Haus of Hue

By Melissa de Valcourt
Published November 29, 2022
Haus of Hues

This fall, longtime Pensacola business Aqua Décor and Design on 9th Avenue was acquired by Haus of Hue. Haus of Hue will continue to offer coastal furniture and design, adding some fresh ideas and new styles. One of their local Pensacola projects was a historic home in downtown Pensacola, newly purchased by Kim Simpson.

Haus of Hue, initially started as a Miami design business by Bakarian-Simpson, turned into a multi-partnered furniture company owned by Rafael, Marc Verbena, and Richard Buckley. "We started designing together before we acquired Aqua. We are just investing heavily in the community and really want to bring something interesting regarding furniture to Pensacola," says Rafael Simpson.

The historic downtown Pensacola home features three bedrooms, three baths, an open living space, a chef's kitchen, a single-car garage, and a fabulous pool. Rafael says this was the first house in Pensacola that Haus of Hue outfitted and sourced together, even down to the custom furniture. "We designed and sourced all of the furnishings in the home. We designed the custom beds and chairs and sourced Parisian club chairs… we even sourced the marble accents, the small homewares, and coffee table books. It was just a highly curated space and a lot of fun." says Rafael. The European flair that you’ll see in some of the furniture chosen, is an example of what the design team loves to incorporate alongside the coastal design we know and love, according to Haus of Hue CEO Marc Verbena.

The developers began restoring the house and hired Studio Pica Design, a full-service multidisciplinary design firm based in downtown Pensacola owned by Nicholas Pica. (See photos of the home throughout the restoration process on Studio Pica Design's Instagram story.) Architect Nicholas Pica saw the house from dilapidation and "brought it back, and then some, to its original glory,'' says Rafael. "Nick and his firm chose all the finishings; it was definitely his baby in restoring the home. Anything that Nick touches is fabulous. He designed every element of the house except for the furnishings," says Rafael. "The house is special," says Rafael, "when it comes to restoration and preservation, it has to be done specifically." When you purchase a historic home, you also agree to a strict code of upkeep, obliging you to preserve the original architecture and beauty of the house. All of Pica's restoration ideas had to be approved by the City of Pensacola's design board. Some of Pica's proposals for the house included expanding the footprint with additions to the west and north sides of the structure. The expansions would accommodate a master suite, guest rooms, and an outdoor living area with direct access to a pool.

An older building on the property was taken down, and the fabulous pool was added. The proposed additions also featured clapboards to match the residence's existing exterior. The roof was done in standing seam metal to coordinate with the existing roof. All details for the porches were maintained to match the existing features. We love the welcoming entry porch, which is quintessentially southern!

Historic Haus of Hues
Pensacola House

The entryway has gorgeous white oak flooring, which pairs perfectly with all of the natural lighting coming into the home. The entryway leads right into an elegant dining room with the same bright and airy feeling. A delicate chandelier contrasts beautifully with the preserved historic brick fireplace. White linen swivel chairs and a custom oval white marble dining table maintain the bright, airy theme throughout the home.

Pensacola House of Hues

In the kitchen, we fell in love with the tapestry blue La Cornue cooking range, which has polished brass knobs. The stylish and elegant range anchors the kitchen as the heart of the home. The adjacent dish pantry has the same subtle blue interior and is embellished with brass as well, and has metal mesh door inserts, the perfect complement to the cooking range. The Moroccan white zellige tiles on the wall lend elegance to the kitchen's backdrop. Zellige tiles are unique and one of Morocco's most valued and recognizable art forms; from forming the clay to chiseling the tiles, the entire process is done by hand. The transitional u-shaped chairs arranged around the kitchen island allows friends and family to be social in the kitchen, keeping with the modern trend of kitchens being social spaces and less, rooms to prepare food.

Pica also incorporated a scullery into the renovation. A scullery is a smaller kitchen used for cleaning and extra workspace and is a favorite of Pica's to include in luxury home design.

