A Q&A with Interior Designer Destin Barkley About Her Private Island Project

Destin Barkley is an interior designer at D’Asign Source a full-service design and architecture firm in the Florida Keys. She recently completed an impressive remodel of a sprawling tropical estate located on its very own private island, and the result is a sanctuary that meets every lifestyle and entertainment need. Outstanding features include two outdoor kitchens, a professional pizza oven from Tuscany, and a pool-jacuzzi just a few steps away from the ocean. Below you’ll find our discussion with Destin, her expert tips for designing a custom kitchen and an explanation on why she chose to include not one, but two Traditional Wheel Faucets.

Tell me a little bit about this project
This home is located on Bella Mare Key, a private island off of Marathon, Florida. It was an extensive remodel that took the 1,613-square-foot home down to columns and beams and expanded it to a 6,000-square-foot estate.

What were the clients looking for in the kitchen’s design?
Our clients sought a kitchen they could easily entertain in while enjoying their ocean views and tropical surroundings. We designed an open-concept kitchen and dining space to take advantage of the expansive views while providing plenty of space for family and friends to participate.

How did the home’s location in the Florida Keys play into the design aesthetic?
The great room’s grand proportions and spectacular views provide an ideal spot for entertaining. Large, glass bi-folding doors open fully to an outside kitchen for effortless indoor/outdoor access. The color palette reflects the blues of the surrounding Florida Keys waters while traditional elements and textures unify the area.

There are two Traditional Wheel Pulldown faucets, one in the kitchen and one at the bar area. What drew you and your clients to that style?
They’re reminiscent of a ships helm, which suits this coastal home perfectly, and they create such an interesting focal point. We loved the look of the pulley system and functionality of the pull-down sprayer. The ability to customize finishes was icing on the cake.

One of the Wheel Faucets has a powder-coated white finish, while the other has an Antique Copper finish. How do those faucets and finishes complete this kitchen space?
The customers were drawn to the powder-coated finish Biscuit from the very beginning of the project. They loved the elegant simplicity of the creamy color which alludes to the sandy shores found outside. The kitchen has three different cabinetry finishes and stainless steel as well as copper accents. Specifying two of the same faucets, one in Biscuit and one in Copper, helped tie together these various finishes with a consistent element.

What is your advice for anyone planning a kitchen build or remodel?
Timeless is always best; I would recommend specifying items you’ve used and know. A kitchen remodel/build is not the place to try induction appliances just to realize you don’t like them. Consider your design decision’s maintenance, for example, cabinetry with glass doors are beautiful, but the glass will need to be cleaned often. Paneling a stainless-steel dishwasher in a cabinetry material is a great idea because dishwashers are an appliance that consistently show the most water drip marks and fingerprints. A simpler cabinetry door style is easier to clean than a cabinetry door with a lot of detail, etc.

Are there any other special kitchen design details you’d like to share?
Custom details were incorporated that reflect our client’s personalities and history, for example, the pizza wood storage enclosure was created from their original dock that was destroyed in Hurricane Irma, while the posts flanking the oven were fashioned out of broken speargun spears. A 300-Year-old reclaimed door from Italy provides great texture and history as the pantry entrance. Ample seating pulls up to an 18’ island topped with book matched slabs of Celeste Mist leathered quartzite. A custom hood with hammered copper strapping atop floats above a 48” Viking dual-fuel range to create a stunning focal point. A 36” Viking refrigerator and 36” freezer flank the range and provide beautiful contrast to the cabinetry. Each cabinet was designed with a focus on functionality to provide exceptional storage for all the latest kitchen gadgets and effortless access to appliances. Steps away, a Mugnaini Pizza Oven from Italy was installed and covered in a split face Nuvoloso marble. The countertops feature a chiseled edge Quartzite and the bar is a beautiful live edge Walnut.