BISCAYNE BAY VIEWS
PHOTOS: ROBIN HILL
Kevin Gray was awarded a contract to design a 6,000 square-foot open plan living space that had been newly consolidated from two 3,000 square foot units. The space offers spectacular views of Miami Beach, the city of Miami and bayside views from the iconic Palm Bay Tower. The finished apartment has 2 living areas, 1 master bedroom, 1 office, joined his and her bath, 1 media room, 3 guest bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, an open kitchen, dining room, open bar, and 3 separate balconies. To organize the vast space, Kevin utilized the reinforced concrete column structures as key design elements, which he highlighted by exposing, extending, and facing them with a concrete finish. Hecombined them with the open floor plan to mimic the open wings of the Concorde, thus capturing the triangular shapes within the building curves. This theme can be found in every room of the home.
LOCATION: Miami, FL
The ceilings and floors were conceived simultaneously. The creation of the furniture plan established the organization of the living areas, as reflected in the ceiling plan, with the direction of the floor in contrast. This was achieved by laying the square Italian porcelain tiles on a diagonal. The ceilings were dropped a minimal 3 inches to accommodate a custom Apure lighting system. For this sizable project, Kevin employed trades he trusts – Flos lighting, Marset lighting, Apure lighting coordination, Sound Components for the installation of invisible speakers, and Lutron lighting and shading systems. Kevin thus created an architectural statement that boasts both infinite space and intimate enclosures.
The central highlights of the home are the kitchen and bar areas, as the client has a large family and enjoys entertaining. To maintain the continuity of the zones, Kevin designed the kitchen in the master wing, while the guest wing accommodates the bar and laundry area. The warm wood and dark countertops and European mahogany wood in the kitchen provide a distinct contrast to the surrounding white walls. The selected stone “Tropical Storm” was sourced from ARCA Studio, and features crème and bronze highlights, which contrast nicely against the dark, matt leather finish of the stone.
Kevin’s custom millwork design for the apartment is most notable in the kitchen cabinetry, bar, bathrooms, and doors.
