Innehållsförteckning för Volume 33-1 från Florida Design – Digital Edition

What’s your design take on the home office? I ask myself: What makes this room different from others in the house? Is it a place to work, simply spend time in, or both? If a client has a comfortable home office tailored to his or her needs, they will have a good time using it every day in lieu of other parts of the house. Has your firm seen an increase in demand for home offices since the pandemic? Yes, especially in guest bedrooms. That tells us that it seems like our clients’ kids are spending more time with their parents in sunny Florida since the pandemic. And because more people are working remotely, it seems we are also putting desks in every room. This doesn’t preclude the professional who…

With two successful Broward-based companies to his name (Matthew Giampietro Garden Design in Fort Lauderdale, and Waterfalls, Fountains & Gardens in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea), Connecticut native Matthew Giampietro has become one of Florida’s go-to masters for spectacular outdoor spaces since planting roots here in 2003. With projects all over the state and New England, the landscape wiz is well-versed in dream gardens where no detail is overlooked. Here, he shares some insight on the alfresco features he’s perfected throughout his career. matthewgiampietro.com; waterfallsinflorida.com Pool Principles Florida gardens seem incomplete without a pool. And whether it’s a minimalist tub or a jungle-like lagoon, nothing ruins the experience like the wrong plant life around it. In terms of that, Giampietro suggests coastal vegetation that’s salt tolerant (for saltwater pools) and sturdy specimens that can…

Dating back to 1891 and revered for its nineteenth-century architecture and tree-lined streets, Tampa’s Hyde Park neighborhood is often cited as one of Florida’s best places to live. That means the stakes were high when Kolter Urban set out to develop Hyde Park House, a 22-story tower with 70 waterfront residences that now rises in the Tampa skyline as a tribute to one of the state’s most exclusive enclaves. “Our approach was to discover architectural features unique to the surrounding Hyde Park community and employ those as key design drivers,” says Stefano Falbo, vice president and associate principal of SB Architects, the firm tasked with the structural design. “Our goal was to create a state-of-the-art building that balances the neighborhood identity with past traditions.” Easier said than done, but Hyde…

DESIGN ACTIONS OFTEN SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. Upon viewing a stream of projects from designer Juan Poggi’s impressive international portfolio, the homeowners of an extraordinary 11,500-square-foot penthouse on Fisher Island granted him carte blanche to carry out their vision. The residence’s exclusive private setting—accessible only by ferry for residents and their guests—offered an extravagant resort life with beach access, golf and tennis courts, world-class restaurants, and an array of yacht slips for the good life. “They love the space, the extraordinary views—the peaceful life on Fisher Island,” says Poggi. “The clients came to me via a recommendation by ASR Construction, a team of architects, designers, and contractors who specialize in Fisher Island projects. We met, and they felt comfortable with my approach to the design of their home. We were…

WHEN A MARRIED COUPLE purchased a 4,500-square-foot, three-bedroom home on John’s Island in Vero Beach seven years ago, they knew it would require a new roof, new floors, and a better kitchen. Once the pandemic took hold, they began considering other adjustments, like a home office for the husband. And after a visit with an architect, the project ballooned into a head-to-toe renovation that would add a new primary bedroom and a guest house, and grow their living space by 1,700 square feet. Trusting a friend’s referral, the homeowners reached out to Lisa Erdmann in Palm Beach to handle the interiors. “They wanted this to feel very much like Florida,” she recalls. “It’s a home for friends and family. That’s how they want to live in the house: very casually.”…

Art Week in Miami was a busy time of creative excess and one of the signature events of last year’s gathering was the Maris Raffa Art Experience at the New World Center in Miami Beach. The evening married art and design with a speaker lineup that included Joel Jota and David Grutman, as well as a stunning art exhibit by Caio Carneiro.…

New Ravenna can be counted on to release new collections on a regular basis, but the brand’s new Heritage line is special for multiple reasons. Heritage celebrates the mosaic maker’s thirtieth anniversary and features 14 designs handcrafted at the company’s Virginia headquarters from jewel glass and Glazed Basalto (the company’s proprietary volcanic stone) with brass and metallic accents. “The collection journeys through our three decades of design, innovation, and craftsmanship by reinterpreting our most popular patterns and textures,” says Creative Director Cean Irminger. To that end, the categories under the collection include History, which honors the first 10 years when the brand was inspired by mosaics in the Roman African tradition, Texture, which celebrates New Ravenna’s second decade and its foray into Venetian techniques, and Color, a nod to the…

