VILLA UPGRADE

A SEASONED DESIGNER GIVES A TUSCANSTYLE HOME A KIND AND RESPECTFUL MAKEOVER WITH SOME HELP FROM ITS YOUNG HOMEOWNERS’ ART COLLECTION left: This Tuscan-style villa in the heart of Coconut Grove emanates Italian grandeur upon first stepping into the magnificent foyer. A sweeping staircase with the original ironwork takes the spotlight underneath a Lindsey Adelman custom chandelier. Decorative sheep stools by Judith Hopf adorn a sleek black cement table from B&B Italia. above: Avid collectors, the homeowners opted to display contemporary art in nearly every space, including the living room, which is accented with abstract paintings by Aaron Curry. Croydon’s chic white lounge sofa complements a Ligne Roset blue club chair and a vintage stool with horn legs.

It May Seem Surprising That

a young couple in their mid-thirties with three small children sought to make a grand Italianate manse their family home, yet the address proved to be the perfect fit for these avid art collectors who love to entertain. Nestled in the historic heart of Coconut Grove, the property emanates Italian grandeur reminiscent of the enchanting, sunbaked villas dotting the picturesque hillsides of Tuscany. Built in 2005, the bones of the home were truly magnificent, so there was not much work needed for the original structure when it came time to renovate.

“We had two missions here,” says Matthew MacDonald, the well-known Miami designer the couple enlisted to modernize the house. “We wanted to retain many of the original architectural details of this stately [structure], design around them, and use this as a giant space for the clients’ important art collection while creating a home—not a museum.”

Because the couple collects contemporary art, MacDonald’s design scheme was to blend the pieces with the traditional architecture and restore many of the home’s original finishes. He opened up a wall from the foyer into the living room to create more of a grand entrance. He also removed one other interior wall to add a bar and wine room—essential features for these clients who open their house to guests often.

The design team then meticulously selected fabrics and furniture that accentuated each room’s exquisite artwork.

A vibrant abstract by Jon Pestoni and Bernhardt’s retro-inspired walnut Anne chair upholstered in lemon velvet provide unexpected splashes of color to the family room’s otherwise neutral palette. Holly Hunt’s linear two-tiered Gemini cocktail table and club chair combine with a plush white MDA sofa, lending a stylish yet laid-back feel.

“ There was so much natural light to play with that we let it inform our choices of colors and textures,” notes the designer. “This Tuscan-style home was very traditional. It was originally painted in yellow, beige, and warm neutrals, so it screamed for color. I wanted to freshen the home by using blue, white, and sand hues to modernize the space.” above: The decidedly Tuscan-inspired kitchen includes a barrel-vaulted brick ceiling feature that lends an air of Old-World elegance. An Ann Sacks Nottingham tile backsplash creates textural interest against a mix of white and walnut custom cabinetry. Woven Crin counter stools from McGuire surround a center island embellished with Urban Electric’s Globus pendant light.

The living room’s soothing blue and white palette emits an ethereal vibe that counterbalances the visual heft of the architecture and the home’s wall-to-wall stone floors. The elegant curve of a low-slung blue sofa echoes the organic form of a sculptural cocktail table made of whitewashed walnut. A plush deep blue throw drapes over a chic white daybed, and ombré curtains in hues of indigo and white lend a subtle modern touch while allowing the artwork to take the spotlight. “It was clear from the start that we needed to lighten the original mood of the home to reflect the tastes of its new, more youthful occupants,” says MacDonald.

In the family room, a 12-foot sofa provides luxurious comfort and anchors the space with floating Minotti and Holly Hunt club chairs that add coziness and warmth. MacDonald opened this area up considerably, connecting it to a bar and wine room with open access to the kitchen. “I knew right when we conceptualized the space and laid out the room that it would prove to be the place of gathering for the family—and indeed it is,” he says.

For the kitchen, a soft modern feel lends itself to the Italian influences of the original house. A barrelvaulted ceiling feature brings a wine-cellar ambiance to the space, complementing a vintage-inspired Ann Sacks tile backsplash. This Old-World aesthetic aligns with the loggia, a wonderfully rustic outdoor area that combines well-worn patinas with sleek seating and a pair of striking cobalt blue glazed ceramic benches.

Perfect for entertaining, the al fresco space was designed for intimate gatherings but could easily transition to accommodate large parties.

“[The homeowners] are definitely bon vivants, so they were so fun to work with,” says MacDonald. “It was clear their home would be used for year-round entertaining, so practicality was a component, but style and design were never compromised.”

SOURCES ENTRY

Round table – Tobi-lshi, B&B Italia, Miami, FL

Sheep stools – Judith Hopf, judithhopf.com

Chandelier – Branching Bubble, Lindsey Adelman Studio, New York, NY

LIVING ROOM VIGNETTE

White lounge sofa – Croydon, British Khaki Furniture, Brooklyn, NY

Blue club chair – Rive Droite, Ligne Roset, Miami, FL

Cocktail table – Studio Twenty Seven, New York, NY

Vintage skin stool with horn legs – Owner’s collection

LIVING ROOM

Curved sofa customed designed by MacDonald Design Associates, El Portal, FL

Webbed chairs – Vicente Wolf, vincentewolf.com

Seat cushion – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Pouf cocktail table – Caste Design, Chicago, IL

Side table – Robert James Collection, High Point, NC

Murano glass lamp – John Hutton, johnhutton.com

Triple arm floor lamp – Sommerard, Visual Comfort, visualcomfort.com

Daybed – Domicle, Decca Home, deccahome.com

Drapery fabric – J. Nelson, Hollywood, FL

Area rug – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Fireplace designed by MacDonald Design Associates, El Portal, FL, and fabricated by Padron Marble & Granite, Hialeah, FL

POWDER ROOM

Mirror – Made Goods, High Point, NC

Hanging pendant – Adele, Arteriors Home, New York, NY

Sconces – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

FAMILY ROOM

White sofa custom designed by MacDonald Design Associates, El Portal, FL, and fabricated Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Club chair – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Decorative chair – Anne, Bernhardt, High Point, NC

Cocktail table – Gemini, Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Area rug – Loloi, High Point, NC

KITCHEN

Cabinetry and island designed by MacDonald Design Associates, El Portal, FL, and fabricated by Hector & Hector Miami, FL

Backsplash – Ann Sacks, Miami, FL Stools – McGuire, bakerfurniture.com

Lighting – Urban Electric, urbanelectric.com

LOGGIA

Lounge – RH, rh.com

Cocktail table – Phillips Collection, High Point, NC

Side table – Cane-line, cane-line.com

Ceramic stools – Abitare, Miami, FL

Vintage bar cabinet, pendant, and mirror – Owner’s collection

Sconces – Murray’s Iron Works, Dallas, TX