades layer the look – a lot of people ignore windows and it’s another place to use pattern without overwhelming. A large piece of art flanked by cool, inexpensive sconces will create a designer look.

GG: Bedrooms… what are the important decorating essentials here… so homeowners can truly make their house their own?

KW: Glam-ify plain walls with pattern. Out-of-production wallpaper found on auctions sites such as eBay at a heavy discount. Wallpaper just one wall as an accent. The fifth wall – ceiling – is often ignored. Paint stripes in subtle hues, put in an inexpensive “coffer” with 1×2 lumber in a grid pattern, or simply paint it the same color as the walls. And don’t skimp on moldings throughout. Buy artwork from flea markets and create a focal wall with the collection. Or use wood paneling bought from liquidation sales – it’s super fresh if laid on the wall on a horizontal. Lighting is everything in a bedroom. A large scale chandelier in the center of the room and large side lamps or pendants should all be put on dimmers – great place to spend a little money. Very simple solution – buy neutral or white sheets in a high thread count, luxe throw pillows and spend a little cash on a lavish duvet.

GG: We know you incorporate family into every room you design, and we know people have such a deep connection with their homes.  How would you suggest homeowners create an environment in their home that not only looks nice but also makes them feel good?

KW: I ask my clients to create a Pinterest board of all the elements that inspire them – could be fashion, food or interiors. Then I ask them to share 10 of their favorite family photos – ancestors or current – and I create large scale artwork from that. I once had custom wallpaper made with family photos throughout – it was a show stopper. Surround yourself with things you love in creative ways – from life and travel – but don’t clutter. Switch out collections throughout the year to keep it fresh and light.

GG: Great tips!! Thanks for being here today Krista!

KW: Thank you!

Our design called “Perfect Playroom” was published in Palm Beach Illustrated in the January 2014 issue of HOME.

Krista Watterworth Design Studio, Palm Beach Gardens.

This sophisticated child’s playroom is the perfect place to dream big and play posh. Krista Watterworth Alterman of Krista Watterworth Design Studio transformed this space from a former office. She changed the colors from a dark cherry to a calm and crisp white with a backdrop of gray and yellow damask wallpaper from Brewster Home Fashions. A tree decal from LittleLion Studio masks a queen sized Murphy bed, and a whimsical chandelier brings light to this cheery space.

Our design studio is super excited to be quoted in the article Designs on Dining: Retailers Adding Restaurants by Dana Tanyeri and Valerie Killifer and published in the Winter 2014 issue of Restaurant Development + Design.

You can read the full article in our Press page but below is a sneak peek into what KWDS had to say about Designs on Dining.

“All of the spaces are being designed with purpose,” says interior designer Krista Watterworth, who has designed restaurants for the Food Network television show “Restaurant: Impossible.” She explains, “It’s really about creating intimacy in the vastness of the commercial space.”

Additionally, these supermarket restaurants feature natural materials such as wood and flooring that differ from what consumers experience in the grocery space. More important, the dine-in areas do not reflect the design or experience of a food court.

“The way we live, we’re on the fly constantly, so grocers are creating a space where people can stop and sit for 20 minutes and make that part of their shopping routine,” Watterworth says. “It’s a great way for people to relax, and it’s also a great way to advertise products. The way that we market today is so much more organic, and I think that’s part of this whole thing. Our lives are becoming more integrated with our needs, both our commercial needs and our product needs.”

To combat the consumer mindset that supermarkets and grocery stores can’t deliver an intimate and comfortable restaurant experience, retailers continue to look for ways they can lead the trend, rather than go along with it.

Read the entire article at rddmag.com.

We are so excited at KWDS about the new article “QUICK CHANGE ARTIST” by Linda Marx in the April 2014 issue of Aventura Magazine. It is a fun piece about a new design I just completed in a local golf community in South Florida. Check out the article below!

UTILIZING HER TALENTS FOR COMBINING A CLASSIC LOOK WITH contemporary living, designer and TV personality Krista Watterworth redesigned a South Florida home in just a few short months.

Watterworth is a former snowbird who studied at the Parsons School of Design in New York and holds a Masters of Fine Arts from the New School. She moved to Palm Beach County with her husband and two young children after selling the family’s northern apartment to prominent attorney Alan Dershowitz. She has also teamed with Robert Irvine to design restaurants around the country on the Food Network program Restaurant Impossible and has worked with the HGTV shows Save My Bath and Splurge & Save. Now her company, Krista Watterworth Design Studio, is focused on South Florida residential work, including the 2014 Red Cross Designers Show House located in Palm Beach County, which had her participating with a group of independent designers who reimagined the interiors of a historic home.

The end result of this renovation was gratifying for all. Watterworth interpreted her clients’ sense of style and gave them a space that was both classic and contemporary and wouldn’t become stale over time. “I was happy with the renovation, and the clients were over the moon,” says Watterworth. “In fact, the wife was crying with happiness.”

View the entire magazine online at AventuraMagazine.com