Minimalistic Animal Magetism: Luxury highrise in Miami

Entitled “Minimalistic Animal Magetism”, this deliciously designed apartment is situated in Miami, Florida, designed by local design firm Nieto Design Group. This luxury highrise pad has been designed with predominantly black and white interiors, offers stunning views out to the ocean. The mood is set for the entire scene as soon as you step off the elevator and see the dramatic Reflective Eye artwork that is flanked by a custom designed zebra glass wall, highly polished glass slab floors and an 8 foot wide high gloss lacquer pivot front door. Glossy and reflective finishes is mixed with textural materials to create a unique urban pad.

Once passing the camera and voice controlled security system, the 8′ high gloss black lacquer pivot door opens to reveal a dramatic entry hall where Belgian lighting housed in profiles reflect off the polished black glass slab floor to accentuate a portrait of Michael Jackson Invicible by Leonardo Hidalgo.

The kitchen appliances are concealed by custom designed glass panels as the kitchen is part of an open floorplan (the edge of the desk of the home office is visible in the foreground). The bar & kitchen peninsula anchor the kitchen.

The wave shaped sofa was custom designed to take in the expansive ocean view as well as to curl up and watch the 105″ plasma TV. The custom desk designed to comfortably seat two conforms to the fluid shape of the curved sofa. The organically shaped rug made of crocodile-embossed leather and hair-on-hide looks striking against the gleaming glass slab flooring.

The home office seamlessly merges with the living room as the custom leather-top desk-for-two hugs the curve of the back of the sofa, with its wave form and the wavy paneled wall giving homage to the waves crashing on the shoreline thirty stories below. The structural column becomes a focal point when clad in custom painted zebra glass panels with a linear light source embedded within.

Photos: Ken Hayden

Picturesque beach house getaway in WaterColor

Williams Residence is a dream vacation home for a Houston couple designed by Geoff Chick & Associates in WaterColor, Florida. The three-story house faces a neighborhood park and backs up to the Point Washington State Forest, a huge natural preserve. The homeowner who had collected two decades of notes and magazine clippings interior designed the space herself, with simple and clean design of blues, greens and beiges that seems to be collected right from the beach. The home is comprised of 4,731 square feet of living space, with four beds plus a bunk area, four-and-a-half bathrooms and a spacious apartment above the garage with a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.

The awe-inspiring exterior has a signature galvanized roof and HardiePlank lap siding with red cedar shingles, all painted a custom soft blue color made to harmonize with all the materials. Gas lanterns, transom windows, exposed rafters on the top tower structure and a detailed railing with a recurring X pattern punctuate Watercolor’s architectural style. With the intense Florida sunshine, the extended eaves help cut down on solar gain in the tower, and since hurricane winds pose a threat to ripping the roof off, a beam and a corbel detail were added.

This landing area connects the main house to the garage apartment. With a Dutch door, a farmhouse sink, antique wood furniture and a color palette of red, black and white, the style is a mild departure from the rest of the house.

This view is from the third floor — which has a home theater and an office space — looking down on the second, which has a bunk room, a master suite and two guest rooms.

Denise Williams has a massive collection of beach sand from all over the world. The antique nautical map wallpaper in the back of the niche is used to display portions of her collection.

The second-floor bunk room is meant to accommodate future grandkids. The bunks were custom made. The green door is a hundred years old and from Romania.

Note the starry night motif in the bunk room with the dark blue ceiling and custom chandeliers.

A sliding, distressed door on the third floor closes the house off to the fourth-floor tower to prevent heat loss.

 Photos:  Jack Gardner

Modern Palazzo del Mare Residence on Fisher Island

This exclusive modern apartment called Palazzo del Mare has been designed by Miami interior designer Pepe Calderin Design. Pepe and his talented design team demonstrate their flair for creating uber luxurious interiors in this magnificent Fisher Island residence in Miami, Florida. The entryway to this lavish apartment features Calacatta floors, stainless steel and a stone water fall on the right, mirrors on the left and a satin glass ceiling with LED lights suspended with metal rods. The double doors are from Lualdi porte and on each side of the entry doors there is a dolma light from kreon lighting.

Here you can see the effect of glass ceiling and the dolma light on the wood panels. The red wall is a custom glass wall created especially for this unit by the design firm.

In the dining room you can see the red custom glass wall. On the left there is a glass with LED lights
and a wood grid to simulate a window.

The kitchen is comprised of wenge wood and calacatta marble.

The master bedroom retreat features Peter Link photo ceiling details, satin mirror to the left and a B and B lounge chaise.

This custom built media unit features back panels made of leather with a glass shelf. The unit is made of wenge wood and the two speakers are Ferrari.

