Miami Corner Duplex
and in Kevin’s quintessential words, all the enhancements were “in the budget!”
- A backsplash of mirrors was added in the open kitchen to reflect the spectacular Miami Beach sunrise and sunsets, and a bar area was created with vintage midcentury classic accents. A Milo Baumann coffee table, Murano glass, African masks and a “Bretoia“ wall sculpture enhance the beauty of the duplex.
- The soaring 20-foot living room was anchored with a dark rug to absorb the light and a leather sectional with a pair of swivel chairs provides a comfortable conversation area with views to the terrace overlooking Biscayne Bay.
- Architectural glass panels were anchored with chrome bolts (see image below) on the floating staircase to the master bedroom area. The builder’s staircase was 2/3 removed and we redesigned a lower landing with floating steps to the living area. With the new layout we gained more space for a desk area and built access panels to create storage.
- The master bathroom was gutted and all doors removed and replaced with frosted glass pocket doors. The ceiling was raised from 8 to 9 1/2 feet; we installed a spa shower and bench by taking airspace and created a wall of glass tiles flanked by white Thassos granite.
Kevin’s clients from East Hampton originally wanted a snowbird’s nest for winter months, but find themselves here off and on year-round.
Features of the Miami renovation:
-
- Permits weren’t required to install the glue-down 1/4″ terrazzo flooring from Trends Italy. We needed work permits for the kitchen, bathrooms and all glass walls and the floating staircase.
- We brought the outdoors in and featured the property’s palm trees and Bay views, and added a vase brimming with colorful cut flowers.
- We extended the terrace tile to match the color of the terrazzo resurface of the apartment flooring.
- We used Richard Schultz iconic 1966 outdoor furniture from Knoll to extend the living area outdoors onto the terrace.
- To make the living room more intimate we hung a 1970’s Venetian glass chandelier.
Small Place, Small Budget, Big Return
Kevin’s Miami corner duplex project is small in size but big on style. The owners were on a strict budget. Kevin’s design goal was to make big changes that emphasized the home’s spectacular views and give the owners a good return on their renovation investment. A small home and a small budget can be challenging when a home renovation is needed. You can make stylish, impactful transformations that increase the value of your home to a single room or your entire home and stick to your budget by using some interior design pro tips.
1. Lighten rooms with light paint colors.
Paint is an inexpensive and quick change and makes a significant impact on the appearance of a room.
2. Give depth to a room by doing an accent wall in wallpaper or a faux finish, preferably darker than the walls.
An accent wall is a good play to enlarge rooms, especially behind the bed in the bedroom.
3. Use furniture that is low and light in color, and use accent pillows.
Lighter colored furniture adds a feeling of expansiveness while accent pillows add color and texture to a room without taking up extra space.
4. Keep rugs neutral.
A lighter colored rug makes a small room look brighter and larger.
5. Install a coffee table in glass and metal, preferably chrome.
A sure bet is the square Barcelona table or the round Milou Bauman.
6. Install transparent drapery side panels.
Strategically hung side panels help enlarge the window and play with light.
7. Add a tree or plant in a corner.
Faux or real, a plant helps ground and anchor a room.
