The Seminole Place Project
Meet Joseph “JR” Rodrigues, the Brazilian architect and interior designer behind this warm, transitional home in Laguna Niguel. JR began his career in interiors working in stone and tile showrooms where he developed his passion for kitchen and bathroom design, as well as an admiration for natural materials. After obtaining a Fine Arts Degree from Woodbury University, JR worked for a well-established interior design firm and then transitioned into establishing his own firm, Joseph Rodrigues Interiors, in 2020. It was at this time JR began working with PIRCH at the Costa Mesa location.
A Transitional Farmhouse Kitchen
JR’s design aesthetic prioritizes balance and harmony, and he pays special attention to the way each element relates to and contrasts with one another. JR says that his designs are inspired by “natural finishes, earthy colors and textures, and the subtle beauty in nature.” Throughout the design process, JR focuses on incorporating the client’s identity and life experiences into his designs. Enter this transitional kitchen with farmhouse influences, inspired by the homeowner’s love of wine country and the Napa Valley.
This existing 1978 ranch style home had a long, narrow galley kitchen with all stainless-steel appliances. JR identified that the main goal for this project was to “open the kitchen up to the dining area and have a focal point and center gathering island.” Well Done OC, a local builder, handled the engineering and construction needed to achieve these goals.
While many kitchens lean ultra-modern these days, this kitchen reminds us that classic patterns and traditional features never go out of style. JR’s design vision for this farmhouse-inspired kitchen included various textures, rich olive greens, warm tones, and some traditional elements. “Olive green is my client’s favorite color,” comments JR. “It was important to me to emphasize it by applying it onto the main features of the kitchen.”
When it came to choosing the range for the space, JR mentions that “the ILVE range captured the nostalgic vibe we were going for, from the custom finishes to all the small details.” JR and the homeowner chose a custom ILVE Majestic Series range in off-white with graphite hardware, which offers a traditional aesthetic but with modern cooking technologies. To this day, ILVE appliances are handmade in Italy by modern day craftsmen and women ensuring a fully customized look and state-of-the-art construction. The hood, tiled in a darker shade of olive green with copper detailing, complements the range beautifully and acts as one of the focal points in the kitchen.
The rich olive green was also introduced in the paneling for the Fisher and Paykel refrigeration as well as the U-Line Wine Cooler, both of which JR mention “offered the perfect scale and panel ready abilities for what we wanted.” Not only were the refrigerators panel ready, JR had installed both appliances on a previous project and “heard nothing but great things about them,” making it an easy choice.
The center island features countertops in Brazilian quartzite with a leather finish, the Barclay Gwen sink, and Rohl faucets. JR mentions that “it was very important for me and the client to add patina finishes to the space,” so the Tuscan Brass finish on the Rohl Patricia faucet was a perfect fit. Additionally, the sink and faucets celebrate the farmhouse aesthetic that was so important to the design vision. The light-colored quartzite countertops let the patterned tile backsplash and rich olive cabinetry shine. “We wanted to make a statement on the range wall therefore the colorful and contrasting geometric pattern tile helped us achieve that impact,” says JR.
At PIRCH, we love to help homeowners and trade clients bring their projects to life. Our knowledgeable Sales Consultants have such deep insight into the brands and products available and can help provide creative solutions to any design challenge. Their mission is to help guide our clients through the product selection process and provide input in ways that are helpful and supportive.
“Brian Perez is my main point of contact, and he as well as his team has been efficient, professional, and very easy to work with” says JR. “Albert Vasquez, [prior to] his relocation to FL, also was a force to all my projects. They both have gone above and beyond to resolve an issue or fulfill an order.”
Working with PIRCH is helpful because of “their…competitive prices, and the extensive selection of fixtures, appliances, and hardware,” continues JR. “The showrooms also really help with visualization as well as the efficient staff members!”
To learn more about architect and interior designer Joseph “JR” Rodrigues, follow him on Instagram, and check out his website for more design inspiration.