The master bathroom boasts an Infinity tub by Kholer, blue custom mosaic pattern, ceiling coffer with LED and wenge wood.

The powder room boasts white calacatta floors and a gradient of red to white mosaic light ceiling detail and a custom macassar top with Toscoquattro sink and faucets.

The rug is a custom area rug. You can see the ceiling detail with LED lights.

Photos: Courtesy of Pepe Calderin Design

Colorful beachfront vacation retreat in Florida

This bright and colorful beachfront property is situated in Vero Beach, Florida, designed by John David Edison Interior Design. This stunning 7,200 square foot vacation retreat was built for a couple from Toronto, Canada, located on the waterfront near John’s Island. The interior derives from the home’s strong architectural elements and sports a vibrant blend of colors – fuchsias, turquoises, and kiwis to reflect the bright, natural beauty of that part of the state.

Photos: Kim Sargent, Sargent Architectural Photography

Captivating Villa Azza with Miami skyline views

The luxury Villa Azza features superb views of the Miami, Florida skyline with expansive tropical gardens and Spanish hacienda-style architecture under an intense cobalt sky. One of Miami Beach’s finest, most original waterfront luxury villas, this stunning villa offers five bedrooms and six bathrooms. The interior is truly a sight to behold with a stylish, funky interior. Offering invigorating architecture, décor and art makes every room a symphony of beauty, comfort and luxury. The villa features a great room with vaulted ceiling, fully equipped gym, office, den, bar, gourmet kitchen, home theatre, and games room. The master bedroom features a roomy walk-in closet and master bathroom both fit for a king and queen, while all of the accompanying bedrooms offer stunning views and en-suite, spa-inspired bathrooms.

The incredibly private villa features a captivating garden, pool with waterfall and Jacuzzi and a patio lined with picturesque palms, an inner courtyard, cobblestone terraces and barbeque offering plenty of outdoor living and dining opportunities. There is also a private golf putting green and par 3 hole, perfect for the golf enthusiast. There are upgraded amenities for those who desire the ultra in exclusivity, with full-time chef, bodyguards, masseurs, chauffeured limousines or the finest Miami restaurant meals delivered to your door, it can all be arranged. The level of pampering is up to you.

To stay at this exclusive luxury villa that sleeps 13 people, rates range from $5,000 – $12,900, from here.

Villa gets transformed into sexy Miami modern

This incredible contemporary home was completed in 2008 by design studio Brown Davis Interiors in Miami Beach, Florida. The home had been previously built on spec and was never lived in, featuring rather large and modern, cold spaces. The developer who had originally built the home with the housing boom had lost interest when the market went bust. Giving the designers a blank slate to work with, they filled the residence with art they had been collecting over the years. They wanted to make the home comfortable and inviting, with the design theme being an updated 1970’s sexy Miami modern.

This alluring residence boasts 6,442 square feet of living space with six bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms with every amenity imaginable. The interiors feature high ceilings, impeccable design, elevator, media room and a smart house security system. The modern home has numerous large French doors that spill out onto a 50 foot long narrow pool, perfect for laps or just cooling off in the heat. This sleek design retains the contemporary features of the home and is surrounded by inviting furnishings and landscaping. There is also an outdoor Jacuzzi, cabana bath and boat dock. There is also an air conditioned garage that has a lift and a rooftop deck, perfect for viewing Biscayne Bay and the fabulous cityscape.

1960′s Italian Brass table, Milo Bauman dining chairs covered in Mongolian sheep skin.

Photos: Lawrence Schiller

A gorgeous modern renovation in Miami

A typical South Floridian Mediterranean Revival home in Aventura, Florida was transformed into a beautiful modern Miami home by DKOR Interiors. The 4,500 square foot, five bedroom, five-and-a-half bathroom house is owned by a young Mexican couple who approached the designers to create a streamline modern and fresh home for their growing family. They expressed a desire for natural textures and finishes such as natural stone and a variety of woods to juxtapose against a clean linear white backdrop.

For the kid’s rooms they stayed in the boundaries of the modern and fresh feel of the house while bringing in pops of bright color such as lime green. They were looking to incorporate interactive features such as a chalkboard wall and fun unique kid size furniture. The bathrooms were designed to be very linear and play with the concept of planes in the use of materials. They will be a study in contrasting and complementary textures established with tiles from resin inlaid with pebbles to a long porcelain tile that resembles wood grain.

The bold artwork draws the eye upward and fits the space perfectly. Floors throughout the home are covered in durable Kerlite, which is a very thin porcelain that creates a seamless look.

This staircase was once closed off and contained an unneeded closet, so it was gutted and opened up.

This striking wall appears like a slab of stone, but its not, it is a large art graphic panel covered with layers of resins that are 100% waterproof by artist Alex Turco.

