Gwyneth Paltrow Helps Renovate Her Assistant's Mediterranean-Inspired Home

With the help of Drew and Jonathan Scott, Gwyneth Paltrow makes stunning updates to the home purchased by her right-hand man, Kevin. With an eye for detail, they add architectural elements, taking the condo from outdated to outstanding.

By: Emily Fazio

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Photo By: Dennys Ilic

Gwyneth Paltrow Transforms Her Assistant Kevin’s First Home

Described as Gwyneth’s assistant of 11 years, a colleague, partner, brother and right-hand man, Kevin saved for years to afford his first (and forever) home in California; however, once he purchased the condo it became clear that repairs were in order to make it safe and livable.

With his move-in date delayed while crews opened walls and handled mold remediation, Gwyneth seized a window of opportunity and recruited the Property Brothers to transform the home from outdated to outstanding. “I think he’ll be stunned, and then he’ll cry for two weeks,” she says of the anticipated reveal. “I’ve spent more time with Kevin in aggregate than any other people in my entire life. I am so excited to be able to do something for him.”

Kevin Stands in His New Home

Kevin describes Gwyneth as his sister and acknowledges that not only does she have an eye for design, but that she can surely be trusted to interpret his personal style. After touring dozens of properties together, Gwyneth acknowledges that Kevin was drawn to the Spanish architecture of the condo, the fireplace and the light wood floors. She vowed to make his new home modern and magnificent.

Removing Outdated and Dingy Elements

Gwyneth worked with Drew and Jonathan Scott through the entirety of the renovation. She demoed the kitchen, hung cabinets, chose tile, painted trim and removed the existing block wall railing system. While not as experienced in demolition as she is in design, she was adamant about being a part of the process and giving back to Kevin.

The Living Room, Before

Walls had been opened in Kevin’s new living room for mold remediation, but the large, open space with French doors and a working fireplace appealed to him. The existing bamboo floors had seen better days, but the space was bright and rich with opportunity.

The Living Room, After

Gwyneth wanted to make sure that the new space echoed Kevin’s style, so in addition to upgrading the fireplace and having the crew install new floors, she also insisted on white walls and light furnishings to help keep the room elegant. An old closet was transformed into a bar with a Mediterranean-inspired archway. To add contrast to the otherwise white room, the door trim was painted black for contrast.

The Living Room, Before

Doors and windows on the opposite end of the living room invited natural light, but the gas fireplace was dated and an unusual proportion for the lofted living area. To transform the space not only would they need to furnish it flawlessly, but they would also lean into the Spanish style of the home.

The Living Room, After

The designers converted Kevin’s fireplace from gas to wood-burning and reframed it to enhance its presence in the two-story space. A Roman clay plaster finish adds interest to the finished accent. Engineered hardwood floors extend through the living area now and all of the trim was painted black for contrast.

The Living Room, Before

Despite having numerous windows and doors to allow natural light, Kevin’s original home felt very enclosed by walls and boxy architectural elements. Though some of the walls had been opened by contractors during the mold remediation process, Gwyneth had a vision for how they could transform the space from dated to modern.

The Living Room, After

Two elegant arches were added to the home to enhance its existing Spanish Mediterranean style. One arch, as shown previously, defines a bar in the living room. The second arch opens up the entryway to the kitchen. A round mirror hung in the stairwell and a round marble dining table soften the multitude of sharp angles in the original space.

The Living Room, Before

Instead of a conventional railing, Kevin’s home had a boxy wall surrounding the stairwell. To refresh the space and help it feel modern, Gwyneth had a vision that would brighten the stairway and make it feel both elegant and timeless.

The Living Room, After

Black wrought-iron railings truly transform this home. The designers leaned into the bold contrast between the white walls and the black iron when they decided to paint the trim, but they also selected modern dining chairs that also had black legs.

The Living Room, Before

From the vantage point of the stairwell, you can see how spacious the living room truly is in Kevin’s new home. With half of the room lofted and opened, the team saw an opportunity to improve the scale of the fireplace and use the space to their advantage in the new design.

The Living Room, After

A reframed and enhanced fireplace looks pristine in the two-story space. Its Roman clay plaster appeals to the original Mediterranean architecture in the condo. A black pendant chandelier adds visual interest to the room and hangs over the dining room table.

The Kitchen, Before

The original kitchen in the home left nearly no space for food prep or cooking. The old countertops, plain white cabinets and dated appliances made the already challenged space feel dingy and unappealing. Gwyneth and the design team left no stone unturned as they explored opportunities to open walls and change the orientation of the kitchen in the space.

The Kitchen, After

The team was able to add square footage to the existing kitchen by eliminating a small powder room. The new kitchen cabinets and ornate tile floor help to transform the space into one where Kevin can easily cook. Gwyneth’s pick for floor tile marries the kitchen to the Spanish Mediterranean flavor of the condo, and adds visual interest to the small space.

The Kitchen, After

The architectural archway transforms the entry into the kitchen and helps the room feel connected to the rest of the home. Gwyneth helped remove the old cabinetry and also lent a hand installing the new cabinets. The kitchen now has lighter-colored lower cabinets and reeded glass upper cabinets. A white surround finishes the hood over the range and a marble-like porcelain slab backsplash accents the space.

The Kitchen, After

The new, roomy kitchen layout provides Kevin more space for prepping meals. The team selected a functional black quartz countertop and stainless steel sink to enhance its design. The slab marble backsplash extends across the walls behind the sink and around the window. What was once a crowded, tiny kitchen now feels like a functional, mature space.

The Landing, After

Before the renovation, the landing at the top of the stairs was nothing but a wasted space with a closet on the end. With new flooring and a few simple furnishings, the design team transformed it into a multifunctional lounge. Large-scale framed prints, a comfortable sofa and a fiddle-leaf fig make the space feel polished, mature and intentional.

The Powder Room, Before

The downstairs powder room shown here was eliminated to allow the kitchen to be enhanced. Its layout and placement in the home didn’t add much value, but the designers didn’t want to lose a half-bath entirely, so instead they came up with a solution to relocate it upstairs near the landing.

The Powder Room, After

The new powder room occupies an old closet upstairs. It may be small, but a lot of attention went into the design of this functional bathroom. A floating marble sink, gold fixtures, plaster walls and black marble hex tiles with white veining transform the home’s powder room into a luxurious, moody space.

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Gwyneth Paltrow Helps Renovate Her Assistant's Mediterranean-Inspired Home

Related To:

Shop This Look

Gwyneth Paltrow Transforms Her Assistant Kevin’s First Home

Kevin Stands in His New Home

Removing Outdated and Dingy Elements

The Living Room, Before

The Living Room, After

The Living Room, Before

The Living Room, After

The Living Room, Before

The Living Room, After

The Living Room, Before

The Living Room, After

The Living Room, Before

The Living Room, After

The Kitchen, Before

The Kitchen, After

The Kitchen, After

The Kitchen, After

The Landing, After

The Powder Room, Before

The Powder Room, After

Operands are not of the same type: comparison is supported for Number types only.