Bal Harbour Modern with a Tropical Nod

1 of 8

Designer Anil Kakar met the owners of this bal harbour condo when they entered his Miami showroom looking for inspiration. The couple wanted to gut their 2,000-square-foot residence, add hurricane windows and create interior spaces that took advantage of the beautiful water views. “The wife was designing the space herself but we instantly hit it off,” Kakar says. “While she has a good eye, we decided to collaborate using a mix of custom pieces from my showroom with lots of art and sculpture.”

Emphasizing an open plan that was both plush and user friendly for entertaining, they selected custom mid-century modern, art deco and eclectic pieces for the main living areas. They finished the walls in off-white with a touch of taupe, created lighted drop-ceiling details for definition, and anchored the space with large slabs of gray tile. “The floors were challenging because the apartment is so vast yet had to look normal and comfortable,” Kakar says. “We had many options and ultimately decided on tiles that look like a refined, elegant cement floor.”

Contrasting the neutral backdrop, they chose pops of orange, yellow, blue and green instead of utilizing a typical beach theme. Blue and White by artist Jay Luiz highlights the foyer in prelude to the well-appointed living room. Here, a custom sea foam green sectional joins a pair of art deco club chairs, a lively chaise atop a cowhide area rug from Brazil, and a Yamaha grand piano to shape a social space reminiscent of an elegant coastal night spot. “The wife is learning to play the piano and wanted the living room to have a lounge feel when entertaining guests,” Kakar says. “A vintage French sunburst mirror adds a glamorous splatter of gold.”

Kakar chose a large banquette for the dining room — a favorite gathering spot for family members including two grown sons who visit. A vintage Eero Saarinen “Tulip” table with a custom wood top and painted white base couples with vintage chrome and quilted-leather chairs. Nearby, an artsy bar area provides extra seating as guests continue the conversation at a 1980s high top with authentic art deco stools cushioned in vibrant yellow velvet.

Yellow is repeated in the bold abstract by French artist Michele Beaujardin leading into the custom Armadi kitchen, while the family room comes alive with splashes of orange. A vintage 1970s brass cocktail table centers the deep-seated sectional and a curvaceous settee. “This social grouping creates needed intimacy in the middle of this large room,” Kakar says. The bold and sophisticated Florida theme continues in the private spaces as well. “The owners were eager to bring the sunshine into their new home … but without a cliché beach theme,” Kakar says. “They loved the end result and asked me to design two more projects for them.”

Story Credits:

Design

Anil Kakar, Kakar House of Design, Miami, FL

Photography

Kris Tamburello, Miami, FL

Text By

Linda Marx

Open to see Interior Design Sources: