The recent renovation at the Renner’s apartment on Seven Mile Beach reflects and celebrates the hues of the surrounding sea and island.
With a neutral base, the residence mixes the shimmering shades of the water with the golds of stunning sunsets and the vibrant greenery of Grand Cayman.
Apartment owners Linda and Matt Renner chose white walls with pops of colour to bring this bejewelled palette to life.
Hues include the rainbow of blue, sea-foam green, periwinkle and yellow seen in the vistas around their WaterColours residence.
“Our views are so great that it almost feels like you are on a yacht at sea, and we wanted the interior to reflect that,” says Linda.
MOTHER-DAUGHTER DESIGN
The couple’s daughter Katrin, who is an interior designer, played an integral part in helping with the renovation, which began after the property was purchased in late 2022.
Through her company, Katrin Renner Designs, she selected, sourced and arranged shipment of most of the furnishings, rugs, and light fixtures.
She also consigned the paintings in the living room through an artist that she used for a project in Miami for US design company Ken Fulk Inc. that was featured in Architectural Digest magazine.
“I’m fortunate in that we have similar taste, and work well together,” says Linda. “But, Katrin has a fresh eye, and a great sense of colour and proportion, not to mention a master’s degree in interior design, from Parson School of Design, and years of experience working with designers such as Thom Filicia, Kit Kemp and, currently, Ken Fulk.
“I consulted with her initially on the look and feel that she envisioned and, from there, with her help at every step, everything magically fell into place.”
TROPICAL FEEL
The 3,638-square-foot apartment, which has four bedrooms and four-and-a half bathrooms, needed a complete refresh.
“We wanted the place to feel tropical and incorporate pops of colour,” says Linda. “Our main home in St. Louis is mostly neutral, and we kept the primary bedroom here neutral because it feels peaceful.
“The rest of this condo has all-white walls with lots of pops of colour, some colourful wallpaper, some pale-blue ceilings and mostly colourful artwork. We wanted it to lean contemporary, but still have a few timeless, traditional elements, and feel warm and comfortable.”
The ‘must-haves’ included contemporary and interesting light fixtures, and great artwork mixed with the family’s personal objects, along with comfortable furnishings.
Some items were imported from the US, while others were sourced on-island, mostly through Anna Hislop Home.
The statement light fixtures include the entranceway chandelier by Aerin, and the living room custom Kelly Wearstler chandeliers sourced by Katrin, that neither block nor distract from the view of the sea.
The brass in the lights also lends an aged look in contrast to the contemporary structure of the fixtures, and contemporary feel of the rest of the room.
Serena and Lily; turtle rattan wall-hanging collected by Linda while travelling.
HEIRLOOMS
Family heirlooms have been turned into statement items, such as the media centre in the living room.
It’s an antique John Widdecomb piece from Linda’s great aunt’s estate that she had lacquered in teal and shipped to Cayman.
“One of the guest bedrooms has a framed Hermès scarf, gifted to me by my mother,” says Linda. “That sets the colour palette, along with some coastal-feeling Serena & Lily sconces and a mint-green beaded chandelier.”
Another item of signi ficance to the family is the black-and-white lamp in the living room by Dana Gibson, an artist and designer from Virginia for whom Katrin interned in college.
“(This is) an ode to our Virginia ties: my in-laws moved from the UK to Virginia, and my husband and I met there,’ says Linda.
Other favourite furnishings include Shellegance shells, by artist Lucie de Moyencourt from Cape Town, hanging on guest bedroom walls.
The coffee table and primary bedroom bed are custom Vanguard pieces, while the Jonathan Adler console tables in the entranceway get the most compliments.
In the kitchen, the mint-green hood and range are La Cornue from France, sourced by Bon Vivant in Camana Bay.
“They are our special pop of colour in the all-white kitchen,” says Linda. “We love the gold elements on the La Cornue that bring together the gold plumbing fixtures and brass living room fixtures.”
Artwork is from a variety of sources, including Guy Harvey and Ren Seffer, locally, as well as pieces by Linda and Katrin, son Joe and daughter Grace.
The ‘Pools of Color’ pieces above the living room sectional sofa are by Stephanie Henderson from the US and were chosen by Katrin, who hired the artist.
“We love the simplicity of these and how they unite the rest of the art in the unit through colour,” says Linda.
FAMILY DELIGHT
The family are delighted with the newly remodelled waterfront apartment, deepening their connection to the island which they have visited for decades.
Matt has been coming to Grand Cayman since the 1970s, and Linda since 1987 when dating her now-husband. Their three children, now grown up, have also travelled to Cayman every year since each of them was 4 months old.
“We all love the apartment,” says Linda. “Our kids use it and bring their friends, and they all love it. It is such a great family place. We hope it will be used and loved for many years to come.”
INTERIOR DESIGN: Katrin Renner of Katrin Renner Design
APPLIANCES: Bon Vivant for La Cornue hood and range; A. L. Thompson for Sub-Zero appliances
ELECTRICAL: Tri-Power Systems
HVAC: OtisAir
COUNTERTOPS AND NEW SHOWER TILES: ITC
LUTRON BLINDS AND SOUND SYSTEM: Audiophile
CURTAINS: Edie’s
