When asked about the upkeep for a white glass floor, Kory (seen here) laughs, "I was never practical to begin with, so I'm not going to start now."
Photo: Cheryl Maeder for AOL
Most people would agree that you should not hire your best friend as your interior designer. Kory Apton would also agree, and yet she did just that. In fact she hired
Patrice Flashner Fitzgerald, her best friend for 30 years, to spearhead a construction project on an entire apartment, that had to be completed within seven months. "It was a big risk, but I gave it a shot because I adore Patrice. And I tried not to think it through too carefully!"
Since her first trip to Miami at age 5, Florida held a magnetic soul-freeing appeal for Kory. Though her full-time life takes place in New York, alongside her husband, Phil Griffin, president of MSNBC, and her two children, Riley, 13, and Jackson, 12, Kory always wanted a dream home in the tropics. While she could have bought anywhere along the beach, Kory was focused on finding space in the same 1975 Boca high rise that her mother and stepfather once had an apartment.
In January 2008 she purchased two adjacent units in the building. During the transaction, the previous homeowner pulled out blueprints and went on and on about her own ideas for joining the space. Kory listened politely, all the while getting mentally started on her own unique vision, which was an open light-filled party house with a kitchen in the center, tricked out in South Beach colors. She told Patrice what she wanted, and Patrice paid close attention. "My friendship with Kory provided me with a unique level of trust and insight. In some ways our friendship made the process easier."
The two worked via phone and computer mostly, and Kory came down from New York about every six weeks. The work was completed on schedule. She discussed the basic idea of an orange and white kitchen with her family, but as Kory remembers, "When they walked through the door for the first time, they were in complete shock. Everyone ran off in different directions, and they kept saying 'Thank you, Thank you.'"
Since that day, Kory, a former television sports producer and devout Dolphins fan, has hosted many a football party. That's the norm around here. With two televisions mounted on either side of the kitchen, the big open space functions well for such gatherings.
Patrice says, "When Kory and her family tell me this is their dream house – that is the best part of the job. I know I listened to my client." Expressions of gratitude and love go a long way.
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A Wow Kind of Place
Kory Apton showed signs of unconventionality at an early age. When she was five she took her first trip to Miami and remembers being moved by the tropical humidity. These days, Florida still conjures up emotions. "The minute I get off the plane, I thank my lucky stars for the light, air and wind." And the minute she opens the door of her Boca home, she feels instant joy. She is grateful for this place -- its big open party kitchen facing onto the Atlantic -- and bookended on one side by a sink-in-and-watch-TV family room and on the other by a more sophisticated lounge. "I am a really happy person, and the orange reflects that," says Kory.
Cheryl Maeder for AOL
A Wow Kind of Place
When she was 18, Kory Apton (right) met Patrice Flashner Fitzgerald at the Unversity of Arizona. They lived in the same dorm. Kory was trying to move a keg of beer one night, and she asked Patrice for a little help. Since then, these two have been up to no good and also a lot of good, splitting their time between colleges, careers, families, charities and the general celebration of life. While Kory was always assured of the qualities which made Patrice a BFF -- like creativity and kindheartedness, it was in the design process that she got to know Patrice's professional persona. In that realm, Kory says she is "tenacious and honest," two qualities that totally worked for her.
A Wow Kind of Place
Kory Apton showed signs of unconventionality at an early age. When she was five she took her first trip to Miami and remembers being moved by the tropical humidity. These days, Florida still conjures up emotions. "The minute I get off the plane, I thank my lucky stars for the light, air and wind." And the minute she opens the door of her Boca home, she feels instant joy. She is grateful for this place -- its big open party kitchen facing onto the Atlantic -- and bookended on one side by a sink-in-and-watch-TV family room and on the other by a more sophisticated lounge. "I am a really happy person, and the orange reflects that," says Kory.
A Wow Kind of Place
Kory's mother was born and raised in Bolivia, and had collected Bolivian silver throughout her life. When she passed away, Kory inherited it. While the silver flatware is kept in kitchen drawers, sleek shelves are reserved for displaying some of the larger decorative pieces. Whether old or new, many of the surfaces reflect the brilliant Eastern light.
A Wow Kind of Place
The Bolivian silver with its intricate detail of flora and fauna is a pleasant contrast to the majority of shiny, smooth and solid surfaces.
