A Miami Condo Emanates Playful Elegance

Details

modern entryway and living room...

Clean lines and relaxed materials create balance in a family's beachside vacation retreat.

modern living room blue wing...

Interior designer Luciana Fragali softened the interiors of her clients' Surfside vacation home with rich textiles and luxe materials. A pair of gray silk rugs from The Carpet Boutique delineates the two sections of the living area, while the custom marble table, fabricated by Mega Stonewood, centers the casual side of the room. The blue armchair from Poltrona Frau and geometric ottomans from One of a Kind add graphic interest to the space. The custom acrylic console by Rotsen Furniture showcases books, objects and a sculptural table lamp by Diesel for Foscarini from Lunatika.

modern gray living room gray...

A Living Divani Neowall sofa from Luminaire lends soft structure to the clean-lined design in the living room. Venetian plaster walls, finished to look like concrete, were installed by CH Construction Group. The artwork is by Brazilian photographer Fernanda Naman from her Desire series.

modern brown bathroom copper wallcovering

Optical illusions abound in a powder room, which is wrapped in a three-dimensional copper wallcovering by 3M from Wall Boutique. "We like to create something unique and tailored," says Fragali. The custom black-granite sink from Mega Stonewood has a leather finish.

modern dining area black table...

The wood-veneer Lora pendant by Weplight found at Lunatika continues the strong graphic theme into the dining area, where Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby's Tobi-Ishi table for B&B Italia from Luminaire and black-leather Cassina chairs offer casual, but sophisticated seating. Carpenter Diego Fulia custom-made the sideboard and the millwork throughout the residence.

modern bedroom gray palette

n the master bedroom, Fulia built and installed Fragali's design above the bed, as well as the minimalistic wall unit. The black armchair is by Renzo Fauciglietti and Graziella Bianchi from Design Within Reach and the bedside lamp is by Nemo from Lunatika.

modern gray bedroom black chair...

Educated about design, the clients opted for sleek, sculptural pieces in the master bedroom, such as the armchair by B&B Italia from Luminaire. Fragali added warmth to the space with glowing lamps, gray linen wallcoverings by Phillip Jeffries, and a black gradient carpet from Rugs by Zhaleh.

Miami may be known for its legendary nightlife, but partying and entertaining were not what a couple from Brazil had in mind when they purchased their Surfside vacation home in the Fendi Chateau Residences. They were seeking a comfortable and relaxing respite for their young family of four outfitted with durable yet elegant furnishings. To help make this vision a reality, they sought out interior designer Luciana Fragali to transform their newly built getaway overlooking the ocean. “They wanted a modern, clean and neutral retreat that was cozy and welcoming,” says the interior designer. Working with CH Construction Group on the structural modifications, Fragali followed her clients’ cue by creating a luxurious space with customized millwork, thoughtful lighting and European design that encourages relaxation while taking advantage of the pristine views.

Taking on the project as a decorator-ready unit–raw from the developer with basic lighting, unfinished flooring in the main areas and primed walls–Fragali worked within the existing floor plan, later tying together modern and relaxed details seamlessly throughout. Centrally located, the kitchen anchors the apartment with a large living area and adjacent master bedroom, both with water vistas. On the opposite end lives a breakfast area and two other bedrooms–one for the homeowners’ two children and another for guests. Having the ability to work within a newly constructed unit allowed the interior designer the freedom to thoughtfully plan out each room and incorporate detail.

Each space was designed with the family’s needs and lifestyle in mind: “The homeowners told me instead of hosting dinners, they prefer to dine out,” explains Fragali regarding her decision to forgo a formal dining area. The living room was quite large, so dividing it into two spaces carved out a casual side for watching television near the windows and a more intimate sitting area near the kitchen. In the master bedroom, rather than placing the bed parallel with the window, as was recommended by the building’s plan, she opted to have it facing the incredible view. “We wanted them to be able to wake up, raise the blackout curtains and see the ocean,” says Fragali.

Throughout the condo, the ceiling was dropped and the lighting was arranged according to the planned furniture layouts. For the length of the living area, a modern concrete wall with niche LED-lit shelving was constructed that is both stylish and functional–it showcases books, objets d’art and a collection of Murano glass. Like the shelving’s hidden LED lighting, the door off of the living area that leads to the master bedroom was concealed by enveloping it in wallpaper and adding hidden retractable door handles to eliminate clunky hardware. “We didn’t like the idea of having the entrance to the master off the living area,” says Fragali. “So my solution was to make the space flow better visually–you don’t see unnecessary hinges anywhere.”

As a contrast to the apartment’s concrete walls in the main living area, the remaining surfaces are swathed in either textured wallcoverings or covered with wooden panels. For example, behind the master bed, carpenter Diego Fulia built and installed one of Fragali’s custom linear designs that adds depth and dimension to the bedroom’s muted tones. And underfoot, wide-plank flooring made out of engineered hardwood in a matte walnut-gray offers “great balance to the decoration,” says the designer. “It’s rustic and adds warmth.”

Staying within the homeowners’ request for a relatively subdued color palette, the interior designer knew she could have some fun with the furnishings. “My clients really know design,” says Fragali. “Their main residence is very modern, and they move often, so their taste evolves as designs change.” As a result, iconic European pieces punctuate the large living area. Along the concrete wall, two low-slung gray modular sofas ground each of the two spaces, with a custom caramel-colored tuftedleather ottoman resting between. A cluster of tables form a geometric composition near two white-leather Italian armchairs, and diagonally, a bold blue modern lounge chair overlooks the patio. This piece, says Fragali, informed the direction of the entire living room. “They wanted very modern and neutral. While gray is their preferred choice, I gave them two options, and they chose blue,” says the interior designer.

Arriving at the finished home now, a sense of calm settles in, and it’s clear that no detail has been overlooked. “One thing we pride ourselves on is that we really listen to our clients,” says Fragali. “When we design, we do it based on the client’s needs, specifications and budget, always.”