Project Details
During the Fall of 2018, just a few weeks after our Dallas showroom’s grand opening, Dallas interior designer, Andrea Smith, brought an extensive project to collaborate on. eggersmann had worked with Andrea before. Just before this new project, we had completed an enormous renovation project with her and her amazing team.
Andrea’s new clients were planning a monumental remodel to modernize their heavily ornate, classical, Mediterranean-style mansion. It was estimated it would take 2.5 years to complete the renovations of this diamond in the rough nestled in the heart of Dallas’s elite Preston Hollow neighborhood.
The Ask
After initial introductions, we discovered that these new clients are long-time friends with the previous clients. The new project was inspired by the their friends’ home when they attended a party there. After seeing their friends’ results, they thought that both Andrea and eggersmann would be a perfect fit for their upcoming remodel. Soon after, they visited our showroom with Andrea and met eggersmann designer, Kegan Wilson.
The homeowners were taken by the luxury finishes and organizational options and how eggersmann solutions were fully customizable. Following the showroom visit, Andrea sent me remodel drawings and requested designs for the kitchen, catering kitchen, and butler’s pantry.
The home’s existing warm, classic, Mediterranean exterior and interior architecture ruled out an ultra-modern design as it would feel foreign. But Andrea and the eggersmann team designed a clean contemporary aesthetic with a sprinkling of sleek touches.
During our presentation of the design to the clients, as we went through finishes and configuration choices asking for homeowner input, we kept losing the husband. At least 3 times, we found him in the showroom closet display. He was inspecting everything closely opening doors and drawers. So we were not surprised when he asked Andrea and us to design their individual his and her closets.
The Solutions
Kitchen
The designs for the kitchen and connected butler’s pantry play off of each other in a flirtatious pas de deux. The bright kitchen and moodier dark tones of the butler’s pantry are perfect partners.
The kitchen utilizes a deep and richly Smoked Eucalyptus veneer and then layered with the warm glow of Alpine White high gloss lacquer. To “polish” it off, we added custom polished steel framed glass door wall cabinets with a custom grey-lacquer interior and polished steel grip channel reveals as a beautiful sleek accent. We also incorporated a custom brushed and polished steel hood cover from our dear friends at Schindler Metalworks as the cherry on top.
Butler’s Pantry
The butler’s pantry features the same sumptuous Eucalyptus veneer on the base cabinetry as in the main kitchen.
A smoky graphite glass door with custom lacquered frame with matching interior and polished steel accents sets a darker tone in this room. The glass doors reflect the light from the ample windows around this functional space.
The grey-veined white Calacatta marble from Aria Stone Gallery brings the two rooms together perfectly.
A wine fridge completes the butler’s pantry.
Catering Kitchen
The catering kitchen was designed in a sleeker, more Euro style compared to the kitchen and butler’s pantry. Because the room is a utility and laundry room when not in use for entertaining, the clients wanted a hidden ironing board, hidden vacuum/broom closet, and maximized storage opportunities. The minimal fronts and high gloss finishes enabled us to pack the catering kitchen with functionality including dual washer and dryers without feeling crowded.
It features both the Alpine White and Grigio high gloss finishes with handles from the eggersmann hardware collection. A durable, but stunning, worktop surface was a necessity needed, so we suggested the ultra-compact and glossy Dekton Bergen that mimics marble to soften and luxuriate the space while maximizing functionality and longevity.
Family Room
During the last room installation of the project, the catering kitchen, the clients decided to add the family room to the project. Andrea and the homeowners had been designing for a custom millwork company to produce the envisioned media wall and luxury bar. But as the millwork company delivery would be many months out and multiple trades would have to be scheduled to come during a pandemic, it made sense to ask eggersmann to complete the project. We along with our Schmalenbach partner were able to produce the media wall in less time with superior factory-finished cabinetry.
Andrea had started designing the space so she gave me what she had and asked that Kegan translate it into the eggersmann/Schmalenbach language.
This particular design and look was something not standard in our collection. But, as typical, we didn’t shy away from the challenge! This unique installation stands 12 feet tall and traverses two very long walls incorporating a bone-rattling speaker system, 85” cinema-sized TV, collection of curated family tchotchkes subtly highlighted on lighted shelves, corner banquette seating, and an ultra-luxe bar area equipped with a Subzero wine unit, beverage fridge, and ice maker. We were excited to be able to reuse the client’s lighted agate bar top which adds a beautiful exclamation point to the space when your eyes travel from right to left.
Since the beautifully crafted family room sits just across from the new kitchen in the client’s newly opened floor plan, we brought the grandiose Smoked Eucalyptus veneer into the expansive media wall. But, this time with a bolder book-matched pattern and brass/gold accents to set it apart from the subtle character in the kitchen.
Luxury Walk-In Closets
Designs of luxury walk-in closets are very unique and personal. And our luxury closet crafter, Schmalenbach, offers so many versatile options for cabinetry, accessories, materials, and colors, it can be daunting for homeowners to decide.
His Closet
But he knew exactly what he wanted: a replica of our Dallas showroom closet display. Warm Truffle Elm laminate, dark chocolate brown textured leathers, and bronze tinted glass and mirror create a smoky, masculine gentleman’s lounge feel to his primary closet.
