Pinecrest Family Home is Designed for Life

1 of 10

The grandest spaces in a home are often the most overlooked—little more than beautiful galleries to lead the occupants and guests to more lived-in rooms. That approach is a mistake, says designer Beatrice Pila-Gonzalez, who strived to make every inch of a 10,000-square-foot contemporary home in Pinecrest as livable and inviting as design would allow. 

The construction began on speculation, until a Chicago couple with two young daughters made the post-pandemic decision to move to South Florida. Introduced to Pila-Gonzalez by their Realtor, Judy Zeder, the new homeowners were eager to customize the property into a home suited to their aesthetic with plenty of space for living. 

“My philosophy of design is always about creating environments that are activated by those who live there,” says Pila-Gonzalez. “It’s never about creating a showroom. It’s about creating a lifestyle.” 

Pila-Gonzalez dove into the project by first asking her new clients how they wanted to live and what they liked to do. The husband is a swimmer, so the pool and its surrounding outdoor space was important to him. With young children, they needed places for the family to spend time together, enjoying one another’s company. They also required nooks to retreat and find opportunity for their individual interests.  

The great room was where the designer says she activated her plan for this home. Occupying significant square footage and a central location, the space deserved to be the heartbeat of the house. To achieve this, the design team placed a bar unit along the wall close to ample seating. “I believe we all socialize around food and drink,” says Pila-Gonzalez. “Wet bars in living room spaces bring people over.”  The second most important element here is a game table, which was placed “front and center.” The table always has a puzzle on it—but rarely the same one “because they really use it,” she explains. “It’s not staged. I love it because it brings people in and gives them a reason to use that room.” 

Nearby, a dining table stands ready for family meals and dinner parties, which Pila-Gonzalez says “in typical interior design realms that would be a faux pas, but sometimes it’s good to break the rules. I believe you can have form and function and activity and enjoyment all together.” 

The home’s beauty comes from a calming, monochromatic color scheme, which doesn’t settle into the white-on-white approach found in many contemporary spaces, but delves into warm neutrals and wood tones, with texture and contrasting finishes. The homeowners collect art, much of which is brightly hued, standing out from the muted backdrop. 

But not every space is quiet. An upstairs bedroom was converted into a playroom complete with a petite theater for both children and adults. Whimsy reigns in a craft room perfect for inspiring artists, helping to organize supplies, and showcasing masterpieces. “It’s purposely colorful and playful,” says the designer. “As it should be.”

Throughout the day, natural light pours into the home, connecting the interior to the natural world. In fact, the home was built around an enormous ficus tree that stands in the center of the driveway. The backyard pool, visible from the great room, gives the effect of a lake, which is surrounded by a patio with an outdoor lounge and barbecue area. “I love biophilia,” says Pila-Gonzalez. “I will never ignore the possibility of looking out into nature.” 

She also worked to bring nature in by sourcing indoor and outdoor planters and materials that help breathe life into the home. She’s particularly pleased with contemporary-lined pottery, which was brought in from Milan. “The tendency is for modern to stay with modern, but I actually like the opposite,” says Pila-Gonzalez. “I love to integrate some earthiness to create a juxtaposition of modernism with warmth.” 

The challenge of the brightness of the home is that the patios and terraces feature slatted overhangs that filter the light, but don’t prevent the rain from penetrating, requiring a careful curation of outdoor furnishings. These selections include open-weave seating and solid-surface tables that dry quickly and don’t need to be fussed with during downpours.  

Comfort was a goal throughout the home. Pila-Gonzalez, who was assisted on the project by Emily Loffler, worked to create a cozy family room space that invited lounging and casual dining at a breakfast table that extends from the kitchen’s island. The primary bedroom and bath provide a spa-like feel designed to offer the homeowners their own sanctuary when they need a little respite from the children.

“With this project, I really wanted to make sure the clients felt comfortable and used every space,” says Pila-Gonzalez. “It was about listening to what their life is about and making sure that their spaces are supporting that for them.” 

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Beatrice Pila-Gonzalez & Emily Loffler, B Pila Design, Miami, FL

Text by Kelley Marcellus

Photography by Kris Tamburello, Miami, FL

Open to see Interior Design Sources: