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When Mark Kornfeld of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania bought a renovated oceanfront condo at the Harbour House in Bal Harbour, it was strictly as an investment. But he soon realized it had ideal components for a getaway retreat. Floor-to-ceiling glass drew priceless ocean views and captured the uplifting Florida light. In addition, the apartment overlooked the pool area, a dead ringer for a tropical Caribbean resort. If there was any drawback, it was size: The condo was only 1,000 square feet.
Nonetheless, Kornfeld wanted to move in immediately after the closing. But the condo merely had stone in the kitchen and bathrooms and carpeting in the living spaces.
He contacted Carole Pumpian, a respected Miami Beach design coordinator who had designed for him in the past, and gave her a daunting challenge. She had three weeks to finish the condo.
Yet Pumpian was undaunted. She had 20 years of experience in buying, rehabbing and selling family homes in Florida in six weeks. She also knew the client’s taste. It was stark modern.
The two agreed on the design concept of a cocktail table, for which they selected travertine stone together. Then Kornfeld returned to Wilkes-Barre and Pumpian proceeded with total freedom.
She visually enlarged the space with a color scheme of white, mocha, cream, and aqua. Because of the tight deadline, she limited herself to available merchandise. The sofa came first.
“I always buy the biggest piece first because, depending on color, I have that as the starting point,” she comments.
Walls were painted a tone-on-tone putty color, hiding flaws from the original texture. Furniture was kept to a minimum for an illusion of space.
To enhance the livability, Pumpian created multi-functional scenarios. The glass and Brazilian mahogany wood extension dining table in the great room doubles as a desk. And in the master bedroom, Pumpian had a wardrobe customized in the existing closet to make room for a singular bed without furniture. “The headboard can move, and the tables are movable and can be inserted anywhere on the bed,” she explains.
Kornfeld first saw the finished interior when he arrived late one night. Pumpian says he immediately called her and said it was a ten.
Kornfeld now spends the majority of his time in the condo. He says, “It’s very sophisticated, very comfortable and it functions well. My hat’s off to Carole. She stuck to the budget, she watched the details, and she had orange juice in the fridge when I arrived.” And she met the deadline.
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