Guimar Urbina and Cheryl Kaufman

Cheryl Kaufman commissioned her home to be redesigned by esteemed luxury interior designer Guimar Urbina. Haute Design recently asked about the experience after Cheryl so kindly accepted to take the time and share her thoughts.

Additional images of the residence seen throughout this article can be seen here.

Haute Design: You have such a lovely home. What were some of the main things you wanted Guimar to do with this space?

Cheryl Kaufman: I wanted Guimar to transform our home from a Mediterranean style to a more contemporary style and to execute a complete renovation with which we would be proud to use for entertaining. I could not visualize what I wanted but Guimar was brilliant with reading between the lines when we went through some images of rooms I liked. When Guimar made her presentation of her proposal for our home, my husband Dana and I were completely by the beauty and creativity with which she captured our vision for living in our renovated home.

HD: How did you discover Guimar? What was your favorite part about working with her?

CK: I actually. discovered Guimar on Houzz, believe it or not. I met with a few designers that were recommended to me but they didn't wow me enough to want to begin renovating our home. I then discovered Houzz and poured through each and every designer South Florida. I came across of project photo from Guimar Urbina Interiors and it seemed to be exactly what I wanted. I love how she did a lot of the leg work before we met, which saved a lot of time. If there was something I did not like, she helped find an alternative. If she thought I was making a mistake, she gently made me aware of it and told me why it might not be the right choice. Guimar met with me often and always kept us informed about our budget and what to expect next. When we would visit stores to choose furniture, it was clear Guimar has strong relationships with so many of the vendors. I felt I was in excellent hands.

Photo Credit: Oscar Huespe

HD: There are plenty of accents of wood throughout the home, yet it is not overbearing - quite the opposite. Was that a feature you already had in mind or did Guimar make the suggestion? 

CK: The wood was completely Guimar's idea. The built-ins, the placement of the dining room, the blending into structural columns which needed to remain for foundational purposes, as well as the fabulous wooden custom doors to our bedroom suite - it was all Guimar's idea.

HD: The artwork and decorations add subtle yet impactful nots of color throughout the mostly neutral-shaded home. Are these art pieces and decorations yours or did Guimar help pick these out? 

CK: Guimar chose the pop of color on the oversized chair in the family room as well as in the throw pillows and other accessories. She even drew colors out from some of our artwork when she chose our accessories. While many of the accessories were chosen by Guimar, some we already had but just didn’t know how to properly place them and group them. Guimar helped us find the correct use for them. With respect to the artwork, we had most of it but Guimar recommended that we reframe them. She me with me at the framing store to help us to choose new frames for each of our hanging art pieces. After reframing our hanging art, she came to the house and assisted us with choosing the perfect spot for each piece. After everything was placed, we engaged Guimar to assist us with filling a few empty walls. Guimar helped me choose the size of the custom artwork piece above our bed, painted by the very talented artist, J. Steven Manolis.

Photo Credit: Oscar Huespe

HD: What would you say to anyone who might be reading this and is currently looking for a luxury interior designer in South Florida?

CK: As I have said to many of my friends, I had a wonderful experience with Guimar and her team. They were extremely creative, professional, talented and everything I could have asked for in a design team. Not only did Guimar's team have incredible vision, they stuck to time schedules and budget!  I highly recommend Guimar to my friends, family and clients. I was so lucky to have come across Guimar.

Photo Credit: Oscar Huespe

Photo Credit: Oscar Huespe

Photo Credit: Oscar Huespe

Photo Credit: Oscar Huespe

The post Guimar Urbina Interiors Comes Highly Recommended appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Sensi Casa is a Home Staging & Interior Design firm based in Miami. Founder Chiara Sensi-Contugi has a distinct individuality and enthusiasm for her craft, which resonates in her design and has led to the success of her boutique design firm with expertise in residential and commercial design. Awarded Best of Houzz 2020 & 2021, Sensi Casa isn’t like other design firms. Their elevated approach offers what only very few firms can, turnkey homes in record time.

While Haute Design has previously highlighted Sensi Casa's several interior design services, we felt it would be a disservice to overlook Sensi Casa's Home Staging excellence.

Establishing a definition for home staging would be a good way to begin. Home staging is the process of professionally furnishing and decorating a home to make it seem as beautiful and appealing as possible for prospective buyers. Home staging is not meant to cover up any negative aspects of the home, but rather to accentuate positive features to show buyers the potential the space holds.

Home staging provides a multitude of excellent benefits for all parties involved. According to the National Association of Realtors, 95% of prospective property buyers use the internet when searching for their next home. Which means if you're selling, you ought to make your property seem as appealing as possible. Staging also allows for buyers to better imagine themselves in a certain space. This can be a much more difficult task to accomplish when you are simply looking at an empty property.

