Comfort And Beauty Coincide In Miami Beach Home

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In this luxurious home situated on the Indian Creek Canal in Miami Beach, Fla., interior designer Nick Luaces exhibits how comfort and beauty go hand in hand. The 8,000-square-foot vacation retreat conveys an atmosphere that is relaxed yet elegant, and is enriched with a host of amenities in addition to its stunning water views. It was a long two years in the making for this brand new home, but undeniably worth the wait. “I worked closely with the owners to achieve the clean and modern look they desired,” Luaces says.

Marble steps in the exterior entry connect to a tall slotted wall that reaches up to and beyond the second floor. “The front of the home is deliberately set back and fragmented with intersecting planes to give it a ‘floating’ appearance,” the designer says. Intermittent use of large, horizontal wood planks warm the cool white stucco façade. “It was very important to accent the entry’s volume using different materials such as gray-and-white marble, wood planking and a contrasting white stucco finish,” Luaces says.

Marble flooring continues inside flowing seamlessly throughout the main living areas. Neutral tones sweep through the open family room that offers abundant natural light and unobstructed water views. “Everything is geared towards the openness,” the designer says. A custom sectional swathed in soft ivory cotton is backed by Artefacto’s white-lacquer sofa table with a smoked mirror top. The piece creates a harmonious blend with an adjacent round occasional table from Baker. Although the color palette is minimal, dimension is added with an entertainment niche paneled in light oak and inset with a white-lacquer credenza topped with black granite. A galaxy of mini LED lights shape Moooi’s chandelier that twinkles with brilliance. “It doesn’t look heavy — it’s transparent and has beautiful shadow play,” Luaces says.

The dining room is designed with simple elegance. A custom, glass-topped table rests on a hand-carved wood base with Lucite legs and is edged by Artefacto’s sophisticated white leather-clad chairs. The table can accommodate formal gatherings yet also works for casual dining. A horizontal chandelier by Vibia, designed in a rhythmic wavy pattern with white matte light sticks, was created to capture the attention. “The implied formality of this space contrasts with the transparency of the dining table and sculptural value of the chandelier,” the designer says. To create an organic vibe, a wall of polished stone behind a high-gloss lacquered credenza accents the surrounding elements.

A modern open stairway greets guests in the entry with cantilevered French oak treads, glass railings and polished steel handrails. “The floating wood steps add a touch of warmth to the overall design of the stairs while at the same time giving it a unique structural statement,” the designer says. “Blossom,” a whimsical chandelier with oversized petals of white bone china, hovers over the stairway. Just beyond, in the living area, white leather-clad chairs with arms of lustrous chrome offer a comfortable place to relax and socialize.

Designed for entertaining and dining, the patio area is arranged with contemporary furnishings from Clima Outdoors and a sleek summer kitchen. Luaces collaborated with architect Alain R. Bartoli to create the shimmering infinity edge pool that only adds to the resort-like ambiance of this spectacular home.

Story Credits:

Interior Design: Nick Luaces, Nick Luaces Design Associates, Miami, FL

Photography: Venjhamin Reyes, Miami Beach, FL

Architecture: Alain R. Bartroli, ARB Architect, Inc., Miami, FL

Builder: Jose Ortega, CDC Builders, Miami, FL

Text: Regina Kaylie

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