The bedrooms have custom beds with side tables, rugs, and linens, all sourced by Haus of Hue.

The bar has light oak cabinets and a rolling library ladder, outfitted with an assortment of books and homewares chosen by Haus of Hue.

Heading outside, Haus of Hue partnered with a company called Le Scape, owned by Rafael's brother-in-law, Garrett Goodwin, to do all the outdoor hardscaping, landscaping, and unique pool design. Interestingly, Garrett is a well-known musician from Nashville who toured with Carrie Underwood and launched his upscale landscaping company in Pensacola. He chose Italian ferns to line the pool.

Rafael says the goal of Haus of Hue is investing in the community and bringing styles from outside the region while remaining complementary to the coast's overall aesthetic, which is evident in this magnificent historic remodel.

BRING YOUR VISION TO US

The experts at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery are here to help create a home that’s as extraordinary as you are. Any project, any style, any dream—bring your inspiration to Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery. Visit fergusonshowrooms.com to discover more and find your nearest showroom.

Historic House of Hue
Haus of Hue Aqua Decor and Design
Related Articles
April 11, 2025
A Coastal Haven of Color and Timeless Design Read More
April 11, 2025
Coastal Elegance: What to Know When Buying a Waterfront Home on the Gulf Coast Read More
April 11, 2025
Market Watch with John D'Amico Read More
April 11, 2025
Eyes On The Market: 30A Market Watch Read More
April 10, 2025
A Manor of Speaking Read More
January 29, 2025
Churchill Oaks: Where Nature Meets Southern Charm Read More
January 28, 2025
KITCHEN OF THE ISSUE: Feb/Mar 2025 Read More
January 28, 2025
Market Watch: Gulf Shores Read More
January 28, 2025
Market Watch: A Coastal Perspective Read More
November 29, 2024
MARKET WATCH: The Increasing Demand for New Construction Homes Along the Gulf Coast Read More
November 29, 2024
Kitchen of the Issue Read More
November 29, 2024
Beach Girl at Home: A Vibrant Embrace of Coastal Color, Style, and Local Art Read More
November 29, 2024
Designing a Dream: Janice Gaultney’s Custom Home in Santa Rosa Beach Read More
November 29, 2024
Coastal Dreams Realized: A Family Retreat on Ono Island Read More
November 29, 2024
Aluminum Building Systems: A Family Legacy of Quality and Innovation in Outdoor Living Read More
September 25, 2024
Market Watch: Ono Island New Construction Report Read More
September 25, 2024
Reclaiming The Past: Holly Covington's Journey To Timeless Lumber Read More
September 25, 2024
A Dream Realized: Building Coastal Elegance On Arnica Bay Read More
September 25, 2024
Experience The Magic Of Christmas At Risa’s Interiors In Miramar Beach Read More
September 25, 2024
Crafting Coastal Masterpieces: Ted Foret’s Architectural Showcase On 30A Read More
July 31, 2024
The SubZero Lifestyle Read More
July 31, 2024
Market Watch Read More
July 31, 2024
Mortgages: A Long Look Forward Read More
July 31, 2024
Hammock Bay Chateau Read More
1 2 3 6
What Our Clients Have to Say
We Saw Results After Our First Ad Placement!
We have tried multiple advertising channels throughout the years and stand firm by Coastal Lifestyle Magazine. We saw immediate results after our first ad placement, and continue to experience growth with each issue.

The Design Team
Hollis Interiors
hollisinterior.com

The Best Decision We Made About Allocating Our Advertising Dollars!
To say Coastal Lifestyle Magazine is a benefit to your business is an understatement! The day our ad hit we started receiving calls about our modular homes. Mitch and his team went above and beyond for us. This was the best decision we could have made about allocating our advertising dollars. Thank You Coastal Lifestyle Magazine for helping our business excel!!

Wendy Dean
Whitson Modular Home Builders
Facebook @WhitsonBuilders

Website & Marketing by Real Nice Digital

Coastal Lifestyle Magazine. Copyright © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram