Golden Beach Home Embodies Carioca Chic

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Brazil’s cultural spice is an integral ingredient in Miami’s melting pot. So much so that when a couple native to Rio de Janeiro uprooted their home to live here, they didn’t think twice about leaving their beloved city behind. They brought its spirit with them.

Avid boaters and nature lovers who raised their family in Aventura, the husband and wife imagined a dream home where their now-grown children—and foreseeable grandchildren—would enjoy a calm life by the ocean. After acquiring an ideal lot on Golden Beach, the couple excitedly relayed the news to their trusted design team at 2id Interiors.

“Inspired by modernist Brazilian architecture, the husband visualized a clean-lined tropical-style home paying tribute to the prolific Florida landscape,” says Rafaela Simoes, the principal designer who co-owns 2id Interiors with partner Laila Colvin. “Our clients sought to create a carioca home inspired by the happy residents of Rio de Janeiro with a deep connection to nature. Laila and I are both from Rio, so we immediately envisioned what that style should look like.”

Following the designers’ recommendation to hire architect Stephanie Halfen of SDH Studio Architecture + Design, the clients and their creative team fell into sync swiftly. “When we first engaged with Stephanie, we knew exactly what directions to give her,” notes Colvin. “There was such an amazing synergy from the beginning that we called ourselves ‘the dream team.’”

A languid enclave acclaimed for its tranquility, privacy, and luxury waterfront homes, Golden Beach’s barrier island community embodies the ultimate intimate retreat. “The homeowners chose this location for its natural beauty, direct beach access, and the high-quality lifestyle it offers,” says Halfen. “Their vision for the home aligned perfectly with our design philosophy, which is to create spaces where architecture flows organically with the landscape, resulting in a warm, elegant, and timeless environment.”

Halfen’s architectural concept for the 7,450-square-foot structure implemented multiple indoor/outdoor courtyards, maximizing the connection between the interiors and exteriors. The home fluently amalgamates with its surroundings, delivering awe-inspiring views and celebrating natural light and nature. “When we received Stephanie’s design plans, we loved the louvers on the exterior façade and the roof,” says Simoes, “so we decided to incorporate louvers as dividers between the living room and staircase to connect the interiors with the outside architecture.” Adds Colvin: “You step inside the house to encounter an ethereal floating staircase with pebbles and greenery underneath; this was our first design touch honoring nature.”

Artfully curated noble building materials such as wood, travertine, and glass lend warmth tinged with a contemporary attitude. Custom-designed elements, including built-in millwork, innovative ceiling treatments, and bespoke furniture, infuse the home with sophistication and character. Aware of their clients’ preference for casual entertaining after renovating their previous Aventura home, the design team flawlessly executed a cozy, unpretentious aesthetic. To exemplify the carioca spirit, they elevated the spaces with dreamy imagery and thought-provoking artworks by Brazilian artists, including Flavia Junqueira, Cristina Barrancos, and David José. Particularly in the living room, the designers intentionally selected light-hued furniture, allowing the art and accessories to pop with unexpected colors. A circa 1972 Mole Armchair from Sergio Rodrigues, the father of modern Brazilian design, lends a sincere statement of authenticity. Other Brazilian furniture manufacturers—Artefacto and Florense among them—translate the Brazilian joie de vivre throughout the home.   

Outdoors, a sprawling upper-level planter draped with greenery highlights the terrace, while a series of green islands dotting the pool brim with tropical plantings. The innovative trellis-style roof generates an arresting visual, casting moody angular shadows that reposition with the sun hour by hour. Even the pool’s lulling turquoise waters contribute to the tropical exuberance the owners strove to achieve.    

Custom designed for hosting family and friends, the home accentuates spacious and inviting social areas while offering intimate corners for quiet retreat and personal enjoyment. “One of the most rewarding aspects of the project was the collaborative effort to ensure every design decision reflected our clients’ lifestyle and aspirations,” notes Halfen. “Our scheme emerged from a continuous dialogue, where we carefully listened to their needs and desires and interpreted them through design that balances aesthetics and functionality.”

Story Credits:

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

Project Manager Laura Aguiar, 2id Interiors, North Miami, FL

Architecture by Stephanie Halfen, SDH Studio Architecture & Interior Design, North Miami Beach, FL

Builder Treo Construction, North Miami Beach, FL

Landscape Architecture by Clad Landscape Architecture, Miami, FL

Text by Jeanne de Lathouder

Photography by Denilson Machado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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