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Houzz Tour: A Miami Penthouse Dazzles With Opulence
Crystal chandeliers, creamy marble and a first-class view give this penthouse in Florida an unmistakable air of luxury
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 »
"This building is all about the bling," says Ivonne Ronderos of DKOR Interior Design, about the Jade Beach building. "You walk into the lobby and it's all Fendi furniture."
The high-rise is in the Sunny Isles beachfront area of Miami. "My clients are a charming, family-oriented couple from Russia who decided to make this their full-time residence. The husband loves modern and minimal, and cares about having fixtures that are top of the line and will last forever," says Ronderos.
"The wife loves rich texture, crystal, patterns like damask ... our original design was very modern and minimal, full of stainless steel and natural materials, but throughout the process, she would whisper in his ear, and before you knew it, there was a lot more bling incorporated into the design," she says.
While you can see the compromises made between the two throughout the design, Ronderos and I laughed and figured out by the end of the interview that the "compromises" looked to have gone to the wife 80 to 90 percent of the time.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple from Russia and their 2 children, now 2 and 16
Location: Sunny Isles area of Miami
Size: 3,150 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 5.5 baths
That's interesting: While working on the project, the couple found out they were expecting a son, who is now 2.
The high-rise is in the Sunny Isles beachfront area of Miami. "My clients are a charming, family-oriented couple from Russia who decided to make this their full-time residence. The husband loves modern and minimal, and cares about having fixtures that are top of the line and will last forever," says Ronderos.
"The wife loves rich texture, crystal, patterns like damask ... our original design was very modern and minimal, full of stainless steel and natural materials, but throughout the process, she would whisper in his ear, and before you knew it, there was a lot more bling incorporated into the design," she says.
While you can see the compromises made between the two throughout the design, Ronderos and I laughed and figured out by the end of the interview that the "compromises" looked to have gone to the wife 80 to 90 percent of the time.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple from Russia and their 2 children, now 2 and 16
Location: Sunny Isles area of Miami
Size: 3,150 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 5.5 baths
That's interesting: While working on the project, the couple found out they were expecting a son, who is now 2.
This area just beyond the elevator foyer sets the tone for the entire home. "We could not have done anything less in this area," says Ronderos. "There was this huge wall, and it needed to announce the apartment in a grand way. It's also whimsical and fun."
An oversize, bird's eye maple beveled frame encases the entry wall. The recessed, diamond-cut mirror echoes the diamond patterns that continue throughout the home via the 36-inch by 36-inch diamond Crema Marfil tiles. Ronderos had the console table's back legs cut off so that it would appear to emerge from the frame.
An oversize, bird's eye maple beveled frame encases the entry wall. The recessed, diamond-cut mirror echoes the diamond patterns that continue throughout the home via the 36-inch by 36-inch diamond Crema Marfil tiles. Ronderos had the console table's back legs cut off so that it would appear to emerge from the frame.
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The unit is a lower penthouse on the 45th floor of this Miami beachfront high-rise.
The main part of the apartment includes the living area, the dining area and the kitchen, which allows them all to take advantage of the ocean views. The palette is neutral so as not to detract from the view, but it is rich in texture from Venetian crystal chandeliers, a mirrored coffee table, crocodile armchairs, Crema Marfil flooring and damask wall coverings.
"There was an awkward door from the living room into the master bedroom, so the DKOR team created matching panels with moldings, inset with damask wall coverings to camouflage the door," says Ronderos. "Damask is one of the wife's favorite patterns."
Suitcase chairs: Minotti; floors: Crema Marfil; chandeliers: Cattelan Italia, Venezia Collection; wall covering: Romo
"There was an awkward door from the living room into the master bedroom, so the DKOR team created matching panels with moldings, inset with damask wall coverings to camouflage the door," says Ronderos. "Damask is one of the wife's favorite patterns."
Suitcase chairs: Minotti; floors: Crema Marfil; chandeliers: Cattelan Italia, Venezia Collection; wall covering: Romo
| "We used a LusterStone treatment on the walls; it's like a Venetian plaster treatment without the shine," Ronderos says. "This gave them texture and depth." Ronderos demarcated the dining area by placing the table and chairs atop a slab of onyx and by giving the adjacent wall and ceiling a different look. Another crystal chandelier connects the dining area to the living room space. The kitchen counters are Compac, a durable man-made material. High-gloss materials on the cabinets and the glass tiles reflect light throughout the space, and don't distract from the views. "While you'd think this design is for hosting lavish parties and entertaining, the main thing the family does is gather together and spend time together. They don't live a glamorous life; they are very family oriented and they all eat dinner together every night," says Ronderos. |
You can see more of the husband's taste in this contemporary powder room. The very clean lines, the recessed mirror with wall-mounted fixtures and all of the modern plumbing fixtures reflect his sensibilities.
The tiles around the commode are crystal, and if you look closely, you can see that the wife's beloved damask made its way into the room in a subtle way.
The tiles around the commode are crystal, and if you look closely, you can see that the wife's beloved damask made its way into the room in a subtle way.
In the master bedroom, panels with wallpapered insets repeat the trick used in the adjacent living room. "This was a great way to anchor the bed," says Ronderos. Again, the palette is light and neutral, and it doesn't distract from the ocean views. It's also very relaxed and inviting.
"See that modern floor lamp over by the reading chairs? That's a bit of the husband's taste," says Ronderos. "You can see it here and there if you look for it."
"See that modern floor lamp over by the reading chairs? That's a bit of the husband's taste," says Ronderos. "You can see it here and there if you look for it."
| The couple enjoys separate bathrooms. This one is hers, but it shows some of the compromises made between the couples' tastes. His style shows up in the very minimalist and modern lines of the vanity, the trough sink, the commode, the cabinet and the stripes. Hers shows up in the form of the glittering damask print glass tile mosaic and the sparkling sconces. "His bathroom only has the stripes, no florals," says Ronderos. Tile: Sicis; mirror: Horchow; sink: Dornbracht |
This bedroom belongs to the couples' 16-year-old daughter. "My clients wanted to keep the bones of this space minimal, but to let their daughter bring in her own style through impermanent accessories like bedding and artwork."
Now, I have been at this job for several years, and I know exactly what you all are going to say about having a 2-year-old in this kind of home. Please hold your tongues, because you're right! The family is currently looking for a home with a yard. They never did furnish or use the balconies, for safety's sake.
More Houzz Tours:
Modern, Entertaining Home in Florida
Sleek San Francisco Getaway
Now, I have been at this job for several years, and I know exactly what you all are going to say about having a 2-year-old in this kind of home. Please hold your tongues, because you're right! The family is currently looking for a home with a yard. They never did furnish or use the balconies, for safety's sake.
More Houzz Tours:
Modern, Entertaining Home in Florida
Sleek San Francisco Getaway
Ideabook updated on Aug. 3, 2012.
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