Villa Vizcaya Home is a Designer’s Personal Paradise

1 of 11

There is delicious suspense leading up to the first reveal of a freshly unveiled home design. But there’s an even deeper curiosity to peek inside the private spaces of the professional designers who choreograph these projects for their clients every day. With an entire to-the-trade industry at their fingertips, their personal choices are all part of the intrigue. For Brazilian interior designer Carmen Alcaraz Gomes, composing her waterfront vacation home began as a tribute to art, gardening, and honoring her family’s heritage. And, as one would expect from a seasoned designer, combining these aspects imbues her home with a deeper meaning than might initially meet the eye.

Planted in the heart of Coconut Grove, the 4,000-square-foot property at Villa Vizcaya boasts ocean access, a private marina, and glistening views of Biscayne Bay and the open sea from every room. “We enjoy the advantages of residing in a small boutique building on a tranquil street with very few residents,” says Gomes, founder of CG1 Design in Miami. “Being close to the water is essential for my boater husband, and having a spacious terrace where he can cultivate a variety of seeds from around the world is a dream come true.”

The daughter of an interior designer mother and an industrial-engineer father, Gomes’ inherent talent for architecture and design is tightly woven into her DNA. She developed the plans for her family retreat from scratch, dedicating a year and a half to construction and design. “Since this is our vacation home, I opted for a cleaner palette with a white base and oak wood floors, showcasing my colorful art collection, designer rugs, and minimalistic Italian furniture,” she notes. “Parisian white apartments with architecturally interesting furniture served as my primary inspiration.”

Throughout, white lacquered panels, white Venetian plaster, and textured tone-on-tone wallpapers create a gallery-worthy backdrop. Just beyond the entrance, a serendipitous arrangement of gouache paintings by artist Carlos Pasquetti—some of them hung askew—infuse Brazilian panache into a long, luminous hallway. Pierced white architectural columns spotlighting an iconic Eames Vitra chaise lounge delineate the entrance to the dining room, where directly ahead, breathtaking bay and open-sea views enchant the senses. A chic Italian-designed table and chairs designate the room’s focal point, but arguably, Sunwoo Kim’s wildly vibrant Dodo in New York painting steals the show.

“As a large family with six kids and numerous friends, we frequently entertain guests, hosting gatherings at least once a week,” says Gomes. “Our family traditions include weekly Friday dinners when we’re in town, as well as Sabbath dinners and intimate get-togethers with friends.”

A seamless flow into the living room reveals yet another centerpiece artwork by Rock Therrien, entitled Le Coeur Léger, which inspired the energizing color palette. Black graphic strokes pattern a plush ivory rug, uniting the streamlined, low-profile leather seating. An adjacent family room maintains the same insouciant sophistication with its clean-lined Eames chair and ottoman paired with a modernist sculptural floor lamp by Hawaiian artist John Koga.   

Ascending an elegant staircase, three lavish bedrooms, including the primary suite, offer inspiring ocean vistas from terrace balconies. Among them, the primary bath embodies a meditative sanctuary with a mosaic wall Gomes custom designed to pay homage to her husband’s Tunisian lineage. She also adorned the bathroom with her mother’s cherished heirloom Murano glass sconces, which have been passed down through generations.

“One of the most enjoyable aspects of designing my home was creating the master bathroom,” adds Gomes. “It gave me a unique opportunity to honor my family history and my husband’s heritage. Reflecting on the entire process, my fondest memory of designing this home was watching everything come together like a painting on a canvas. It was incredibly gratifying and an amazing journey I will never forget.”

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Carmen Alcaraz Gomes, CG1 Design, Miami, FL

Text by Jeanne Delathouder

Photography by Craig Denis, Miami, FL

Open to see Interior Design Sources: