12 | AUG.19 http://www.furniturelightingdecor.com
design notebook
ON THE INSIDE
On the outside, this two-story 7,000-square-foot home
has to remain true to the period, but inside, anything
goes, according to Rodriguez. To keep the aesthetic of
the home in line with the period, however, ceiling beams
and the black-and-white marble y oor tiles will remain in
place, while other elements of the home are updated to a
more modern design.
“Because of the Spanish heritage, there are wood
beams across every part of the ceiling,” Rodriguez says.
“We have to go through a hundred beams to see which
can be saved and which can’t.”WHAT’S NEXT
Rodriguez is currently in the
middle of this project, with an
expectation that it will complete
at year-end. Follow along on
furniturelightingdecor.com
for updates and education on the
continuing challenges and successes
of turning a landmark 500-year-old
home in the heart of historic Old
San Juan into a modern abode
complete with smart technology,
air conditioning and other updated
amenities behind the historic facade
that continues to exemplify the
aesthetic of the period.COLOR REGULATIONS
“When it comes to color,
there are only certain colors
you can choose from,”
Rodriguez notes. “You
present the colors you want
to use to the city. It depends
on what colors are in the
area, and from that they give
you a speciw c palette you can
choose from.” For example,
the front wood windows
facing the the street can only
be painted dark brown, green
or white. If the house next
door is blue, Rodriguez can’t
use the same color.PRESERVING HERITAGE
San Juan was founded by
Spanish settlers some 500 years
ago. According to Rodriguez,
the pathway this home resides
on is made up of six homes in
a row close to a hospital that
housed nurses who cared for
the soldiers during wars in
the 1500s.
“There’s such a heritage to this
speciw c street,” he says. “My
goal is to become more of an
expert so we can work on more
of these homes because I enjoy
the heritage of Old San Juan.
It’s so genuine and beautiful.”