Houzz Tours
USA Houzz Tour: A Chic, Comfortable Florida Flat With Ocean Views
This designer choose decor with sparkling details and layered in neutrals and blues for comfort in an upmarket apartment
High up in a slim tower just north of Miami, USA, this family of four found its forever home. While some of the existing finishes in the new building were beautiful, the owners hired the team at DKOR Interiors to make it functional for their lifestyle and suit their personal style. The designers took their inspiration from festive handheld sparklers and large, flower-shaped firework bursts and incorporated elements such as glass, metal, interesting shadows and repeating lines. Then they layered the rooms in neutrals and blues to complement the spectacular views of the Atlantic outside the home’s floor-to-ceiling windows.
Photos by Alexia Fodere
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Miami, USA
Size: 338 square metres
Designer: DKOR Interiors
“One of the homeowners had a job where the family had to move to a new country every two years,” says principal designer Ivonne Ronderos. “It was hard for them to make friends because everyone knew they’d be leaving soon. They were ready to find their permanent home and put down roots near Miami.”
When thinking about their new journey as a family, Ronderos was inspired by a ‘fireflower,’ which is how she describes a handheld sparkler or a large, flower-shaped firework in the sky. This inspiration inspired sparkle, shimmer, interesting shadows and strong repeating lines.
The main gathering spaces feature floor-to-ceiling windows and 3.6-metre-high ceilings. The chandelier puts the fireworks inspiration front and centre, making a strong statement over the dining table.
The itinerant family still managed to make many friends around the world and loves to entertain with them when they’re in town, so the dining table seats 10. “They wanted really comfortable chairs so they could sit here with guests for hours,” says Ronderos.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Miami, USA
Size: 338 square metres
Designer: DKOR Interiors
“One of the homeowners had a job where the family had to move to a new country every two years,” says principal designer Ivonne Ronderos. “It was hard for them to make friends because everyone knew they’d be leaving soon. They were ready to find their permanent home and put down roots near Miami.”
When thinking about their new journey as a family, Ronderos was inspired by a ‘fireflower,’ which is how she describes a handheld sparkler or a large, flower-shaped firework in the sky. This inspiration inspired sparkle, shimmer, interesting shadows and strong repeating lines.
The main gathering spaces feature floor-to-ceiling windows and 3.6-metre-high ceilings. The chandelier puts the fireworks inspiration front and centre, making a strong statement over the dining table.
The itinerant family still managed to make many friends around the world and loves to entertain with them when they’re in town, so the dining table seats 10. “They wanted really comfortable chairs so they could sit here with guests for hours,” says Ronderos.
The living room is open to the kitchen. “This room serves as both the living room and the family room, so we wanted it to be very comfortable but also look elegant,” says Ronderos.
The room may be elegant, but it’s also practical. “We chose this rug because it’s very forgiving and durable for this high-traffic area,” says Ronderos. “The colour palette is a little darker than typical Miami. We used blues, greys, taupes and camels and then used lighting to spark it up.”
The champagne-coloured window treatments, which are fully motorised, also liven up the space. “The drapes add a little shimmer, like a fireflower. It was a way to add a hint of gold without being tacky,” says Ronderos.
Find an interior designer on Houzz near you, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
The room may be elegant, but it’s also practical. “We chose this rug because it’s very forgiving and durable for this high-traffic area,” says Ronderos. “The colour palette is a little darker than typical Miami. We used blues, greys, taupes and camels and then used lighting to spark it up.”
The champagne-coloured window treatments, which are fully motorised, also liven up the space. “The drapes add a little shimmer, like a fireflower. It was a way to add a hint of gold without being tacky,” says Ronderos.
Find an interior designer on Houzz near you, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
The family’s lifestyle meant a television was a must in here. So the design team surrounded it with beautiful built-ins, with a mix of concealment and display. A console hides media equipment, while subtly lit shelves and cabinets with tinted glass doors provide space to show off favourite objects.
To the right, the door to the homeowners’ bedroom is hidden within a slatted wall. One of the slats even conceals the door handle. “Because it’s located off such a public space, this made their bedroom more private,” says Ronderos.