Marie Kondo devotees, take note. The Container Store’s newest line, Preston, offers a super-smart system of organization that can be applied in different ways in multiple spaces. Made from recycled and reclaimed woods, the customizable options include wall beds, media centers with concealed parts, garage solutions, and the 360 Organizer, a rotating contraption that puts favorite items at your fingertips and can be used in wardrobes, pantries, wine cellars, and more. Details for these custom niches include various finishes and hardware, glass doors, LED lighting, frameless mirror doors, and leather drawer fronts. containerstore.com GREAT EXPECTATIONS New York-based antiques purveyor Newel is determined to become one of the largest businesses of its type in the country. The company recently acquired the esteemed Gary Rubinstein Antiques & Modern Design showroom, which has…

Shortly after opening its doors in West Palm Beach in 1998, Authentic Provence established itself as one of South Florida’s most distinguished destinations for antiques. All of that has to do with the efforts of owners Susan and Wolfgang Hofherr, two good-life connoisseurs, and their discerning eye for vintage treasures. Together, the two Europeans (she’s from France, he’s from Austria) speak six languages, which has allowed them to nurture relationships with vendors all over the world—a fact that’s evident in their enviable inventory. When they’re not busy sourcing the European countryside for their wares, the husband and wife travel extensively to renovate grand gardens and historic chalets all over the world. In other words: Mr. and Mrs. Hofherr know their business quite well. This spring, they’re putting all that knowledge…

We cook in them. We laugh in them. We count down the days until the end of a pandemic in them. And we do those things all over again the next day. As the kitchen continues to serve as the soul of the home, we offer a portfolio of this multipurpose room by design talents from across Florida and the U.S., as well as a look at the latest offerings from top brands and manufacturers.…

Premium Kitchens founder Thierry Pigeot had an idea many years ago: to build an international brand based on the Italian attention to detail, topped with French accents, all within the “American Dream” kitchen. He’s been putting those words into action since arriving in the United States in 2013, and Florida designers have been relying on them since the brand opened its first South Florida showroom in 2013. Like all its other systems, PK’s Arrital Collection kitchen (featured here) offers a combination of tailored space planning, expertly chosen appliances, massive amounts of moving parts, superior woods and stones, and detail, details, details. premiumkitchens.com…

The term “superyacht” seems just a tad inadequate to describe the sheer size and volume of the German-built floating palace that’s AHPO. Stretching an astonishing 378 feet bow to stern—18 feet longer than a football field—more than 60 feet wide, and sprawling over six decks, we think “giga-yacht” might be a more apt description. Completed in December 2021 for the billionaire Jamaican-Canadian business magnate and philanthropist Michael Lee-Chin, AHPO was the undisputed star of this year’s Miami Boat Show, where it was recently listed for a staggering $355 million. One doesn’t need to gaze long at this maritime work of art to understand why the price tag has so many zeroes. Every cabin, every deck, every nook and cranny is finished to the most astonishing levels of quality and luxury,…

SOMETIMES, STARTING FROM SCRATCH is simply meant to be. Soon after finding out they would be having twins, parents Blake and Liza Griffis set out to find a dream home in Ponte Vedra Beach that would accommodate their growing family of five. But, after months of exhaustive hunting, it became clear no such place existed. They would have to build that house themselves. After switching strategies, the couple found an ideal lot on the Intracoastal with outstanding views of the water, and were soon working with an architect to create their ideal dwelling: a cozy home with high ceilings, large windows to flood the interiors with natural light, and plenty of room for the twins and their older sister to grow. In terms of interiors, their wants checked off a…

In a city that can be somewhat fickle, a 20-year anniversary is cause for serious celebration. The party for Artefacto’s two decades of business in Miami coincided with the social whirlwind of Art Week, which made for a most spirited day event at the brand’s massive showroom in Coral Gables. Company founder Paulo Bacchi and his sons, Pietro and Bruno, welcomed hundreds of guests to the space for a catered lunch and champagne to celebrate the brand’s exquisite lines and its plans for a bright future.…