This former bedroom now serves as a comfortable family gathering spot. The entire left wall is a custom built-in storage system, which also has a full-service bar including storage for wine and wineglasses and a refrigerator.

This downstairs cabana bathroom had an existing window replaced with a door that leads out to the yard. The wall consists of porcelain tile that looks like wood and ferns.

Fun was brought into the youngest two boys bedroom via brightly colored and patterned MDF panels and an area rug composed of Flor modular tiles which can be individually replaced in case of damage.

The custom vanities have built-in hampers, even some of the lighting is built in to give a clean look.

The wall composition alternates between wood veneer and fabric-upholstered panels. The storage system on the opposite wall includes a desk, media center, dresser storage and even a refrigerator.

Pictures prior to the renovation:

Striking beachfront pad with views of South Beach

This stunning modern masterpiece, spotted on Sotheby’s Realty, features uninterrupted views of Biscayne Bay and skyline views of South Beach on the island’s most coveted residential street in Miami, Florida. Designed by architect Ralph Choeff and interior designer Briggs Edwards, this fabulous home features 12 foot high ceilings and spacious interiors. Contemporary, casual design with warm, organic materials including coral rock, white oak floors and Zen gardens make 20,000-plus square feet of over-sized rooms feel like an intimate home. South Florida’s famous indoor/outdoor lifestyle at its finest with covered terraces, vanishing edge heated pool, outdoor kitchen and rooftop deck. Standalone gym featuring steam room is fitness fanatic’s paradise.

Entertain to impress with gourmet kitchen, home theater and surround sound throughout. Additional features includes entertainment room, library/sitting room, nine bedrooms, eleven bathrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms, including a 2,200 master bedroom including atrium, guest suite overlooking the bay with skyline views, kids playroom, midnight kitchen, outdoor terrace with full bar, 3,000 square foot game room, courtyard atrium and a maids room. There is also a private exterior guest house on the bay with a spacious bedroom, full bath and midnight kitchen. Ultimate privacy guaranteed through gated, walled property line, 16 security cameras and 275 feet of water frontage with two docks.

This fabulous masterpiece with all of its incredible luxuries is listed at a whopping $38,000,000, from here.

Bali Hai private oasis in Coconut Grove

Bali Hai is a modern two-storey architectural masterpiece, nestled in the heart of Coconut Grove, Florida. This gorgeous home was built in 2004 by renowned firm Max Strang Architects and has been featured in many television, photo and print venues including the movie Miami Vice. A gated entrance welcomes you to the coral rock home situated under a grove of palms and stately mango trees. The tropical canopy shelters you from the world and creates a private oasis.

The main floor offers 5,000 square feet with beautifully decorated living room with fireplace, television/sitting room, dining room, kitchen, three bedrooms and three baths. The second floor open air pavilion overlooks the pool and tropical gardens and offers a majestic outdoor dining room, fully equipped kitchen with grill, sitting area and additional bedroom and sitting room. The home is equipped with a built in sound system inside and out. The cabana set in the beautifully landscaped gardens offers another bedroom, sitting area and bathroom.

The unique series of pools and hot tub are situated in the coral rock foundation of the original home and surrounded by extremely private gardens, a patio with lounge and seating areas. A children’s play structure is found in the secret grotto. Gather around the enormous cast iron firepit for an evening bonfire.

This fabulous retreat is available for rent from $7,000 – $8,000 per week from here.

Majestic Mediterranean-style waterfront estate

This majestic estate spotted on Sotheby’s International Realty is located along of the waterfront of beautiful Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Comprised of 17,000 square feet of living space and 31 rooms, attention to detail has been meticulously featured throughout this Mediterranean style home. A grand entryway with voluminous ceilings welcomes you into the home, with quality details of marble, stone and wood floors, crown mouldings and wood beams throughout. An imposing stone fireplace is a main focal point to the spacious grand room that encompasses a main portion of the entertainment center of the home.

The estate features a gourmet kitchen with a breakfast nook, kitchen dining and formal dining area, den/library/office, family room, great room, media room, exercise room, wine cellar/grotto, storage room and utility room/laundry. The master bedroom features a sitting area with a master bathroom encompassing a separate tub and shower, whirlpool/spa. There is also a guest house with two bathrooms, two bedrooms, living room and kitchen. There is an intricate blending of indoor and outdoor living, a resort style 102 foot long pool with a water fall, water slide, in-pool bar and Jacuzzi, Spanish style verandas and gardens, complete with a summer kitchen. The home also boasts 650 feet of water frontage with three docks and incredible intracoastal waterway views.

This fabulous waterfront property is listed for sale at $22,000,000 from here.