Debra Yates: The Art of Space

"There is a minimalist design philosophy which states that when you reduce the number of ideas, then each idea has to be better," explainsdesigner and artist Debra Yates. Although born and raised in Key West, her artistic vision clearly strays from the traditional candy colored cottages that tend to define the island's aesthetic. That is not to say Key West's relaxed, tropical lifestyle, and sensory treasures-sun, wind, water, blooming trees, the distinct rustle of palm fronds, the shadows they cast-have not left an indelible markon the design style of this self-described contemporary sub-tropical modernist. "Great space should be relaxing as well as stimulating, incorporating pure shapes, honest forms and a dramatic use of light and space," she says.From conch cottages, to mid-century concrete homes, to motels transformed into chic boutique hotels, Yates leaves a distinctive mark by creating spaces that embrace her modernist vision-contemporary, tranquil, uncluttered, clean lined. Her interiors are defined by open white space, dramatic use of natural light, carefully edited andplaced objects, and cleverly implemented storage to hide what is not pleasing to the eye. "I think of space as sculpture, where empty space becomes as, or more important than, what you put in that space," she explains.Minimalist gardens are also an integral part of her projects and she frequently designs a house and its gardens simultaneously as one unified entity, the garden serving as an extension of the home. She believes that the exterior space should be designed with the same level of precision and attention to detail that is applied to the interior, creating garden rooms through use of similar materials found in the interior such as white canvas curtains, stainless steel, stone, wood, outdoor rugs, and accent lighting. The distinction between outside and inside is often blurred as glass walls slide away inviting the inside out and the outside in. Plantings created by Yates are mostly native and minimal, using repetition of groupings to create rhythm and trees as sculptural elements. Pools, ponds, fountains, there is often the element of water in her gardens with boldly colored or large mosaic tiled walls becoming backdrops for cascading waterfalls. Debra Yates' sculptural-minimalist's style is unmistakable. "Whether I'm creating an abstract painting, or a garden, a large scale mosaic wall, or open air interior space, I am always striving to say something new."