Her Closet
She did have a difficult time thinking of what she wanted. So many options! Then, after a trip to LA for a tennis match, she came to the conclusion she wanted an “LA Gloss and Glamor” inspired closet.
We combined a warm white high gloss lacquer, a unique and exotic silver-grey Eucalyptus veneer, and, the first of its kind…CHROME! Schmalenbach had never included a chrome finish in its offerings before but, together, we were invented and masterfully executed this new metallic finish. It was an immediate hit with the client, our team, and Schmalenbach that it immediately landed itself right into the permanent collection.
To bring the LA glamor and glitz design to its full potential, we had to pioneer again. We incorporated a 4-light, chrome-framed jewelry glass display in the island’s marble top which had also never been done before. The result was a glamorous “boutique” aesthetic that thrilled her and is the envy of others.
Living Spaces’ Finishes
Kitchen
- island and prep area base cabinets: Alpine White high gloss
- breakfast bar: Smoked Eucalyptus veneer
- framed glass cabinets: custom polished steel frame with glass insert with a custom grey-lacquer interior and polished steel grip channel
- countertops and backsplash: white Calacatta marble
- tall cabinets and stove base cabinets: Smoked Eucalyptus veneer
- handles on tall cabinets: transitional handles by Sub-Zero
- sink: custom Julien
- hood surround: Schindler Metalworks custom
Family Room:
- media wall: Smoked Eucalyptus veneer with Anodized Gold Aluminum
- bar top: client’s original backlit agate
- countertops: white quartz (by Andrea’s team)
- shelving and base cabinetry: Smoked Eucalyptus veneer with Brushed Brass Effect Lacquer, brass edge handles, and bronze mirrored backsplash
Butler’s Pantry
- framed glass cabinets: custom lacquered frame with Nano Black interior and clear glass shelves
- countertops and backsplash: white Calacatta marble
- base cabinets: Smoked Eucalyptus veneer with polished steel grip channel
Catering Kitchen
- island and upper cabinets: Alpine White high gloss
- tall cabinets and base cabinets: Grigio high gloss
- handles: eggersmann hardware collection
- countertops and backsplash: Dekton Bergen
Closet Finishes
His Closet
- Island: Décor GreyBrown
- Island tufted bench: Cabro Saddle Eco-Leather
- Cabinetry: Décor Truffle Elm, Anodized Dark Bronze Aluminum Frames with Bronze tinted glass, Skai Sotega Stars Flint Eco-Leather, and Bronze Mirror inlays
- Special features: Belt/Tie pullouts, Trouser pullouts, Hidden lighted watch winder behind motorized motion back panel
Her Closet
- Island: Alpine White High Gloss
- Island handles: Schmalenbach M handle Chrome finish
- Bench seating: Deep-Stitched Light Grey velvet with buttons
- Closed cabinetry: Alpine White High Gloss with Schmalenbach M handle Chrome finish
- Blass cabinetry: Silver-Grey Eucalyptus veneer interiors. Chrome Anodized frames with Clear Glass inlays
- Special features: Bluetooth lockable drawers, drawer interior outlet, Chrome framed island jewelry display windows
Appliances
These spaces were studded with stunning appliances by Subzero-Wolf, Miele, and Scotsman:
Kitchen
- 48” Wolf Duel Fuel Range
- 30” Wolf Transitional Wall Oven
- 30” Wolf Transitional Microwave
- 58” Wolf Hood Liner
- 36” (2) Subzero Integrated Designer Fridge/Freezer Columns w/ Transitional Handles
- 24” (2) Miele Knock-to-Open Dishwashers
Butler’s Pantry
- 24” Miele Built-in Coffee Machine (hidden in eggersmann pocket door)
- 24” Sub-Zero Under-counter Wine
- 15” Scotsman Nugget Ice Machine
Catering Kitchen
- 30” Wolf Professional Double Oven
- 30” Wolf Professional Microwave
- 30” Wolf Professional Warming Drawer (2)
- 36” Wolf Contemporary Induction Cooktop
- 36” Wolf Ceiling Mounted Hood
- 36” Subzero Built-In Professional Fridge/Freezer
- 15” Subzero Ice Machine
- 24” Miele Dishwasher
- 27” LG Washer/Dryer Stack (2)
Family Room Bar
- 24” Subzero Undercounter Wine
- 24” Subzero Undercounter Beverage Fridge
- 15” Subzero Undercounter Ice Machine
Luxury Cabinet Installation
Our prospective clients often ask about how our luxury cabinet installation process works so we decided to share some details here for this very large project. Due to the extensive remodel, we ordered and installed the project in multiple phases to coordinate with the overall project. In December 2019, the closets which were the last to be added to the project were the first to be installed.
Then, a few short months later, in March 2020, main kitchen and butler’s pantry came together. The catering kitchen was installed the following April. During that installation, the client decide to add their family room to our scope so we quickly designed and ordered that incomparable media wall and commenced its installation that August.
The project, as expected, took a very long time to come together, but the wait was worth it. The homeowners think so, too!
The Team
In addition to phenomenal and deeply talented Andrea Smith team and Kegan along with the entire Dallas eggersmann design and installation staffs, there were many people who helped overcome the multiple challenges during this renovation.
Not only architectural challenges that come with any large-scale renovation of an older home, but also and most significantly, the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photography by Dan Piassick.
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