project details
Four Seasons Residences occupies the top panoramic floors of the famed luxury hotel’s 30-story building. Its downtown location near the expansive Discovery Green and other green spaces, The Shops at Houston Center, many upscale restaurants, the Toyota Center, and convention center, makes it a prime location to call home. Residents enjoy all the perks of hotel guests such as maid service, room service, gym and spa access, and even the hotel’s car service.
Built in 1982, the original modern interior aesthetic of these spacious tower homes keep getting better with each architectural redesign. We were honored to be chosen by Laura Manchee Designs and her client to design the warm contemporary kitchen of a recent remodel near the top floor. Her client selected the Four Seasons for his corporate apartment to entertain guests because the location offers walking access to various sporting and entertainment venues in downtown Houston.
Featured image: compliments of Four Seasons Hotel & Residences
the ask
Laura’s client envisioned a classic timeless design with warmth and masculine solidness that reflected his style and personality. He wanted a comfortable atmosphere that emphasized rich textures and colors and took full advantage of the fabulous views of the city.
The openness of the kitchen to the rest of the apartment was to be maintained and the space utilization would afford plenty of easy entertaining as well as daily living.
Andrea Villamarin of eggersmann Houston headed the kitchen design team to work hand-in-hand with the Manchee team to breathe new life into this high-rise luxury residence.
The ask: create a warm, inviting kitchen in darker tones with clean modern lines and a hint of glimmer.
the solution
The materials selected for the high-rise condo were reminiscent of a modern-day speakeasy. Dark tones on the wood floors and a smoked oak finish on the kitchen cabinets created a moody base for Laura’s clean lined space. Cork wallcovering with metallic accents and custom LED lighting added glimmer.
For the kitchen countertop to complement the sleek cabinet design, a Cambria black stone with a specialty matte finish which was imported and installed with a waterfall edge on both ends. Smoked glass upper cabinets with interior accent lighting showcase the silhouette of the owner’s barware.
While minimal in design, warmth and inviting interest were introduced using wood tones and stones of varying greys.
eggersmann’s German-crafted Esign handle-less cabinetry in Vancouver 3535 Smoked Oak Planked Brushed Vertical fronts accented with Vetro RAL 9017 Black glass on the upper wall cabinets above the cooktop and the bar.
High-end Thermador refrigeration, ULINE wine cooler, and Miele dishwasher were integrated behind the enchanting vertically-oriented smoked grain fronts.
Custom boxtec drawer inserts added convenient functionality next to the cooktop and in the island.
The results: an open kitchen with perfect functionality for entertaining a crowd or an intimate dinner party with just enough “wow” factor to ensure guests accept the next invitation. Read our interview with the designer, Laura Manchee, for behind-the-scenes details on how she worked with her client and eggersmann on this project.
the team
Architect and interior designer, Laura Manchee Designs and builder, Basic Builders, worked with eggersmann Houston designer, Andrea Villamarin, to design and implement this custom German kitchen.