Additionally, staging can show buyers what a home's potential can truly be. If someone is on the verge of making the biggest investment of their lives, they're going to want to make sure it's for something they absolutely love. Depicting how the home could be lived in can show someone the real possibilities of the space. Believe it or not, staging can also make the space seem bigger. It might seem contrary to logic, but empty spaces actually make the room appear to be smaller than they truly are. Staging presents buyers with a tangible and practical vision of how to occupy a home, mitigating any notions of the need for more space.

When compared to un-staged homes, staged homes offer a huge benefit to vendors in terms of how quickly their properties get sold. According to Consumer's Guide to Real Estate Staging, un-staged homes sit on the market for an average of 143 days. Meanwhile, the very same homes stayed on the market for an average of 40 days once they were staged. Homes that were staged pre-listing remained on the market for an average of just 23 days.

When it comes to home staging, Sensi Casa offers two options: Sorellina and Sensi Casa.

Sorellina (little sister in Italian) is Sensi Casa's sister brand for home staging services and is catered to smaller properties with reduced budgets. The Sorellina home staging option includes three alternative package options which fit any client's needs.

If you're looking for luxury at its very best, look no further than the Sensi Casa home staging experience. This high-end home staging service will turn dreams into reality and clients into buyers. Similar to Sorellina, Sensi Casa also offers three separate packages. Packages include a rental period of up to 12-months.

To learn more about Sensi Casa's home staging and interior designing, head to their website HERE.

The post Sensi Casa Knows The Importance Of Home Staging appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Brittany Farinas, CEO and Creative Director of House of One, is an interior designer of residential and commercial spaces. With House of One, Brittany is setting out to revolutionize the South Florida interior design industry. House of One creates atmospheres that are both visually stimulating and experiential, while using carefully planned designs to fulfill functionality.

Brittany recently spoke to Haute Design about what she believes sets House of One apart from her competition.

Photo Credit: Lifestyle Production Group

Haute Design: What three words best describe the House of One aesthetic?

Brittany Farinas: Elegant, Tailored, Artistic.

HD: What is your first memory in which you realized you wanted to become a designer?

BF: I remember my first time walking through a multi-million-dollar home. I knew I had a passion and appreciation for interior design when I realized my eye could not settle on one single place. I was in awe at all the amazing finishes throughout the property.

HD: How crucial is the relationship between designer and client either before or during a project?

BF: The relationship between designer and client is special because it is both personal and professional. We are able to deliver great designs because we develop such great relationships with our clients and can understand their wants and needs on a deeper level. Communicating throughout the design process is extremely important to us . As the designer, it is our job to constantly reassure our clients that we are on the same team and aiming for the same end goals. We want our clients to feel included in the design process and encourage them to contribute their ideas and inspirations. There's nothing more rewarding than a well executed project where both parties are equally as proud of the results.

Photo Credit: Lifestyle Production Group

HD: What advice would you give prospective clients before selecting an interior designer?

BF: I think the most important qualities a client should look for in a designer is their ability to listen as well as their attention to detail. This will transpire not only through the design but also the design process, which we strive to make as enjoyable and smooth as possible for our clients.

HD: What sets House of One apart from other design firms?

BF: We view each design project as an exclusive art piece. That is where the name House of One comes from. Our specialty is creating bespoke pieces for our clients, which as a result, creates a one-of-a-kind atmospheres that express their unique personality and style.

Photo Credit: Lifestyle Production Group

HD: Whats is your vision for House of One in the near future?

BF: My vision for House of One is to continue to provide high-quality design services for our clients. We are currently discussing opportunities to diversify ourselves within the custom furniture space. I also see us taking on more commercial projects and possible multi-family projects in the future.

To learn more about House of One and Brittany Farinas work, CLICK HERE.

Be sure to follow House of One on Instagram, @houseofone_.

The post Brittany Farinas Explains What Sets House Of One Apart From Other Design Firms appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

With each turn in this ocean front condo in Oceana, Key Biscayne, views of ocean and blue sky change, mix and match as they would with the twist of a kaleidoscope. However, here, the lens comes in the form of oversized windows and sliders that frame the beautiful natural setting.

Photo Credit: Design Solutions Miami

Credit for the design throughout the home goes to Luciana Fragali, CEO and Owner of Design Solutions. Her assignment to create a comfortable home for a Brazilian newcomer and her two children was a breeze, so to speak, thanks to a lot of group thinking, which included the homeowners.

