Colorful Belle Meade Family Home Comes to Life

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When a Chicago couple with two young children decided Miami would be the ideal spot for a vacation home, their search led them to the city’s Belle Meade neighborhood. The property they found was supreme: good bones, relatively new construction, tranquil views of canal waters, and 5,000-square-feet of space for the family and their visiting guests to spread out in. The house, however, was seriously devoid of any personality.

“When I walked in, what I noticed was all the white, shiny porcelain floors, and a gray ultramodern mood,” says Rafaela Simoes, principal of 2id Interiors in Miami, whom the homeowners called on to spearhead a renovation. “The clients wanted the opposite of that: a happy, warm, and colorful home.”

Together with her partner Laila Colvin, Simoes immediately set out to fulfill those wishes. Out went those glowing floors and in came a new porcelain tile in a demure matte finish that would hold up to the indoor/outdoor traffic of small feet. Next came color. Simoes and Colvin opted for different tones of orange (the antithesis to gray Midwestern winters) on dining chairs, throw pillows, light fixtures, playful patio furnishings, and all over the powder room, which offers a textural version of the citrus shade. There’s also plenty of sage green, most noticeably in the lower cabinetry of the open kitchen, as well as on rugs, artworks, and special accents throughout the residence. “The orange and sage palette worked very well together,” says Colvin. “It gave us the contrast we wanted against the walls and neutral pieces of furniture. Color made the space come alive.”

As the project progressed, its completion date kept getting pushed back as the scope of the interior design grew. The more the homeowners saw of 2id’s approach, the more they wanted. “Initially, the clients were open to keeping parts of the existing design intact, but as we progressed, they kept adding rooms to the commission,” says Simoes. “Eventually, the project grew to include the entire interior envelope, as well as the outdoor living spaces. I must admit that felt really good.”

When it came to the bedrooms, each was carefully planned and executed to suit its end use. The primary suite, for example, boasts a serene, spa-like ambiance that serves as a retreat for the busy parents of children. The children’s bedroom was designed for little bodies with low-profile twin beds (which can be pushed together for sleepovers and play time) and low-hung shelves. The guestroom was configured to include four queen-size beds (arranged bunk-style) and plenty of storage space.

Once the house was complete (one year after 2id was initially called), the designers say the family has been finding ways to spend more and more time in Miami. So much so that the firm has already been tapped to convert a portion of the garage into a home office so the owners can work remotely and extend their stays.

“Nothing in this place was meant to be formal,” says Colvin. “It’s a summer home where everyone feels casual, relaxed, and happy.”

Story Credits:

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

Text by Kelley Marcellus

Photography by Denilson Machado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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