Posh Pinecrest Dwelling Showcases Diverse Perspectives

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Driven by a renewed post-pandemic appreciation for the outdoors, two Miami homeowners chose a posh Pinecrest dwelling for its bucolic setting and modern grandeur. Exquisitely landscaped, the grounds encompass thriving layers of palm trees and prolific fruit trees, including banana, mango, avocado, lemon, and lime. A fragrant herb garden brims with sage, rosemary, cilantro, mint, and tomatoes, and hammocks suspended in sublimely shaded areas provide respite beside winding paths to a fire pit and miniature golf course. With eight bedrooms and 11 baths, the 14,322-square-foot property features a massive covered patio and an outdoor kitchen clad in blue and white tile, where the couple loves to grill steaks and entertain guests. Passionate art collectors as well, they wanted their spaces—both inside and out—to embody an uplifting gallery vibe where their curated compilation could live and breathe.  

“This was our second project for these clients, so we’d gotten to know them well,” says Nicole White, president and principal designer of Nicole White Designs Interiors, who collaborated with her assistant designer, Arianne Hill. “The couple travel extensively, are avid supporters of Black artists, and have exquisite taste, so the bar for their projects is always high.”  

For this go-around, the challenge was to incorporate all the pieces the team had designed for their previous residence, a much smaller condo in Coconut Grove. This included custom sofas, an oversized acrylic coffee table, and several statement pieces. “We designed this home to be truly reflective of both clients and their disparate personalities,” adds White. “The challenge was making sure both had their wishes—modern and calm for the husband, maximalist and dramatic for the wife.” 

A statue by famed artist Woodrow Nash greets visitors upon entry, setting the tone for the artistic, gallery-style experience awaiting inside. Beyond the entrance, a hallway into the great room displays a black-framed mixed media work by Haitian artist Stephen Arboite. A massive abstract by Argentinian artist Silvana Timo steals the stoplight, and two graphic works by Elizabeth Catlett compose a quiet vignette in the corner accented with sleek leather and brass chairs. The design team infused warmth and drama with contrasting taupe custom cabinetry in the adjacent open kitchen, which was once all black and white. Additionally, they condensed two islands into one clad in Dekton Khalo, a luxurious stain-proof porcelain that extends to a separate countertop and backsplash. 

For TV-enhanced moments of relaxation, a swanky media lounge with oversized chaise lounges includes a slender island designed with a custom waterfall edge fabricated in brass and Dekton Aura slabs. Bold orange and brass bar stools echo the glamorous aesthetic, along with a beverage station featuring a built-in wine dispenser and glass cabinetry. Like the rest of the home, art takes center stage with pieces by David Driskell, Woodrow Nash, and a sculptural trumpet player by artist (and former NFL player) George Nock. A separate game room houses a billiards table alongside a pair of brilliant acrylic and collage works by Haitian artist Francks F. Deceus.   

“This project will be a forever favorite because these clients allowed us to reach for the stars,” notes White. “Nothing was off limits with them—the more dramatic and one-of-a-kind, the better.” 

Outdoors, art holds its own moment poolside, bringing the space (quite literally) to life. Backdropped by an overscale chess board, a life-like swimmer sculpture by Carole A. Feuerman faces a magnificent bronze sculpture by artist Nnamdi Okonkwo atop a custom base built especially to welcome this piece home. 

“It’s an incredible gift to be able to design without any creative boundaries,” says White, a native Jamaican deeply inspired by the bold colors of the Caribbean. “And being able to do so with an expansive art collection featuring so many talented Black artists was an incredible honor for us as Black designers. This project was a career-high and one we are incredibly thankful to have been a part of.”  

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Nicole White & Arianne Hill, Nicole White Designs Interiors, Plantation, FL

Text by Jeanne de Lathouder

Photography by Kris Tamburello, Miami, FL

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