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Stanley Katzman had his eye on modern decor when he contacted Mindy Wagner, principal of Mindy Wagner & Associates Inc., and her husband Bruce, owner of MHIC Construction Inc. Katzman, 67, likes browns, blacks, and chromes; sleek, clean palettes. He also listened to his sister who suggested that he use glass accents because they can make a space appear larger – just what he had in mind when he inherited his father’s condo in Leisure World.
“I need a lot of light,” Katzman says. So the Wagners worked to make the spaces as wide-open, bright, and luxurious as possible. They made such an impression that others in this adult community’s high-rise building have enlisted their expertise for kitchen renovations.
At Katzman’s home, Bruce, 46, and Mindy, 56, did a total overhaul. Bruce removed an outdated kitchen, walls that separated the kitchen from the living and dining rooms, and sliding closet doors. The foyer now feels like an elegant entryway, space is saved with pocket doors, and a bedroom was removed to expand the rooms, giving Katzman everything he needs.
Hitting the Right Notes
In 1995 Mindy bought R&F, an established design firm, founded by Brigitte Freidin and her partner, Freeda Wolf. Major clients are active adults looking for a way to live elegantly, Mindy says. Selecting lightweight furniture that can easily be moved, helping clients declutter and take only essentials with them when moving, and transforming spaces to fit needs are all part of Mindy and Bruce’s expertise. “We wanted to take away the typical Leisure World feel” found in the older buildings in this Silver Spring, MD, community, Bruce says. The Wagners’ design practice also includes a broad range of clients and styles, including contemporary, traditional, residential, and commercial.
Katzman’s love of music – he plays the guitar and performs locally – and love of traveling were important considerations. One bedroom became a mini-media room with music and travel posters and prints, as well as a corner outfitted as an office. The redesigned powder room is now a full bath with a beautiful Vitraform sink, river rocks, and travertine tiles.
In the living area, Bruce found ways to make spaces cohesive, such as making soffits match so they look like design elements. He opened the kitchen to the living room, foyer, and dining area. The dining table doubles as a bridge table for weekly games. “I got my wide-open spaces,” Katzman says. Plus, Leisure World offers him a quiet, gated, and safe community. He adds, “Everything is taken care of for you.”
