On the Mark

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Sylvestre Huerta of Interiors KD delivers an intimate, modern abode for a young professional living in Venice

In the living room the sofas are by Art Nova, the ottoman is covered in PUR Mohair by Elitis, and the floor lamp is from FLOS. Photos by Joe Schmelzer (Treasurbite).

“I was about to embark on an international trip when I received an email from a dear friend and former employer, the uber talented, Jamie Bush, referring a client. When I arrived overseas I had an email waiting for me,” says designer Sylvestre Huerta of Interiors KD, on where his design journey of a Venice townhome began for a young client who was already living there for months. “I gave him homework, and I actually learned about the project as I traveled through Spain and Morocco, I was already being inspired.”

The Piero Lissoni glass hung shelf holds photos of two noteworthy moments in Muhammad Ali’s career. The client is an avid boxing fan. Photos by Joe Schmelzer (Treasurbite).
A custom mouth-blown colored glass art installation sits atop the stairwell.
Photos by Joe Schmelzer (Treasurbite).

The overall goal was to create a sleek and sophisticated home that also provided privacy from the surrounding density of homes that line the canals. “The home had very large windows throughout and floor to ceiling expansive windows in the living room two story volume, amazing natural light, but lacked privacy,” notes Huerta. “One of the first priorities was to integrate technology, motorized shades and drapery. I wanted to bring warmth and personality into the tall living space, so I unified all the staggered windows with full drapery, of soft textural linen.”

Photos by Joe Schmelzer (Treasurbite).

Even though the client wanted to avoid making significant changes inside his new home, the narrow, asymmetrical floorplan called for slight architectural modifications that would maximize space. “One of the main changes was to remove a pony wall next to the stairs in the living room, and open it up with a metal railing to unify the space and give the room a sense of overall balance with the fireplace being a center focal point and not feel offset,” says the designer. “The primary bedroom had an open loft concept opening to the living space below. It felt natural to close it up and allow the primary space to have its privacy.”

In the primary bath, a tub filler by Waterworks and a freestanding tub face a fireplace that is accessible from the bedroom. Photos by Joe Schmelzer (Treasurbite).
A view from the other side of the fireplace.
Photos by Joe Schmelzer (Treasurbite).

And while some windows and walls were reconfigured in order to allow for a better flow, the most significant change came through the warmth that was infused through furniture and decor. “Embracing the quirkiness and vibrant colors of Venice, we wanted to bring that vibe into the home,” says Huerta. “The client’s design aesthetic is refined California chic, youthful and relaxed, with modern Italian influences.”

In the primary bedroom, custom Volar swing arm sconces by Fuse Lighting hang on a custom bed designed by Huerte.
Photos by Joe Schmelzer (Treasurbite).

The final result is a well-balanced home that is comfortably cool. The client was often wow’ed throughout the process as he was very hands-on, but when each space was finally finished he raved, “you blew it out the park and over-delivered and exceeded my expectations.” Huerta notes about the final feedback, “I can’t help to feel humble, that when you do something you love and it brings happiness and contentment to someone’s life, it makes it all worthwhile.”