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Fall 2021
A marble-esque porcelain tile brightens the space and makes this highend, handmade mahogany door a true focal point. Hanging above the Old Biscayne Designs dining table from International Design Source is a formal crystal chandelier from Bee Ridge Lighting. The stain on the chairs from Hickory Chair is the inspiration for the custom stain Mtoo Interior Design used on the table and shelves. The designers also add a shimmering wallpaper to accent the niche and tray ceiling overhead.
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TWISTED TRADITIONAL FORWARD-THINKING DESIGNERS TEAR DOWN PRECONCEIVED NOTION OF TRADITIONAL STYLE homeanddesign.net
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Marla Oppenheim and Marsha Ritter merge both their names and their talents to form Mtoo Interior Design. Both Oppenheim and Ritter strongly influence the creative aspects, yet make a well-rounded team, bringing both business and design experience to each project. In the Venice Golf and Country Club community, Oppenheim and Ritter imagine, design, and see these homeowners through this top-to-bottom renovation. Without a single update since it was built in the mid-1990s, this creative team twists traditional design to balance the tastes of these homeowners and bring this home forward twenty-five years into current fashion. Oppenheim shares, “Twisted traditional design is taking traditional style, ramping it up, and turning it around several times so that it doesn’t feel stuffy or old-fashioned. Instead, it feels current and upscale.” u
Front Elevation: The choice to leave the home completely white with a gray roof gives the home the curb appeal of a new build — done in Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace. The Bee Ridge Lighting exterior sconces stand out against the crisp color, as does the iron railing that encases the new front courtyard. The new driveway coordinates with the roof with a mix of gray and white for a softer approach. Sitting Area: “We created intimate conversation and relaxing spaces around the home with a unique feel in every little spot,” shares Ritter. Grounding this space is a handmade wool rug from Rugs As Art upon which four Jessica Charles swivel chairs in a neutral fabric surround a pearly-gray ottoman from International Design Source. Mtoo Interior Design incorporates wildlife imagery with a commissioned painting by artist Michelle Held. These homeowners can gaze out to their courtyard or up at this fabulous custom aviary artwork. homeanddesign.net
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Living Room: Between the two John-Richard coral branch prints from International Design Source is a silver shelf with dangling metal branches. This composition breaches traditional style. “The blue vase between the two pieces of art, and the pops of blue in that space bounces the eye around the room at once instead of focusing on one piece,” explains Ritter. The team makes room in the budget for a glass top cocktail table from Artifacts International — with its hand-painted, forged metal base, it’s a showstopper. Kitchen: This marble-esque porcelain tile brightens the space while allowing the island cabinets to stand out in a chocolatebrown hue, topped in a white Cambria quartz countertop with gray veining. Overhead are glass pendants from Bee Ridge Lighting. The party island is surrounded by counter stools from International Design Source that are clad in durable leather and a gunmetal finish and features a wine refrigerator, ice maker, and beverage center.
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Oppenheim and Ritter’s strong visionary sense won them the job at the first meeting with the homeowners — suggesting they trade out the front windows for a set of classy French doors that open onto a new courtyard, and create privacy with a custom fireplace wall. With one homeowner leaning traditional and the other wanting crystal and bling, this inspires Mtoo Interior Design to take traditional elements and revivify them for today. “We needed to mix their styles, and we introduced them to a light and bright palette perfect for this Florida setting,” shares Ritter. The bold drapery fabric in the master bedroom sparks the design — a traditional print, but in non-traditional colors. Oppenheim points out an element in each space that shows off the twist. The guest bedroom is a flawless blend of style and setting, exhibiting classical quatrefoil shapes next to contemporary grape-purple, white-washed wood finishes with gold accents, and pewter sea star artwork. Mtoo Interior Design mixes champagne, silver, gunmetal, and gold metallic finishes throughout with an emphasis on varying shades of purple and blue. Mother-of-pearl accents and crystal knobs add a touch of sparkle, while many of the wood finishes are traditional deep hues. u
