Masculine Sophistication in Coconut Grove Condo

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As a luxury real estate advisor with Compass, Luis Gonell has seen his fair share of condos around Miami, but it was an oddly shaped space at the Grove at Grand Bay, the twisting structures designed by Danish starchitect Bjarke Ingels, that won him over. As soon as the residence was his, he knew it was time to call on interior designer Christopher Coleman and architect Angel Sanchez for their expertise.

Partners in business and life, Sanchez and Coleman have been friends with Gonell for years, so they knew the bachelor would be best served with an alluring home decorated with pieces that could go the distance. Or, as Gonell puts it: “minimal, elegant, and sophisticated.” The design duo understood why their new client had found the angular condo with concrete floors so captivating as soon as they set foot in it. “The ceilings are 10 feet tall and there’s a whole glass wall that goes from the bedroom all the way across the living room,” says Coleman. “It’s as if the outside is coming in.”

One feature the designers didn’t find as charming is the structural column with a three-foot diameter that cuts through the apartment, but Gonell insisted they didn’t try to hide it. “It’s a beautiful architectural fixture,” he says. “It represents strength.” With that in mind, Sanchez (who’s also a fashion designer) suggested covering the ceiling with wood slats and placing plants above and around the column to “bring green from the outside in.” Combined with the charcoal gray tiles installed throughout, the duo dubbed the theme “Brazilian brutalist” and ran with it.

When it came to selecting furniture, Sanchez guided Gonell on what types of pieces to buy and which ones should be investments. The designer was happy when Gonell took the advice, even when it came to a (“trust us, it’s worth it”) woven round metal rug for the living room. Bold carpet aside, this living area proved to be a challenge when it came to creating conversation areas. The trio agreed on modular pieces by Living Divani, which can be adjusted into various configurations. “You just move them around if you have a lot of people over,” says Coleman, “or you bring them together to make it large enough for someone to lay on. Later on, if you have kids or an office, you can repurpose them.” Next came wallcoverings for texture, black paint for drama, and vertical LED light strips on the walls for a surprise element.

Over in the kitchen, much design intervention was needed. The previous blond wood cabinetry had to go, so Bracco Construction Group was brought in to install matte black kitchen cabinets and sleek Dekton countertops for an elegant, moody, and masculine vibe.

In the primary bedroom, Gonell’s desire for a modern retreat was achieved with a custom digital mural that commands the back wall. Like the rest of the residence, the colors here stay strictly within the gray zone. 

As for the final outcome? “Luis gave us great freedom, so we were very pleased with the results,” says Coleman. “And he’s happy, which is the most important part.”

Gonell concurs: “Angel and Christopher’s work represents everything that I love. They truly understand the beauty of simplicity.”

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Angel Sanchez & Christopher Coleman, Sanchez + Coleman Studio, Miami, FL

Text by Riki Altman-Yee

Photography by Ken Hayden, Miami, FL

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