For a woman who had lived on Miami Beach’s Star Island for five decades, the time had come to start her next chapter. She decided to relocate to one of the nearby Sunset Islands, where she could comfortably downsize and forge new memories. “She wanted a residence that is feminine and ladylike,” recalls her designer, Charlotte Dunagan. “This home is just for her—a sophisticated, chic woman.”
Situated on a relatively compact corner lot near the water, the structure by architect Ralph Choeff portrays what he calls a tropical-modern style. “The house is a derivative of midcentury modern,” Choeff explains, “which includes concepts like bringing natural light into the building as well as melding the exterior elements with the interior.” To that end, he embraced materials common in the area, such as wood and expanses of glass. “The home has vast sliding glass doors that not only let the light in but also create the perception of being outside when you’re inside—and vice versa,” the architect observes. Privacy was a key concern, however, so landscape architects Christopher Cawley and Lucia Mora planted a dense clusia hedge around the perimeter to form “an exterior wall of vegetation,” Cawley describes. Tall palms were retained to better nestle the abode into its site, while golden creeper cascades from upper-level planters to reinforce the tropical character. “These change the whole dynamic by bringing the landscape up in the air,” he muses.
Home Details
Architecture:
Ralph Choeff, Choeff Levy Fischman Architecture + Design
Interior Design:
Charlotte Dunagan, Dunagan Design
Landscape Architecture:
Christopher Cawley and Lucia Mora, Christopher Cawley Landscape Architecture
Framed by floor-to-ceiling windows, the layers of greenery provide verdant backdrops throughout the interiors. Choeff personalized spaces to support the client’s lifestyle, like creating a dressing room that resembles the one in her previous home, crafting an office instead of an additional guest bedroom and converting a garage space into a ceramics studio. “She got exactly what she wanted,” says builder Todd Michael Glaser, adding the owner enjoyed being involved in the project.
After living in the same home for 50 years, the client was eager for an updated vision that exudes the spirit of a refined, calm retreat—an ideal approach for Dunagan’s neutral, clean-lined aesthetic. “She wanted a fresh look—something that feels current yet can also mix with all her beloved artwork and vintage pieces,” the designer recalls. These include a pair of Andy Warhol portraits, displayed above the primary bed, and a 1980s Italian floor lamp in the living area.
The owner’s desire for a feminine feel prompted a materials palette comprising soft, rosy tones carried through Venetian plaster, warm limestone flooring, white oak millwork and brushed bronze accents. Green moments—like the television room’s lacquered media unit—echo the lush landscape, further integrating the environment. The overall scheme is most vividly expressed in the powder room, where marble laced with pink, green and gold complements oak flooring. “We fell in love with this stone slab that ties all the colors together,” Dunagan shares. “It tells the story of the entire house in one room.”
Oak is another thread, appearing on the sculptural staircase—which cleverly extends every other tread to act as podiums for displaying art—as well as in the kitchen’s minimalist storage. In the dining area, tall oak cabinets flank an off-white quartzite bar, forming a niche for a sunny-hued, radial artwork that reinforces the abode’s narrative. “We designed the whole bar around that piece,” Dunagan reveals. Above the circular dining table hangs one of several statement lighting features, chosen to heighten the drama throughout the dwelling. “We wanted to be bold,” she notes, “so we went overscale with some fixtures.”
Now settled into her simplified surroundings, the owner can embrace years of happiness in a home that captures her character, the designer says. “She is an incredibly beautiful, elegant woman and has so much wit to her,” Dunagan reflects. “The house has the essence of her personality and her understated sophistication.”
