Contemporary Coastal Trove on Sunny Isles Beach

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tasked with creating an unparalleled experience for their clients who maintain this Sunny Isles Beach condo as one of multiple secondary homes, interior designers Grant Kefalas and Isabelle Perez were up for the challenge. This 5,000-square-foot getaway was to provide a sense of livable luxury with design steeped in a rich thoughtfulness to set it apart from the homeowners’ other residences.

The architecture of the condominium truly pays homage to its location, even externally. Its undulating balcony configuration from a distance makes the building appear to be wave-like. Back inside, the design duo did not want their interior scheme to be predictably and singularly coastal.

As lighter flooring would disappear into the ocean view, the choice of oak flooring stained an ebony brown allows neutral furnishings to grab attention with simple but soft and often curved forms to eliminate edginess. A view of the Atlantic Ocean coastline pours into the dining room. The rectangular space houses an intimate ambience defined by an area rug made of bamboo silks, bordered by a prewashed suede. During the day, the dining table’s trio of large, sail-like chrome bases reflects cool ocean hues. Taupe tones emerge in the evenings. “One of our challenges was, if you look out at the ocean after sunset it’s basically a black background. When you light up the chandelier, it mimics the stars in the night sky, adding a bit more warmth to the space,” Perez says.

Nearby, the living room presents with three sculptural panels superimposed in front of a lightly tinted mirror. “The beauty of these panels is that they are installed on pivots. You can kind of change them as you please, giving the client a bit of creativity,” Perez says. “It’s a very sculptural yet subtle element.”

Whereas the living room exudes a classic elegance, the family room is characterized by even softer lines and an intimate coziness. A plush sectional sofa envelops the area featuring surfaces that reflect the condo’s ever-changing light, yielding a fluid ambience. The media wall is covered in a seashell applique with an iridescent finish reminiscent of mother of pearl. Silk accent pillows continue the playful shimmer.

With an ensemble that resembles a chic hotel restaurant lounge, the adjacent breakfast area creates a unique casual dining experience overlooking the intracoastal and city views. Water vistas wrap around to the kitchen, an open and spacious area distinguished by sea glass countertops in solid white. The space was designed to take advantage of the ocean view, with a convenient connection to the outside.

Sea glass reappears on the countertops in the master bath. The luxurious bones of the private space translate to a spa-like setting from ceiling to floor, without detracting from the sweeping ocean views. Simplicity characterizes the large master bedroom, where texture speaks volumes. The headboard wall features a custom bronze and velvet headboard in a soft gray-blue ocean hue flanked by mirrored panels. Bronze and beige draperies in a shimmering, gauzy weave never block any light but still promote an intimate and cozy feeling.

Melding the architectural flow with a meticulously curated interior scheme, the condo’s layout easily flows from one room to the next with an uninterrupted fluidity. The sculptural nature of the home heightens the experience already made dynamic by the fluctuating tones of a masterfully unexpected mix of materials that brings the desired wow factor as light transitions between day and night.

Story Credits: 

Interior Design by Grant Kefalas and Isabelle Perez, Evolution Design, Montreal, Canada

Text by Alexandra Roland

Photography by Emilio Collavino, Miami Beach, FL

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