A Wow Kind of Place
Kory's decorating vision wasn't entirely influenced by the Miami Dolphins' colors, but her passion for the team certainly played a role. "I have more football parties here than anything," says Kory, the excitement of the new season in her voice. She and her son Jackson root for the Dolphins, while Phil and daughter Riley are Jets fans. "We get really into it."
A Wow Kind of Place
"Kory's input was clear and straightforward," says Patrice. "She wanted a clean and uncluttered modern home with strong color and lots of white." In fact, what makes this design so successful (and the wild orange so livable) is the peaceful mass of whiteness that surrounds the tangy brights. Kory really loves the combination of mixing old silver with new glass (glass accessories from Niba Home) but Kory says the key to maintaining a certain calm is by not over-furnishing or over-accessorizing.
A Wow Kind of Place
When it came to lighting the space, the designer and her friend initially planned on crystal chandeliers. That thought, however, quickly dissipated as the style seemed too predictable and busy. Then, one day it hit her. Kory was in SoHo, NY when she saw this Ingo Maurer Birds fixture and bought it. Made of metal coils and trimmed with goosefeathers, it was a whimsical addition to a fun and sophisticated space. Her daughter Riley thinks it's spooky.
A Wow Kind of Place
Without even a single mirror in this large open space, the amazing view is reflected everywhere you look. "Bringing the outside in" occurs when most everything inside is high gloss and glass. As for maintaining the white glass floor, Kory laughs, "I was never practical to begin with, so I'm not going to start now."
A Wow Kind of Place
Though Kory's tastes lean heavily toward modern Italian, she makes room to incorporate antiques that are part of her heritage. While the Bolivian silver gets the most play in the space, other heirlooms are used as needed. This cobalt blue demitasse is from Vienna, where her maternal grandmother was born. It is one of a dozen, and each delicate cup is unique. Kory also serves on her grandmother's set of gold-rimmed Rosenthal China. When her grandparents escaped from Germany in 1933, they took it with them. The collection fills an entire kitchen cabinet. From home to hand, family treasures also include her colorful rings.
A Wow Kind of Place
Kory never forgot the words: "You always dare!" said years ago by her own mother's decorator. Even though Laura was referring to upholstering a sofa with a colorful patterned fabric, the sentiment rang true during the creation of the orange kitchen. After Patrice ordered the "India Laccato" lacquer kitchen from Poliform, the company checked back several times to verify the order. No one had ever done an entire orange kitchen! And to date no one else has. Seems like Poliform wasn't so accustomed to people daring so much.
A Wow Kind of Place
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Leigh Chandler 10-10-2009 @ 8:05PM
Stunning!!
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izzy4usa2002 10-18-2009 @ 5:04PM
Sorry, but all the fancy silver doee not go good with 1960's retro lol
Giancarlo 10-18-2009 @ 6:38PM
Decadence to the tenth degree!!! All this for substinance to live. Come on. Bored, selfish people will love this waster.
SSB 10-18-2009 @ 8:38PM
ABSOLUTELY HIDEOUS !!!!!
this "space" proves yet again that having money and having taste can be mutually exclusive situations .....
I enjoyed the quote that the kitchen cabinet company checked several times to confirm that the cabinet order was correct ..... and that no one had ever ordered an all orange kitchen before, and that no one has since ..... well there is a very good reason for that fact, just take a long look at the ugly puke orange color on those things .....
two middle aged women with too much money and time on their hands created this testament to poor taste and total design turkey ..... hum, I knew there was a reason the feathered light fixture in the dining area looked so very appropriate when I first looked at that particular picture ..... (and what, Kory et al could not afford to spend a little more and get light bulbs without the wattage information boldly printed across the top? )
and this was done to TWO combined units? what? doing this abomination could not have been limited to just ONE unit?
and of course invited guests are going to stay they just L-O-V-E what was done to the place ..... what else can they say ..... reminds me of the old fable of the "Kings Clothes" .....
I just ran through the pictures again ..... the caption of "A WOW kind of place" does not even begin to cover the negative aspects of this unfortunate testament to poor taste
and notice that little Kory is barefoot in the one kitchen shot .... does everyone in the "space" have to go barefoot so as to not scratch the glass floor?
