Repeat business is the sign of a job well done. That ends up being the case for Cristiana Mascarenhas more often than not. The Brazilian interior designer recently dazzled two third-time clients yet again by delivering a vacation retreat with beach cabin inspirations in Key Biscayne’s Oceana tower. Her approach? Earth tones, rustic little touches, and lots of wood.
How did this project come about?
These are regular clients from Brazil, and this is the third residence we did for them, the second in Miami.
What was the design directive?
This is a vacation home for a family of four, so they wanted a cool, fuss-free home with plenty of large spaces to congregate as the place is always full of family and friends.
What was your inspiration for the design?
The idea of a log cabin, believe it or not. This is my version of a cool wood cabin, but on the beach.
Is that so?
That’s what came to mind when I first saw the raw space, and that’s what I see now.
What was the overall approach to palette?
We focused on natural earth tones. There are many variations of brown, from light to dark, and different shades of wood, which we used a great deal. I also incorporated a variety of neutrals that wouldn’t overwhelm the senses.
What materials did you rely on?
In terms of textures, the main one is wood from the paneling throughout the apartment, which gives the space warmth and a modern coziness. You’ll also find plenty of handmade fabrics, such as the one on the large cushions in the living room. And the area rugs are all wool, which provides a natural look I love.
What’s the story behind your lighting decisions?
We made sure we didn’t overdo it in terms of illumination, so we did what was necessary to light up the residence properly without overwhelming it. To illustrate what I said about the home being a cabin on the beach, in the living room you have a light fixture by Lindsey Adelman that incorporates rope and milk glass in a very rustic way.
In terms of brands and vendors, which ones did you rely on and why?
There were four main ones we turned to: Flexform for looks and comfort; Design Within Reach because it’s always reliable; The Future Perfect because they always have something unusual that you know will stand out; and BDDW for furniture and accessories that infuse personality.
What would you say was the most challenging aspect of this project?
Convincing the client that we needed to do a full renovation to ensure a coherent residence. A home needs to have connection from room to room, and that’s what we accomplished here.
What was the reaction from the family when you delivered the project?
They were amazed, happy… at that moment they realized that all the decisions they had taken were the right ones. That kind of response is very fulfilling as a designer.
Story Credits:
Text by Florian Jouin
Photography by Costa Picadas
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