After a hurricane significantly damaged their home, a South Florida family decided to embrace a fresh start, trading life in a single-family residence for a beachfront condo. The owners, originally from New York, knew the stories-high setting would be a far cry from a house with a yard, so they made sure to retain one important aspect: the creative touch of their designer, Rayana Schmitz.
The clients’ previous home was classic Mediterranean, yet their new abode in Stuart called for a more contemporary style that reads as an extension of the beach, Schmitz explains. “Because they were moving into a condo,” she says, “they wanted it to feel like New York—but coastal.” To accomplish this, the designer began by tweaking the interior architecture, including squaring off slanted walls for a neater appearance. Others were eliminated entirely to broaden the layout, enhancing the ocean sight lines that extend from the front door. “You can’t compete with the view,” she remarks, “so we kept everything clean to not fight it.”
“Every room has to have some funk. It can’t be too perfect—it needs something interesting that people will talk about.”
—Rayana Schmitz
Thom Filicia art from Wendover Art Group counters a plaster wall installation above Vanguard Furniture’s Paxton sectional in the den, painted Sherwin-Williams’ At Ease Soldier. A CB2 coffee table, stool and floor lamp gather with the Berber Creations rug.
The transformation didn’t occur without obstacles—and resulting clever solutions. For instance, faced with a floor-to-ceiling pipe while opening the kitchen to the living area, Schmitz encased it in a wood column and installed an attached island, offering an additional work zone that helps delineate the space.
Obstructions now hidden, the changes paved the way for a sophisticated, family-friendly interior that responds to the oceanfront locale. “It had to feel welcoming and warm—and be realistic with fabrics and finishes, so it could withstand daily life,” the designer describes. Notably, the clients requested Schmitz’s signature neutral aesthetic with organic materials and soft hues. “It’s a ‘no-color’ color palette,” she says with a laugh, pointing to the taupes and sand tones, “so you’ve got to bring in different shapes, textures and materials for interest.”Thus, the designer grounded each space with Moroccan wool rugs and clad sofas and beds in performance fabrics. She selected wood dining and coffee tables with geometric forms, leather bar stools and dining chairs that boast bouclé backs and vinyl seats. In the kitchen, an eye-catching plaster hood is a focal point amid quartzite countertops, while the livi ng area contains a fluted console and millwork that accentuates the space’s built-in bar. Throughout, notes of black punctuate every space. “I always add a touch of black to each room,” Schmitz says. “Everything else is so light, it creates a contrast.”
There is, however, one area that takes a slight departure. “The den is where I asked if we could have some fun,” the designer recalls. “I wanted the space to feel different from the rest of the home while still flowing with it.” Deeper tones introduce a moody vibe while remaining neutral, and a wall installation of circular plaster sculptures adds depth.
That assemblage is just one of the home’s dimensional, textural artworks, which Schmitz used to layer the natural foundation. “Every room has to have some funk,” she explains. “It can’t be too perfect—it needs something interesting that people will talk about.” Lighting plays a similar role, enlivening spaces with striking forms—such as the powder room’s dramatic fixture, which resembles suspended pendulum balls. “We didn’t want it to be just any light—there’s a play of shapes,” she says.
The condo’s earthy appearance, however, is more than simply a pretty façade. An undercurrent of health and wellness forms the basis of the design, observed through holistic selections such as non-LED lighting and paint coatings that block electromagnetic currents. Altogether, they forge a character-filled home that imbues an airy, calm, coastal vibe. “The design celebrates light, space and flow, creating an environment that feels as peaceful as the ocean outside,” Schmitz reflects.
The Roma Imperiale quartzite-topped vanity by Decora Woodcraft, Inc. makes a statement in the powder room, augmented by Ghidini 1961’s Sfere fixture from Artemest, a Mirror Home Decor Art mirror and Moth Paper’s The Architect pattern. The faucet is House of Rohl.
Tour The Home Below:
The living area’s custom sectional cradles Lexington Home Brands’ Ventana cocktail table atop a Berber Creations rug. On the adjacent balcony, a Four Hands chair offers an ideal perch.
In the living area, a console by Esquadro Inc and Visual Comfort & Co. sconces float against a Kravet wallcovering. Acropolis Marble & Granite fabricated the bar’s backsplash with quartzite from Marble of the World.
Arhaus chairs encircle the dining area’s Worlds Away table. Corbett Lighting’s Daith fixture shines above; planks from Exclusive Flooring Collection flow underfoot.
A trio of Visual Comfort & Co. pendants hovers over McGee & Co. stools in the kitchen. Brizo faucets decorate the countertop, which Acropolis Marble & Granite constructed using Bianco Superiore quartzite from Marble of the World.
Esquadro Inc crafted the kitchen cabinetry—which displays Rejuvenation pulls and knobs—and partnered with Artisan Finishes to devise the plaster hood. The Ann Sacks mosaic backsplash fills the space above the Wolf range from Fuse Specialty Appliances.
The Roma Imperiale quartzite-topped vanity by Decora Woodcraft, Inc. makes a statement in the powder room, augmented by Ghidini 1961’s Sfere fixture from Artemest, a Mirror Home Decor Art mirror and Moth Paper’s The Architect pattern. The faucet is House of Rohl.
Thom Filicia art from Wendover Art Group counters a plaster wall installation above Vanguard Furniture’s Paxton sectional in the den, painted Sherwin-Williams’ At Ease Soldier. A CB2 coffee table, stool and floor lamp gather with the Berber Creations rug.
In the children’s room, a Four Hands nightstand rests between the Universal Furniture beds. Benjamin Moore’s Natural Cream adds subtle color.
Outfitted with Delta faucets, the primary bathroom’s tub and countertop are made of Neolith marble. The vanity base is by Decora Woodcraft, Inc.
The primary suite’s bed by Interior Builders Upholstery faces a dresser by Decora Woodcraft, Inc. Kravet draperies complement the Innovations wallcovering.