Two of this summer’s most buzzy design releases prove that two creative minds are sometimes better than one. Designer Monica Armani’s latest collection for B&B Italia is the result of a collaboration with the design wizards at unPizzo Studio in Cantù, Italy. The sum of their efforts—a tribute to 1960s glamour—can be seen in the Allure O’Table, a piece that balances straight lines and sinuous curves with incredible dexterity, and the Flair O’Chair, a testament to the possibilities of traditional weaving techniques. Pair them together for the ultimate European design statement. bebitalia.com GRAPHIC CONTENT In the brand’s own words, Herman Miller has “opened its vault” to release a series of posters featuring the graphics created by mid-century modern designer Alexander Girard for the Girard Environmental Enrichment Panels, a group of…

When the pandemic forced so many of us to work from our houses and then working remotely became the norm, it seems the home office went from a luxury to a must. Did you notice such a request among your clients? Yes. As a result of the pandemic, there was indeed a surge in demand to set up home offices, especially ones where both spouses could do their jobs individually. And as meetings moved online, more of our clients wanted dedicated spaces to conduct virtual communications. Home offices are so individual. What are some of the design hallmarks you keep in mind? We tailor them to each client’s specific needs. For example, most require a large table to review documents or surface room for several monitors to keep tabs on…

Although many other South Florida-based showrooms would like to make this claim, the new Akiba location at 1941 Tigertail Avenue in Dania Beach is offering something unprecedented in these shores. The new 6,500-square-foot store boasts a one-of-a-kind inventory with pieces that hail from Gabon and other Central African nations. The focus here is on three main product lines: organic-shaped, live-edge style slabs for dining and occasional tabletops (some of which, like the Kevazingo, can retail for as much as $42,000), contemporary wood furniture (including tables and chairs that are resistant to termites and other pests), and artisanal offerings (such as animal and warrior sculptures, tribal masks, and art) from Gabonese creatives. The best part? The brand collaborates with various authorities to ensure its goods are ethically sourced and socially responsible.…

With presence at South Florida Design Park in Hollywood, MandiCasa is a forward-thinking brand. The company understands the appeal of Italian innovation and aesthetics, but it knows those attributes mean nothing without a receptive audience. That’s why the company spends considerable time and effort educating its customers and the artisans and manufacturers it relies on about each other. That savvy approach to business results in stylish kitchen systems with the kind of details and features that make users smile and nod their heads in appreciation. Those qualities are at play in the Omicron kitchen by Davide Bot, a space with a focus on cabinets that exude modern luxury, as well as in the Yota (also by Bot), a cooking hub that adapts effortlessly to its surroundings. mandicasa.com…

New to Florida with a showroom in West Palm Beach, Bakes & Kropp is the sum of its founders’ efforts. The luxury kitchen design and manufacturing company has become a major industry player thanks to the design expertise of Bob Bakes and the craftsmanship knowledge of Paul Kropp. Together, these two men bring us kitchen systems that combine functional design with eye-catching aesthetics that will remain timeless for years to come. Case in point: The Virginia kitchen showcased here, which is marked by built-in lighting within cabinetry that shines on the finished wood grain and brightens respective prep spaces. A walnut waterfall island solidifies the primary cooking and entertaining space. Satin and polished nickel accents dress the cabinetry and custom-sloped range hood, tying elements together within the large open space.…

On the corner of 57th and Fifth in Manhattan, luxury hospitality brand Aman has introduced its signature Asian-infused minimalism and serene spaces, bringing a moment of calm to a city known for its fevered pace and electric energy. Aman New York is the newest occupant of the landmark Crown Building, a palatial structure whose history is entwined with the mythology of New York City. The transformation, led by Jean-Michel Gathy of Denniston Architects, respects the building’s past while staying true to Aman’s design ethos. Built in 1921, at the height of America’s Gilded Age, the Crown was designed by Warren & Wetmore, the architects behind such Manhattan icons as Grand Central Station and the Helmsley Building. Everything about the Beaux-Arts building exuded affluence and rarefied privilege, from its elaborate entrance…

Expansions and openings are par for the course in West Palm Beach’s design scene these days. Case in point: the recent debut of the Bakes & Kropp Fine Cabinetry showroom at 3085 South Dixie Highway. The occasion brought together designers and design lovers alike for an evening of champagne and hors d’oeuvres—and much perusing of the brand’s superior kitchens. “Expanding into the greater South Florida market is part of our company’s continued growth around the nation,” said company co-founder Paul Kropp. “We are thoughtfully and intentionally solidifying our place as a national player in the ultra-luxury kitchen design marketplace.”…