Aventura Penthouse is a Sun-Drenched Modern Escape

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Once northeasterners Rebecca and Garfield Spencer decided they wanted a vacation home in Florida to escape their harsh Rhode Island winters, the search for such a dwelling proved to be more difficult than they had envisioned. Eventually, the couple found their place in the sun in the form of a 7,500-square-foot penthouse (with an additional 2,500 square feet of terrace space) in Aventura. Once the keys were in their hands, the Spencers called Rafaela Simoes and Laila Colvin of 2id Interiors to create the high-style paradise residence of their dreams.

The husband and wife were adamant about a no-clutter, no-fuss interior filled with furniture from the brands they loved most, namely Minotti, B&B Italia, and Ligne Roset. Simoes and Colvin knew exactly what design route to take.

“They wanted very modern and high-end, but nothing too clean or too cold,” says Simoes. “Once we established that, the goal was for modernism with warm elements. This is Miami, after all.”

As this was to be a retreat, the Spencers were adamant about making the most of the apartment’s views of sea and sky, which was what attracted them most to the unit in the first place. To accentuate that panorama, they enlisted a contractor to remove a 12-inch layer of concrete on the top floor to create more ceiling height, before enclosing that entire level in glass. The process proved to be arduous, time-consuming, and costly, but well worth it in the end.

Just as determined to respect the vistas was the design team, who carefully considered the palette to complement all the blues outside. In the end, white was chosen for most living areas, a bold jet-black dominates the kitchen, and moody hues instill serenity in the bedrooms. Pops of sea glass green, ocean blue, and sunset lavender found on barstools, throw pillows, and table bases connect the inside to the outside, while gray area rugs and seating subtly ground the rooms without detracting from the ample light that pours through the windows.

When it came to illumination, Simoes and Colvin decided on track lighting, some of which is embedded into the walls or on proud display in the living room as an eye-catching circular detail on the ceiling. “The fun thing about track is that you can highlight something if you want to, spread it out if you like, or remove it,” says Colvin. “I love using lighting like this and being thoughtful about the larger fixtures I use. It’s all about making a statement.”

Because the penthouse was gutted, the design team had to find creative uses for some of the spaces that were created as a result. When a passageway to lead from the residence’s elevator doors to the kitchen was needed, the design team installed a glass wine closet that opens into the living room and partly conceals the hallway behind it.

Rearranging also took precedence in the primary bathroom. Because its layout was drastically altered, new wood walls and deck floors were installed to conceal the plumbing in a functional yet stylish way. “In some of these older buildings, it’s hard to change the plumbing,” says Simoes. “We wanted to keep it where it was and still design a killer bathroom. I was a little hesitant to do something too crazy because of what was involved, but we were able to add a tub behind the living greenery wall and create lots of storage and a huge vanity with LED lights. No matter where you are in the bathroom, you have a great view.”

When the time came to warm up things as promised, the designers opted to incorporate oak accents throughout the entire residence, whether as a panel of triangular slats covering the entry alcove, along expanses of flooring, or in the form of a floating bar on the top floor. Darker wood evokes calm in the bedroom suites and connects those spaces to each other throughout the hallways. Stone and suede accents, plus ample greenery, add to the organic feel without complicating or overwhelming the simplicity that was the goal. “Because of the way they worked the foliage and warm elements throughout, they created something for us that was clean, yet cozy,” says Garfield.

No matter the room, the Spencers were thrilled with 2id’s work. So much so, they are considering making Aventura their primary residence.

“We loved these clients and I think it’s important to note that this project turned out the way it did because they gave us absolute freedom to design,” says Colvin. “That made the process easier, and, in the end, they just loved what we did.”

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Laila Colvin & Rafaela Simoes, 2id Interiors, North Miami Beach, FL

Text by Paige Bowers

Photography by Emilio Collavino, Miami Beach, FL

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