Creating beachfront spaces is this designer’s specialty
Danielle McDonald has found her niche, and it’s one that many would envy. The famed New Jersey shore is her backdrop, and second homes on the beach are her specialty.
After many years in the design industry, McDonald started at Margate, NJ-based Colmar Kitchen & Bath Studio in 2005. The design approach to these homes is different, she notes, because the needs and functions are different than they would be for a main home.
“For entertaining purposes, we need to have the kitchen oriented to outdoor living along with indoor living because people are vacationing here,” she reports. “The outdoor space is a major focal point of the entertaining done here.
“Everything is about an influx of people for three to four days, and then there’s nobody,” she continues. Kitchens are often on the second floor to take advantage of the view, and they showcase a lot of clean lines and a modern aesthetic.
One of McDonald’s designs was recently honored with the Viking Designer of Distinction award. The client had purchased a huge retirement multi-unit home on the beach that was originally for Catholic priests. “They knocked down the facility and built one large home, which included an apartment for each of their children – three condos in one house,” she explains.
McDonald was honored at KBIS 2017 in front of her peers. “It was a great honor to be recognized for something I am passionate about,” she concludes.
