Bespoke Murano Grande Condo Flaunts Custom Touches

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William Weisman wasn’t sure high-rise living was for him when he first moved into a rental at the Murano Grande in Miami Beach. A few years in the South of Fifth tower seems to have changed his mind, as he recently purchased a two-bedroom residence in the same building with his partner, Robin Fisher.

Designer Blanca Wall, founder of The Wall Studio in Miami, had designed Weisman’s townhouse 15 years prior and formed a friendship with him, so once this latest purchase was complete, he enlisted Wall for a “simple update” of the space. But things are never what they seem to be in matters of interior design, and what was supposed to be a “small refresh” turned into a full gut renovation. 

Once renovation work commenced, the design team saw that the kitchen’s original placement was inefficient and disrupted the flow of the apartment. Although the clients had initially expressed a desire to keep it unchanged, Wall’s experience with multiple projects within the building gave her a deep understanding of both its limitations and its potential. She proposed a bold reconfiguration to transform the narrow galley kitchen into a functional office and den, while relocating the kitchen to the open-floor plan living area. Weisman and Fisher agreed and thus followed a down-to-the-studs overhaul that completely recast the apartment with the luxurious finishes and furnishings the couple had always envisioned.

“Blanca’s plan created sweet spots throughout the apartment,” says Weisman. “The unit is only 1,900 square feet, but it feels like a 3,000-square-foot space.”

Wall and her team made sure to maximize every inch of those square feet. Case in point: The flat-cut white oak custom built-ins not only provide hidden storage, but they also carry a warm wood tone throughout the apartment that creates a cohesive backdrop to the art Weisman collects. With additional homes in Aspen, Minneapolis, and Manhattan, Weisman connects the artworks and objects he acquires to the location of the residences. “I really like the international aspect of Miami,” he says. “So here, my art is mostly by Cuban and Mexican artists.”

A piece by Javier Guerra Fernandez leads from the entryway into the main living space where the open kitchen allows the couple to entertain and enjoy the views with their guests. “It provides a nice area for conversations, but it’s also a fully functional kitchen,” says Wall. “The clients were very clear that they wanted something unique, nothing cookie-cutter.”

Wall custom designed the kitchen and selected a marble with lots of texture, a treatment that offers a rich and tactile alternative to the traditional polish. To complement the warm wood cabinetry that envelops the main living space, Wall grounded the room with a bespoke rug by Miami’s Art + Loom, then added a curved sofa from 4141 Design, and a totem light from Avenue Road. “Because the palette was so neutral, Blanca really made sure we loved the textiles and all the different materials,” says Fisher. “The details—down to the pillows—were expertly thought out.”

Wall engineered another thoughtful and creative moment in the primary bedroom where a wall of windows faces an uninspiring view. She hung sheer drapes (and a remotely operated shade) and designed built-ins with lots of open space to allow light to flow through. The shelving holds the room’s TV, which is perfectly placed for watching from bed.

“We have a term in Swedish, lagom, which means ‘not too much and not too little,’ and this project illustrates that idea perfectly,” says Wall. “We really worked to finesse the design so we could give the clients everything they wanted in their Miami residence.”

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Blanca Wall, The Wall Studio, Miami, FL

Text by Laura Hine

Photography by Gabriel Volpi, Miami, FL

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