One of Miami’s premier showrooms for outdoor furniture for more than two decades, Clima Home has established itself as an industry leader with an enviable clientele following. But resting on one’s laurels is not owner Phil Taormina’s style.
“Designers, architects, and developers have developed more eclectic tastes as their businesses have evolved,” he says. “Now, when they come in for one brand, they wind up buying others as well.”
With this new buying habit in mind, Taormina decided the showroom’s inventory had to grow and expand to include the inside of the home as well. Earlier this year, he revealed his new business model in the form of a 20,000-square-foot, multi-level space in Wynwood that offers furniture and accessories for both indoor and outdoor living (some 75 brands in total) in South Florida. The new space, which Taormina co-designed with architect Jose Gomez, is set up with a variety of digital displays and expanded vignettes that upgrade the visitor experience. Among the inventory newcomers are Flou, the popular Italian brand known for its beds; Muuto, the so-called Scandinavian specialists in European minimalism; BD Barcelona, an edgy furniture brand that brings Salvador Dalí sketches to life; and American icons Herman Miller (known for its Eames chairs) and Thayer Coggin (revered for its mid-century modern designs).
New location and larger digs aside, Clima Home’s commitment to alfresco environments is as fervent as ever. While the new showroom features offerings from newer brands such as South Africa’s Indigenus and Belgium’s Tribu, stalwarts like Knoll and Dedon (which have been part of Clima Home’s inventory since its opening in 2002) are not going anywhere.
As of press time, Taormina was excited about the upcoming showroom reveals of collections he had previewed at Salone earlier this year. “I saw at least 12 different shades of green, lots of rusts and reds, upgraded fabrics, and textured pieces… all of it was spectacular,” he says. “Like you can see, I’m a frustrated designer at heart. I’ve developed an eye for this over the years and that’s led me to where I am today.”
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Text by Riki Altman-Yee
Photos courtesy of Clima Home
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