Kitchen Ideas
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Accidental Design
The environment within which I grew up fostered an awareness and appreciation of accidental design. Those un-designed spaces like the house I grew up in, the local tavern or corner restaurant where so many memories, were indelibly etched into my memory. ‘Beautiful’ spaces aren’t always designed. Sometimes they seem to happen all by themselves - as if by accident.
Object based design leads us towards beautiful places in which wonderful things MAY happen. By shaping spaces around the activity rather than the object, there’s a much better chance wonderful things WILL happen there.
Non-Profit Organization of the Year
Marblehead 20/20 Foundation has been awarded the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce 2007 Non-Profit Organization of the Year!
Join us at the Chamber’s 55th Annual Meeting, Wednesday, September 26, 5:30-8:30 pm at the Corinthian Yacht Club for the celebration.
Marblehead 20/20 Board of Directors
We are pleased to present our Board of Directors:
President: Michael McCloskey, President, Michael McCloskey Design Group
Secretary: Brian LeClair, Attorney at Law
Directors: Ralph Khouri, Khouri Oriental Rugs and Ann Marie Casey, Executive Director, Marblehead Chamber of Commerce.
Mission statement: Marblehead 20/20 is a grass roots non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of community life in Marblehead in whatever form it may take.
Puerto Rico Residences
In 2005, a Harvard college colleague took me to his newly purchased suburban site just outside of
This new home responds to the wonderful year round climate in Puerto Rico and heavily wooded, sloped back yard of the property.
We began by building 3 natural stone walls running the length of the property. We envisioned that these walls were always here and we’d build a house around them by placing glass walls perpendicular to the stone walls. This makes the house transparent, front to back, and anchors it to the landscape.
Glass, stone, plants and water: this was going to be the palette.
Reflecting pools between the house, garage and forecourt add to the lightness of the structure and reflect moving water patterns on the underside of the roof. Blue lights under the bridge highlight the bridge’s etched glass and water below. Nighttime is spectacular.
By using an inverted gable roof, the views from all areas in the house are expanded to the tree tops and beyond. The cantilevered roof shades the house from the harsh sun and conceals solar powered electrical systems from sight. Beyond the patio and outdoor kitchen is a cantilevered lap pool which extends along one of the stone walls into the woods.
On the left side of the house, attached to the garage is a service corridor that contains the maid’s quarters, laundry, mechanical and storage rooms. These areas lead to the kitchen, dining areas and the children’s playroom. Continuing to the right, on the other side of the kitchen is a large 2 story living area. The far wall of the room is now polished concrete.
The back wall is 2 stories of glass capturing the magnificent views of the jungle beyond. The front to the living area is raised 24” to create a smaller reading and entertaining space. Above this space is a bridge leading to a home office.
Upstairs there is a large master bedroom suite and 3 junior suites, one for each of the children. A single glass enclosed stair connects the 2 floors.
One of my favorite pieces of the house is the pool. Originally designed to cantilever out from the level part of the property into the jungle beyond, it has a glass bottom with blue lights shining through the water onto another tall stone wall.
Gorgeous. Brilliant. Dramatic.
PDF Floor plans are all below…..
155 Calle San Justo, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Re-design, re-invent and re-engineer - all solid words. All good ones to live by.
Several years ago, I decided it was time to start a new chapter in my professional life. I’ve enjoyed great success as residential designer, but been itching to try something different. I enrolled in a series of courses at Harvard University, my Alma Mata, and wound up enrolling in Advanced Management Development in Real Estate. One of my classmates from Puerto Rico suggested I visit him during the winter of 2003. He put me up at the El Convento Hotel.
This was my first trip to Old San Juan. As I walked the narrow, blue glazed brick streets and alleys, I was amazed at the tightness and consistency of the blocks and buildings. Many had been beautifully redone and painted brilliantly. Others needed a lot of work. Hmmm, I thought. I wonder what it would take to buy and redo a building here?
155 San Justo Street was perfect. It had been passed up by others because the interior had been ripped out many years ago. Where others saw empty spaces, I saw Milan style lofts. I bought the building, designed 3 lofts in the front, 3 traditional units in the back and a penthouse on the roof.
My goal was to produce a product that has yet to be built in Old San Juan. Large open spaces and high-end Italian custom kitchens and closets designs. Limestone floors quarried in Italy and perfectly installed. Everything in the units contemporary yet luxurious. I’ve toured dozens of buildings in OSJ and I can assure you, there is nothing like Calle San Justo on the market, anywhere.
OSJ is an amazing place. You can walk everywhere. And San Justo Street is near it all. Fine restaurants, forts, casino - all minutes away. Cruise ships arrive regularly – tourists and shoppers abound. The airport is 20 minutes away, ($20 cab ride) And of course the beaches. Pristine white sandy beaches - 10 mins away by cab.
Sales are exclusive through Michael Giessler at Caleta Realty. Contact by email or phone: 787 723 3449.
Unit 1A
Starting From: $550,000
Unit 1A is a 1262 sf, 2 bedroom, 2 bath ground floor unit with 2 entrances; one directly off the street and the other through the common door used by the other units. The brick and beam ceilings are a generous 14’ in height. Although the shell of the building is built using traditional materials and methods, the interior is clearly modern. The marble floors, kitchen and closets are manufactured in and imported from Italy. This unique space could be used as a store, shop, studio or other non-residential use. It also comes with access to a 400 sf roof top patio.
This unit is priced at $550,000 and is available for a wide range of custom modifications. Contact us by email or phone 787 723 3449 for more information.
Unit 1B
Starting From: $525,000 Unit 1B Floorplan >>
Unit 1B is a 1223 sf ground floor unit with a 280 sf private courtyard. It has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. The ceilings are over 14’ in height and constructed of traditional brick and iron wood beams. The contemporary interior is spacious with several doors opening onto the courtyard. A small fountain provides a soothing sound throughout the spaces. All the appliances, millwork and cabinets are imported from Italy and custom built to our specifications. If you’re inclined to take in the views of Old San Juan or entertain on the roof top deck, you can.
The unit comes with deeded rights to a 400 sf area on the roof. You can easily customize this unit to suit your needs. Contact us by email or phone: 787 723 3449 for more information.
Unit 2A
Starting From: $595,000 Unit 2A Floorplan >>
This is a very special unit and one of my favorites. It’s on the second floor, is 1750 sf and designed in a European loft style: wide-open spaces, clean modern finishes and beautiful Italian flooring, appliances, kitchens and closet. Similar to the other units in the building, it has 2 bedrooms and 2 full baths. The traditional Old San Juan brick and beam ceiling is over 15’ high. The newly refinished stucco walls contain new electrical wiring, internet communications and many other modern conveniences. The 3 double doors on the front of the unit open onto 3 narrow balconies and afford beautiful streetscape views down to the harbor and cruise ships. The sunlight through the doors is just gorgeous and it comes with deeded access to a 400 sf rooftop patio.
It’s priced at $595,000 and can be easily customized. Contact us by email or phone 787 723 3449 for more information.
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Michael McCloskey Design Group
Offices:Boston, MA Phone: 781-631-3233
Viejo San Juan, Puerto RicoPhone: 787-420-8463
michael@michaelmccloskey.comwww.michaelmccloskey.com