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“The clients were extremely open to new ideas. They let us push their comfort level and trusted us — and the results are fabulous,” shares Oppenheim. This team looks at traditional design from their clients’ point of view and creates a home that is ready for the next twenty-five years of family gatherings and entertaining. It’s a high-end home — rich in detail and a delightful union of old-school and glitz. Mtoo Interior Design bends the rules and shows us a newfound way of putting a spin on traditional design. n Master Bedroom: Mtoo Interior Design repurposes this gold chandelier that hung in the dining room for twenty-five years, placing it with prominence in this master bedroom. The team dresses both windows in bold gray, blue, purple, and green Thibaut fabric, and selects a similar yet more muted pattern for the hand-knotted wool rug from International Design Source. Atop the Vanguard bed is an Ann Gish coverlet with shams that mirror the draperies. Beside the bed — twisting traditional design — are dark wood Vanguard nightstands with contrasting mother-of-pearl drawer fronts. Master Bathroom: Oppenheim and Ritter handpick this sculptural tub from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery. Above it is an equally magnificent pendant from Bee Ridge Lighting in a metallic champagne finish with handblown glass flowers that emanate a soft glow. A tantalizing form-withflowers framed print from International Design Source overlooks this tranquil corner. Custom mirrors rest against the brilliant mother-of-pearl wall tile from Design Works, complementing the countertops atop the contrasting chocolate-brown vanity. 106
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Guest Bedroom: These Highland House headboards from International Design Source are finished in a grape-toned cotton fabric adorned with gold nailheads, and custom bed skirts are made to match. Between these beds is an antique nightstand from Modern History Home with a white finish. Sea star art from International Design Source adds a nautical touch, as does this seashell fabric from Thibaut. The Benjamin Moore wall paint — Revere Pewter — is an adaptive color that works in tandem with the mix of silver and gold seen throughout the rest of the home. Guest Bathroom: Mtoo Interior Design takes this single-sink bathroom and reconfigures it with two rectilinear sinks and nickel faucets from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery. This guest bathroom services two guest spaces and bridges the design. Two non-traditional mirrors from International Design Source sit atop this traditional trellis design wallpaper — Oppenheim notes this is another instance where Mtoo Interior Design twists traditional stylings. Above the mirrors are curvilinear handblown glass sconces from Bee Ridge Lighting. Guitar Wall: For the man of the house, who not only collects guitars but plays as well, this guitar wall is a delightful focal point for the office. The warm hue grasscloth backdrop makes this collection pop. This edgy space features some of the homeowner’s existing furnishings, but Mtoo Interior Design selects a custom-made console table with a slick ebony top and a brassy gold base from Charleston Forge for added depth.
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Master Bedroom: Nequat. Officium sundae voluptaquid moditatem remporem. Pa conest, simolendis et labo. Nemquianis ea sequasite plam, ut accusae re nonsequam, ommodis nosam verrum liquis et esti doluptiis sima vento eat. Bitat. Ga. Vit exceptae lant enti derem dis alitat hilignis et mi, volupidio. Nam, saperestium fugiandes nulpa quis et vollis placern atures dolore sundandit volore volende Nequat. Officium sundae voluptaquid moditatem remporem. Pa conest, simolendis et labo. Nemquianis ea sequasite plam, ut accusae re nonsequam, ommodis nosam verrum liquis et esti doluptiis sima vento eat. Bitat. Ga. Vit exceptae lant enti derem dis alitat hilignis et mi, volupidio. Nam, saperestium fugiandes nulpa quis et vollis placern atures dolore sundandit volore volende Master Bathroom: Nequat. Officium sundae voluptaquid moditatem remporem. Pa conest, simolendis et labo. Nemquianis ea sequasite plam, ut accusae re nonsequam, ommodis nosam verrum liquis et esti doluptiis sima vento eat. Bitat. Ga. Vit exceptae lant enti derem dis alitat hilignis et mi, volupidio. Nam, saperestium fugiandes nulpa quis et vollis placern atures dolore sundandit volore volende Nequat. Officium sundae voluptaquid moditatem remporem. Pa conest, simolendis et labo. Nemquianis ea sequasite plam, ut accusae re nonsequam, ommodis nosam verrum liquis et esti doluptiis sima vento eat. Bitat. Ga. Vit exceptae lant enti derem dis alitat hilignis et mi, volupidio. Nam, saperestium fugiandes nulpa quis et vollis placern atures dolore sundandit volore volende
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Written by Rachel Seekamp Photography by Blaine Johnathan Photography Interior Designer Mtoo Interior Design 1734 Northgate Boulevard Sarasota, FL 34234 941.223.1684 mtoointeriordesign.com Resources: Bee Ridge Lighting 3909 Bee Ridge Road Sarasota, FL 34233 941.922.2626 beeridgelighting.com Design Works 4500 Carmichael Avenue Sarasota, FL 34234 800.226.9434 floridadesignworks.com Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery 5521 Fruitville Road Sarasota, FL 34232 941.951.0110 build.com/ferguson International Design Source 1734 Northgate Boulevard Sarasota, FL 34234 941.552.2550 ids1.com Rugs As Art 6650 South Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34231 941.921.1900 rugsasart.com
Lanai: The fireplace wall is a calculated balance of traditional and contemporary elements — flanking the rectilinear LED fireplace are stackedstone columns with crown-moulding capitals. The hearth allows for more seating next to the outdoor swivel chairs and the sofa. International Design Source provides both the dining table and the seating around it — the chairs feature a steel blue Sunbrella fabric and circular details reminiscent of the kitchen counter stools. Ritter designs the cypress ceiling to be set on a bias and it shelters this casual space.
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