When designer Fede Teran takes on a project it’s as if he’s creating an extension of himself. Naturally, when it comes time for him to hand it over to his clients, he feels as if a part of him goes with it. But he wouldn’t have it any other way. This 5,200-square-foot Oceana vacation condo in Bal Harbour, Fla., is no exception.
The new clients learned of Teran’s work when they had viewed another of his design projects in Brickell. Needless to say, they were very impressed and hired him just 10 minutes after meeting. Then they gave him carte blanche.
“We had a lot of challenges architecturally speaking,” Teran says. “We razed the whole apartment and redid the layout to make the spaces larger and more functional.” The clients wanted embellished features and larger spaces, which resulted in a clean, elegant floor plan that yields to the homeowners’ lifestyle and taste, and especially its stunning water and city views.
The living area is a gathering spot for conversation that offers ample seating options with a focus towards the ocean. Custom, off-white cotton-clad sofas are designed with one arm and at floor-hugging height so that water views can be enjoyed unobstructed, while a pair of custom Fede Design ottomans in a navy blue hue provide extra seating. The open layout, symmetrical and balanced, pays close attention to detail and conveys seaside ambiance. It is perfect for the designer’s clients who love to entertain. A silk area rug, custom designed by Teran in shades of blue, taupe, gray and white, recalls the sand and sea. A shapely cocktail table, a focal point in Teran’s quest to make the room as fluent as possible, creates an illusion of moving or hovering. “It’s like a stingray flying through the ocean,” the designer says. A unique wavy bench, designed by the famous architect Toyo Ito in walnut, is positioned to maximize ocean views and also convey movement. The artwork directly above the sofa, an integral part of the room’s design, features a raised panel made of high-density rubber — an intriguing 3-D piece reminiscent of a textured puzzle by Ventoso.
Teran designed the expansive terrace as an annex to the living area that allows both spaces to coexist naturally. Brown Jordan’s white sofa and chair are oversized and durable, while a Holly Hunt concrete cocktail table adds interest with a tabletop surface divided into quadrants. An area rug complements the blue and white tones inside the home atop large-scale, white Italian porcelain tile flooring that flows from the living area to the terrace to unify the spaces.
Another conversation space emerges between the living and dining areas. Fede Design’s custom cocktail tables are flanked by four, cotton-clad chairs that provide extra seating for entertaining. Art also plays a central role in the home’s design. In the living area, a marriage of blue and white hues is sparked with splashes of vivid red in a large original work of art by Fernanda Meirelles. At the far end of the dining area, a piece by Mexican artist Carmen Izurieta, dominates in red tones.
The avant-garde theme is continued in the dining room. Teran separated the space with a custom partial divider wall that he designed, inlaid with alternating wood beams that suspend from the top and jut up from the base. Just beyond the partition wall, a Costantini Pietro dining table in an African walnut veneer is lined with stylish white leather chairs edged in the same wood.
The kitchen is minimal and clean-lined, a hallmark of Teran’s design. The large-scale island is a standout created with a Calacatta marble top and warmed by a walnut base. White, high-gloss lacquered cabinetry is sleek with lighting that glows from above and below. Close by in the breakfast area, upholstered chairs circle around a walnut table with a sculptural base. A unique pendant created with layers of silver glass blends perfectly with stainless steel appliances in the kitchen.
In the master bedroom, a leather-upholstered custom bed and a sophisticated seating area with oversized chairs are perfectly positioned to take in ocean views. A wall of “Toujourin” Japanese stone adds texture to the room setting the stage for a Peter Lik photographic artwork that Teran describes as “captivating.” The frameless art hangs in a custom niche lit with LED lights to enhance its soothing tones.
During the final three weeks of a project, Teran does not like his clients to view the property in its final stages. He likes to surprise them. And so, it was a beautiful Miami evening when he handed his clients a shiny Tiffany keychain with a key to their new home. The finished product was precisely how the owners’ had envisioned it … they were thrilled with the result. “I love making people happy,” Teran says. “So, when my they trust me to deliver the home of their dreams, it makes it all worthwhile … that’s why I do what I do.”
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