The Story Behind This Fisher Island Residence: Why We Chose Not to Replace 4,000 Square Feet of Marble
- Guimar Urbina
- 18 hours ago
- 4 min read
Every project has a story, and this one almost began with a very expensive mistake.
This beautiful Fisher Island residence came to us through one of our trusted Realtor partners, who introduced us to a wonderful family looking to transform their vacation home into a warm, elegant retreat.
The apartment was their second home—a place where they could escape, gather with family, and enjoy everything Fisher Island has to offer. Their goal wasn't to completely reinvent the apartment; it was to create a home that felt fresh, sophisticated, welcoming, and timeless.
During our very first meeting, they asked me a question I hear quite often:
"Guimar, do you think we should replace all the flooring?"
My answer surprised them.
"No."
Sometimes the Best Design Decision Is Knowing What Not to Change
As designers, it's easy to recommend replacing everything—new flooring, new walls, new ceilings, and new layouts.
But great design isn't about changing everything.
It's about understanding where your investment will have the greatest impact.
This residence featured approximately 4,000 square feet of Crema Marfil marble, a timeless natural stone that was still in excellent condition.
Replacing it would have required:
Demolition of thousands of square feet of marble.
Extensive labor and floor preparation.
New material and installation.
Additional construction time.
A significant portion of the renovation budget.
Could we have replaced it?
Absolutely.
Should we?
In my professional opinion, no.
Instead, I recommended investing the budget where it would truly transform the way the apartment looked and felt.
Designing Around What Already Had Value
Rather than fighting the warm undertones of the existing marble, we embraced them.
Our vision was to create a light, coastal-inspired residence that felt elegant without feeling overly themed—a home that reflected the relaxed lifestyle of Fisher Island while maintaining a timeless sophistication.
One of the greatest values an interior designer brings to a project is knowing what to preserve just as much as knowing what to change.
Rather than drawing attention to the flooring, we wanted the eye to travel naturally throughout the apartment, discovering each architectural detail along the way.
We introduced custom wood wall panels to add warmth and architectural interest, paired with beautiful satin fabric wallcoverings from our exclusive Guimar Urbina Home Collection, adding softness, texture, and understated luxury throughout the residence.
A carefully curated palette of light neutrals, layered natural textures, contemporary furnishings with inviting silhouettes, and decorative lighting created an environment that feels refined, comfortable, and welcoming.
Another thoughtful decision was to preserve the existing textured feature walls in the bar and TV areas.
While many homeowners assume everything should be replaced during a renovation, these textured walls were already a beautiful architectural feature. In fact, this type of finish has become highly sought after in today's luxury interiors and would represent a significant investment to recreate.
Instead of removing them, we embraced them as part of the new design, allowing them to become one of the apartment's defining architectural elements.
In the end, the existing marble flooring and textured walls became the foundation of the design rather than elements to disguise.
Reimagining the Kitchen
The kitchen was another area where we saw an opportunity to dramatically improve both function and everyday living.
It didn't reflect the way our clients actually used their vacation home.
Because this is a place where family gathers during holidays and weekends, we wanted the kitchen to feel warmer, more inviting, and significantly more functional.
We redesigned the space to include:
Better storage for small appliances.
A dedicated coffee station.
Additional cabinetry for everyday organization.
A comfortable breakfast area where the family could enjoy casual mornings together.
Luxury isn't always about making a space larger.
Sometimes it's about making it work better.
Modernizing Without Major Demolition
One of our primary goals was to modernize the apartment without unnecessary demolition.
We intentionally chose not to:
Replace the flooring.
Relocate air-conditioning vents.
Modify the existing structural layout.
Instead, we focused on improvements that would create the greatest visual impact while keeping construction efficient.
One of the biggest transformations came from the ceilings.
Rather than lowering the ceilings with traditional drywall to accommodate new lighting, we recommended VELUM Stretch Ceilings.
This innovative ceiling system allowed us to create clean, contemporary ceilings while seamlessly integrating modern LED track lighting.
The advantages were substantial:
A faster installation process.
Cleaner construction with minimal disruption.
No significant loss of ceiling height.
A sleek, contemporary appearance.
Shorter renovation timelines.
For homeowners who want to modernize their home without months of construction, stretch ceiling technology is one of the smartest solutions available today.
Luxury Design Isn't About Spending More
One of the biggest misconceptions in luxury renovations is that replacing everything automatically creates a better result.
I couldn't disagree more.
My responsibility as an interior designer isn't simply to specify beautiful materials.
It's to help my clients make intelligent investment decisions.
Sometimes that means recommending a complete transformation.
Other times, it means recognizing when an existing element still has tremendous value.
In this Fisher Island residence, preserving the existing marble flooring and textured walls allowed us to redirect the investment toward architectural details, custom millwork, lighting, furnishings, and design elements that dramatically changed the overall experience of the home.
The result feels completely transformed—without unnecessary demolition.
The Final Result
Today, this residence feels bright, elegant, welcoming, and perfectly suited to the way our clients live and entertain.
Looking back, choosing not to replace thousands of square feet of marble wasn't about saving money.
It was about investing wisely.
Because great design isn't measured by how much you change.
It's measured by making the right decisions.
Every project teaches us something, and this home reinforced one of the most important lessons I share with every client:
Luxury isn't about replacing everything. Luxury is about knowing where your investment will have the greatest impact.
Watch the complete transformation and discover how thoughtful planning can completely change the way a home feels.
Planning a Luxury Renovation?
Whether you're renovating a waterfront residence, a luxury condominium, or a vacation home, every project begins with understanding what truly deserves to change—and what already adds value.
At Guimar Urbina Interiors, we believe exceptional design starts with thoughtful planning, strategic decision-making, and creating homes that feel timeless, functional, and deeply personal.
If you're considering a renovation, we'd love to help you discover where your investment can make the greatest impact.