Houzz Tour: Sun-Washed Sophistication for a Miami Apartment
Ivory hues and crystal touches reflect light and create easy elegance in a beachfront Florida getaway for a family
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
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Two busy doctors in New York bought this second home in Miami so they could pack up with their young son, invite the grandparents, hop on a plane headed south and get away from cold weather and their busy schedules. While their new Sunny Isles apartment had spectacular views, the layout was closed in and the bathrooms and kitchen were blah; the couple needed help from a professional to make everything functional and serene.
Enter Ivonne Ronderos, owner of DKOR Interiors, and her design team. Working very closely with the homeowners, they came up with a relaxing scheme that celebrates the views and beachfront location in subtle ways, without falling into typical coastal decor or themes. "As per the family, who are very bohemian-like, there was not one specific style to the final design," says Ronderos. "The home has a very eclectic feel — a true mix of all styles, just like the family."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a vacation home for a couple and their toddler.
Location: Sunny Isles, Miami
Size: About 3,500 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms
Enter Ivonne Ronderos, owner of DKOR Interiors, and her design team. Working very closely with the homeowners, they came up with a relaxing scheme that celebrates the views and beachfront location in subtle ways, without falling into typical coastal decor or themes. "As per the family, who are very bohemian-like, there was not one specific style to the final design," says Ronderos. "The home has a very eclectic feel — a true mix of all styles, just like the family."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a vacation home for a couple and their toddler.
Location: Sunny Isles, Miami
Size: About 3,500 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms
| This part of Florida is known for its beautiful, warm weather plus sun-drenched buildings and breathtaking ocean views. The family spends most of their time on this large balcony, which wraps around the apartment. The designers provided spaces for outdoor lounging, dining, visiting, napping and playing. |
The entryway makes you pause and realize you've landed somewhere special, while the view beyond beckons. The team designed around the existing circle in the entryway's ceiling. "The owner loves crystal, so the idea was to introduce crystal and reflections and to play with shadows on the ceiling," Ronderos says. The statement chandelier doubles as a piece of contemporary art. "The team created the apartment as one unified space, but at the same time, we delineated the main areas through the use of color, pattern, texture, furnishings and art," she says. The concept of reflection is one of the elements that creates continuity throughout the apartment.
With a beach apartment come a lot of sandy not-so-artlike objects — such as umbrellas, chairs, beach toys, baskets and towels — that need to stay close at hand; the team designed unobtrusive custom closets for these in the entry.
With a beach apartment come a lot of sandy not-so-artlike objects — such as umbrellas, chairs, beach toys, baskets and towels — that need to stay close at hand; the team designed unobtrusive custom closets for these in the entry.
| "In the living room, we created a space that is functional but elegant at the same time. We wanted an open feel to accommodate the oceanfront view," Ronderos says. Functional elements include porcelain wood floor tiles that are durable and slip resistant under wet feet, as well as very durable fabrics. The room is mostly ivory but has pops of copper and wood textures. Lacquer surrounds the media wall and continues on the custom-designed ceiling. "The color and material palette was inspired the ocean," Ronderos says. "We knew the ocean view would reflect onto the ceiling's lacquer." |
| "The kitchen needed to relate to the ocean views, and we wanted the family to feel as if they were outside when they were in the kitchen, so we brought the outside in and the inside out," Ronderos says. It's an eat-in kitchen, and it combines sleek contemporary and natural touches that complement the view without distracting from it. A glass Caviar Cluster chandelier doesn't distract from the view; materials like wood and stone relate to the beach below. "The idea behind using these natural objects was to make the kitchen cozier," the designer says. |
A casual bar area in the corner combines hard and soft surfaces.
Throughout the home: wall coverings: Eykon; floors: Eko Floor Solutions, Romo
Throughout the home: wall coverings: Eykon; floors: Eko Floor Solutions, Romo
| The team prioritized comfort again in the master bedroom but created elegance via textures and materials. The carved wood headboard and occasional chair introduce patterns in a subtle way. Nightstands: Mayfair Steamer Cube with Drawers, Restoration Hardware |
| The spa-like master bathroom continues the feelings of luxury and warmth; reflective surfaces keep things light. Another crystal light fixture glows overhead. |
| The guest bedroom was designed with visiting grandparents in mind. "We wanted to create a cozy space that was simple but well designed," says Ronderos. A rug full of blues and greens is a subtle reference to the coast. Wall covering, accent wall: Soft Silver Framed, Phillip Jeffries |
| The modern nursery's brilliant blues and soft greens take their inspiration from the coastal setting. "In the son's bedroom, we wanted to create a space that the toddler boy could grow into — something that would transition without a lot of expense in the future," Ronderos says. "We didn’t want a lot of toys in the middle of the room but rather an open, playable area." Rug: Global Views |
| Despite being on vacation when they're here, the couple needed a workspace. "We wanted the office to be functional without looking too industrial and cold; we wanted it to be a space that made reading and working more fun," Ronderos says. Small marine touches like the glass floats, jellyfish and artwork remind them that they are steps away from the sea. |
The powder room is subtly elegant; textures reflect the light in this windowless room.
| "The balcony design is very important, because it surrounds the entire apartment," Ronderos says. This area is for gathering and lounging while enjoying the endless ocean views. The team chose furniture that could stand up to heavy weather conditions. "One of the most interesting things about this project was the process itself; the homeowners showed a greater-than-average client interest in the design process, thus becoming an essential part of our design team and process," Ronderos says. "It was exciting to watch them research, learn and work alongside with us when designing. This was truly a team effort." |
Ideabook updated on Jan. 18, 2013.
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I, personally, think it's fantastic, though the pictures really don't give me the sense of 3500 sf, unless they're counting the balcony.