I sincerely hope that Patrice did not quit her day job to become a "decorator" .....
YouHaveGotToBeJokingMe 10-19-2009 @ 1:05AM
Wwwwwaaaaayyyyy too bold and overpowering.
I totally agree with another comment made on here, the terrible orange color of the cabinets makes this kitchen look like the inside of a cheap fast food restaurant.
And a few comments regarding individual pictures in this article.
Picture 12. Well I do believe that Patrice was trying to match the color of the kitchen cabinets to her hair color. However, both are way too loud and brassy.
Picture 14. Will someone please break out the Clorox Handi-wipes when the "lady of the house" is through dragging her backside across the kitchen countertops? I certainly hope that is not a food preparation surface she is sitting on.
Picture 17. What is with this woman? Who plops their bare feet up on the top of a dining table? No apparent manners and no apparent taste.
Geeze, and Halloween is only two weeks away. Perfect timing. Break out some more orange ladies. And maybe some classy little witch figures and other Halloween junk to add to the "decor".
:)) 12-15-2009 @ 6:10PM
omg i love this!!!!!!!!!!! this is what my kitchen will definitely look like when i design my house!
michelle 10-18-2009 @ 2:40PM
sorry that woman is wacko. kitchen is ugly.
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kim 10-18-2009 @ 2:59PM
I think the columns with the pencil tile are very creative, fun and different. Sinking an ipod dock is there is ingenious
cello615 10-18-2009 @ 2:59PM
" REAL PEOPLE REAL KITCHENS : BOCCA RATON. I would like to ask Jane Dagmi what :FAKE PEOPLE CRAZY KITCHENS : BOCCA RATON is ?
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ron 10-18-2009 @ 4:20PM
This would not be my kind of kitchen...I am not into the Jetsons!
Warm, inviting, class is for me.
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cmnelson 10-18-2009 @ 3:17PM
This Kitchen should be in a Childs Play House. It hurts my eyes and stomach.
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slyder66666@aol.com 10-18-2009 @ 3:15PM
THAT IS A HORRIBLE KITCHEN!
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paulapiekos 10-18-2009 @ 4:04PM
I love the color scheme, but think the white glass floor would be too slippery - and with all those sharp corners!
I love citrus colors when in Florida. I'd never go for them up her in the Northeast, but down there, I love them.
It would be nice to be able to space out the kitchen possessions so nicely, with air space around them like that, but most of us aren't so lucky to be able to do that. Unrealistic for most. I've got to use every inch I've got.
Live the pillar treatment.
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Ann 10-18-2009 @ 4:30PM
Not kid friendly at all.
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Nikki 10-18-2009 @ 4:41PM
I live in Florida also and this kitchen makes me want to puke. It really has no style. Very plain with wild colors. I would be too embarrased to invite people over if this was my kitchen, which would never be. What else would they expect people and friends to say when they come and see it? I'm sure they're going to say how nice it looks, but leave laughing their A$$ off!
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Pam 10-18-2009 @ 8:07PM
I live in Florida also and all I can say is YUCK! Someone has way too much money & time on their hands.
Germ Phobe 10-18-2009 @ 4:46PM
Get your feet off the table!!!! YUCK!!!
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Hana 10-18-2009 @ 4:57PM
Color can stimulate us in many ways. Red, orange and yellow color psychologically stimulate part of the brain that relates to emotions, sense of urgency and hunger. For sure not the correct color for kitchen. Look at major food places - they use red and yellow color in their marketing to stimulate hunger. In this kitchen you will eat all the time.
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Vicki 10-18-2009 @ 5:42PM
Way too much !! I think it is overwhelming! Try Again!
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Shelley 10-18-2009 @ 5:58PM
It's GORGEOUS!! Love those citrus colors and the retro white furniture.... FOR FLORIDA! or California. Can't say I'd like it in Oklahoma. But I didn't see much I didn't like. Fabulous cabinets. Come on, people. You can appreciate it and not necessarily want it for yourself! I do agree with the comment about the sharp corners, though, on those countertops. Ow! Wouldn't have taken away from the look to gently round those things and sure would prevent a bunch of bruises. Anyway, love the kitchen, including the silver on display. There's nothing cold about this kitchen -- warm and inviting!
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