K2 Design Group, won the top award, the Gold Aurora

 – Best in Show -

at the 31^st Annual Aurora Awards Gala/Spectacular in Orlando on July 24, 2010.

The single-source architectural, interior design and construction management firm also won four Aurora Grand awards for highest achievement in a category and another four Aurora awards for a total of nine awards.

K2’s Aurora awards include:

The Aurora Gold – Best in Show – and Grand and Aurora awards for Custom Home over $3 million category for a single-family beachfront home at South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island.

Gold Aurora on Captiva Island

The contemporary home was designed for a family that loves the island charm of Bali. The focus on open areas, natural materials and gorgeous outdoor views created enchantment in this luxury retreat.

Grand Auroras were awarded for this home’s beautiful landscape…. 

Grand Aurora - Landscape Design

and for unique interior details.

Grand Aurora - Interior Detailing

Aurora and Grand awards for Remodeling, Rehabilitation or Historical Restoration – Whole House Renovation over $100,000.  A Vanderbilt Beach condominium remodel opened a cramped and dated condominium to views. Replacing a kitchen wall with custom wood and glass curio cabinets that concealed electrical and plumbing conduit created room for a peninsula and opened a bar to entertaining.

Grand Aurora - Whole House Renovation

Replacing a wall with a modular wall gave new life to a rarely-used guest bedroom. Contemporary style and color reenergized this high-rise waterfront residence.

Fresh Style with Infusion of Color and Space

The nationally recognized Aurora Awards honor builders, planners, architects, developers, designers, interior merchandisers and other housing-related professionals within a 12-state region stretching from Texas to Virginia plus the Eastern Caribbean.

The Aurora Awards program is affiliated with the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) and the Southeast Building Conference (SEBC), regional organizations recognized by and affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

The makeover of a high-rise waterfront condominium includes a kosher kitchen with stark white Ann Sacks tile and quartz countertops for sterile conditions. The culinary command center enjoys multiple work stations, appliances and cabinets for meat, dairy and parve.

Multiple Preparation Stations for Culinary Masterpieces

Generous bar seating allows the chef to interact with guests while enjoying gorgeous views.   Pendant lighting and stainless appliances and hardware complement the contemporary design.

The separate beverage station conforming to religious custom also serves as a bar with wine refrigeration. To calm the home’s formerly boxy demeanor, a curvilinear approach in many rooms includes interlocking circles repeated in ceiling, countertop, lighting and tile detail. This can be seen in the kitchen’s ceiling details and the graceful curves of many of the zebrawood cabinet panels.

The contemporary pulse invigorates from the first step off of the elevator in this chic waterfront high-rise.  

Red Rules in Stylish Entryway

The striking white, backlit aluminum and resin coral structure is enhanced by high-gloss red cabinets, ideal for stashing beach gear and folding chairs. 

A vibrant red flower, glass mosaic tile feature contributes the soothing sound of cascading water.

Lots of people moving to the waterfront load up on cool stone and glass before missing their roots.  

Change is good. Nothing’s better than wood for conveying tradition. This Marco Island retreat is far from contemporary, for sure. Even the most modern design benefits from the rich color and deep grain of wood.

The topsy turvy real estate market is creating some nightmare situations that designers need to watch out for. While the press is gushing with stories of bargains at every turn, reality has a jagged edge. When a custom furniture manufacturer packs up and leaves town overnight, what’s a girl to do? With trades shutting down without warning and vendor bankruptcies spiking, it takes raw K2 talent to deliver jobs on time and within budget.

In an island retreat, where people on the go come to unwind, clean lines are divine.

Beach combers enjoy simplicity,

and adore luxury.

When time is short, peaceful moments…

and pleasant interludes….are everything.

Getting it right….

….is what we do best.

Our dreams of the Tropics are framed by palms.  Most palms originated in rain forests.  While their survival is threatened in many parts of the world - where they’re relied on for everything from food to clothing - they thrive in South Florida.  Exotic, romantic and mysterious, they come in an incredible variety of shapes and sizes.  Certainly, the raggedy palm frond tugs at our heart strings.  Beside this Captiva Island home, they’re lovely.

Our design for the waterfront setting called for tropical finesse. Natural surfaces, woven-reed furnishings and plenty of palms play largely in its success.

What better way to explore visual, tactile and emotional warmth, than with your feet up on a carved oak table?  Natural is the nonostentatious luxury statement these days.  Draw on nature’s regenerative powers with wood, leather, shell and any number of woven fabrics. In times of stress, we’re happy to come home to craftsmanship and comfort!

Common area makeovers infuse dated condominiums with new life. South Florida’s waterfront is lined with 70s- and 80s-era luxury high-rises screaming for attention. Common area makeovers spur sales, but it’s not just realtors and those selling residences that love these chic enhancements.

We’ve completed several.  A bit of design finesse – in reception areas, social rooms and on pool pavilions - makes extended stays in Paradise more pleasant.

One of the most interesting things happening in contemporary design is in the realm of fabric where everything imaginable – from natural fibers to plastics - is being used  on comfortable pieces.  As technology paves the way for fabrics made of materials designed to take a beating, upholstery is lasting longer.  New directions in furniture reflect the never-ending push for innovation in the fashion industry. There’s no time like the present for a research trip trip to the world’s fashion centers where  haute couture parading down the runways is usually a good indicator of what  furniture showrooms will showcase  several years down the road.