“When we work within a mostly monochromatic palette, we make it interesting with a wide variety of textures,” she says. “This keeps things from feeling too busy.” The swivel chair and details along the back of the sofa bring in leather, and the table surfaces mix polished stone, glass, wood and matt finishes. “The leather tubes we added to the back of the sofa were inspired by a luxury car,” says Ronderos.
To the right, the door to the homeowners’ bedroom is hidden within a slatted wall. One of the slats even conceals the door handle. “Because it’s located off such a public space, this made their bedroom more private,” says Ronderos.
“When we work within a mostly monochromatic palette, we make it interesting with a wide variety of textures,” she says. “This keeps things from feeling too busy.” The swivel chair and details along the back of the sofa bring in leather, and the table surfaces mix polished stone, glass, wood and matt finishes. “The leather tubes we added to the back of the sofa were inspired by a luxury car,” says Ronderos.
The wall features stone, wood, glass and painted surfaces. Zaha Stone by Neolith adds texture and depth. With the help of a talented carpenter and stonemason, the stone was extended behind the shelves. LED strip lights recessed into the shelving illuminate the stone and the displayed objects.
Keen to try this look at home? “Make sure the LED strip lights are diffused,” says Ronderos. “Otherwise you see the dots of light inside.”
Keen to try this look at home? “Make sure the LED strip lights are diffused,” says Ronderos. “Otherwise you see the dots of light inside.”
The kitchen also falls within the open plan and the existing finishes were beautiful. A monolithic island and bookmatched cabinetry without pulls create a sleek backdrop. The island includes an induction cooktop and the reflective metal fixture overhead is a stylish range hood.
The sink and dishwasher zone on the left gave the design team an opportunity to add a large abstract painting to the space.
The sink and dishwasher zone on the left gave the design team an opportunity to add a large abstract painting to the space.
The designers added herringbone tiles with an antique-mirror finish to the niche to bring in texture and a touch of shimmer. And they added a cabinet with tinted glass doors to create a connection to the media wall. They also designed the eat-in area off the island and the light fixture above it. The texture of the pendant’s shade casts shadows that pick up on the fireworks inspiration, seen here on the ceiling.
In the master bedroom, channel tufting on the headboard and the pattern on the rug add repeating lines to the space. The champagne-coloured drapes bring a hint of shimmer. While the room is monochromatic, the designers used the same strategy of mixing textures that they did in the living room. The texture palette includes leather, velvet and silk.
The bedroom also has direct access to a balcony that runs the width of the apartment.
The bedroom also has direct access to a balcony that runs the width of the apartment.
A custom headboard extends behind the nightstands for a sleek look. This photo provides another good look at how the various textures work together, from the distressed leather bench to the high gloss on the nightstand. The blue scatter cushions also tie in with the blue rug. And a gold vase and lantern-like table lamp again add sparkle.
Browse more beautifully designed bedrooms
Browse more beautifully designed bedrooms
Ronderos laid out the bedroom built-ins with painter’s tape so her client could visualise them. This also allowed her to test the scale and make sure it worked nicely in the room.
The new built-ins include a dressing area with a mirror that has integrated lighting, additional storage and a workstation.
In the daughter’s room, the designers continued the fireworks-inspired theme with sparkly gold dots on the wall. Ronderos also removed one of the room’s two cupboards and converted it into a built-in workstation. Other special touches include a dressing table with a Hollywood-style mirror and a trundle bed for sleepovers. “And she really wanted a hanging chair,” says Ronderos.
In the son’s room, Ronderos painted the headboard wall in two tones of blue. She based the diagonal line that separates the two on the way the sun casts a shadow on the wall at a certain time of day. He loves YouTube, so his parents had some YouTube awards made for the wall over the nightstand.
Out on the balcony, the team separated the area from the homeowners’ private suite, at the back of the photo, by using furniture and plant placement. The reclining area in the foreground is located off the family room.
In the outdoor dining area, the designers sourced a dining table with a durable porcelain top. The chairs are woven from marine-grade rope.
Your turn
What’s your favourite feature in this home? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
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Keen to catch up on our last Houzz Tour? See great Australian design here with this Houzz Tour: A Finely Tuned Apartment Above a Violin Shop
Your turn
What’s your favourite feature in this home? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Keen to catch up on our last Houzz Tour? See great Australian design here with this Houzz Tour: A Finely Tuned Apartment Above a Violin Shop
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