In just one year, Fragali and the team at Design Solutions were able to complete the design, renovation and staging of two individual units into one contemporary dream home, which adds up to a total of 6,000 sq ft. After all, this residence is comprised of two combined penthouse units.

Photo Credit: Design Solutions Miami

The client was introduced to Fragali through mutual friends. The design took off from there.

"There are amazing beach homes in Brazil and she wanted to have a home here that would feel the same way - a house that would be contemporary, cozy and not pretentious," said Fragali. "It needed to be a place her kids could play with friends without worry, and still be an appropriate setting for entertaining."

This certainly implies a fine line design-wise, but by all accounts, Fragali and the Design Solutions team nailed it.

Photo Credit: Design Solutions Miami

At first, the client just wanted to combine both penthouse units, keep the same structure and incorporate some millwork.

"The she got more and more excited about the home and wanted to do more and more," said Fragali.

Although the remodel was dramatic, it was well well-planned. Various floor plans were produced by Fragali, who has a background in architecture. After plenty of communication and several meetings with the clients, a singular vision was agreed upon and all worked out to lay out the final plan. From the very beginning, the client realized she was part of the team.

According to Fragali, “She went to the site every day and purchased the specified materials. This was the smoothest project I’ve worked on. Whenever there was an issue, we sat down together and solved it.”

Photo Credit: Design Solutions Miami

New rooms include a grandiose foyer, the maid’s quarters, a playroom and family room, a spa-inspired master bath, a spacious and functional master closet, as well as a brand new chef’s kitchen by MiaCucina. For furnishings, Fragali focused on durable materials in a neutral color palette. She chose mystery white marble flooring with oversize tiles for living areas, white oak for the bedroom and closet floors and porcelain tiles for the bathrooms.

The idea was to create cozy spaces by furnishing layouts and introducing color and patterns in pillows, art and decorative accessories. Fragali also designed a custom-made, stunningly elaborate wooden pivot entry door, as well as built-ins, including the dining room buffet, family room television wall and a dramatic bronze mirrored with LED lighting wall niche behind the living room.

“There are hidden LEDs on top of the niche. So at night, when the lights are on, it washes over the bronze mirror and illuminates it.”

Photo Credit: Design Solutions Miami

In the kitchen, sleek new cabinetry gives off an ultra-contemporary vibe and adds visual interest. Today, luxury homes are only as valuable as the kitchens found within. Fragali opted for a calcatta gold marble countertops with a matching slabbed ranged hood, Subzero and Wolf appliances, matte lacquer Bianco Ghiaccio finishes, and Castagno wood for the breakfast top and cover system.

With minimal orientation and flat surfaces, the style is intentionally non-traditional. "This is the future of design," said Fragali.

By the end of the project, these two separate units became one single bright and easy-to-live-in space that lives up to those dreamy kaleidoscopic views.

Photo Credit: Design Solutions Miami

To learn more about Luciana Fragali's work and book the Design Solutions team for an upcoming project, CLICK HERE.

The post Design Solutions Presents Contemporary Living In Miami appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Stop making the same mistakes every holiday party and get a wine decanter. This one, from British designer Tom Dixon, is a sleek, modern model that aerates and decants wine to its perfect taste. Not to mention, having a modern looking decanter is a great conversation piece, and looks great with anything in it year round. For the gift set of the decanter, that comes with the two glasses, is only $180. The smoky silhouettes in the design and gradient of color from black to clear glass also give a uniquely organic vibe to such a modern looking design, making it perfect for any home. Not to mention, wine bottles are always hard to pour with the weight unevenly distributed throughout the bottle. With the decanters even handle and wide spout on top, it's perfect to grip at the head and pour without worrying about splattering the rug.

While the holiday season may be filled with cozy sweaters, and organic, warm, traditional design pieces, this decanter can cut through it all and be the conversation piece of the night, while still blending into the holiday spirit.

Check out more at tomdixon.net.

The post Lust Have: This Wine Decanter Makes Every Holiday Party Better appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

For the new collection, Pulpo has brought together its best designers to create a lie of tablescape objects, and have dubbed the project Fabulously Awesome Tablescape, or FAT. The collection, consisting of a myriad of vases, boxes, trays, jars, carafes and sculptures, has been imagined by the talented minds of Ferréol Babin, Studio Furthermore, Meike Harde, Kai Linke, RSW and Sebastian Herkner. The pop-up also features end tables, and a series of plush chairs, all in an east end shop with shag carpet up the walls.

Just a few blocks from Liverpool Street station, the shop is only open this week while Pulpo continues to plan for their first London flagship after opening in 2006 in Germany.

Pulpo is located at 4 Garden Walk, and is open September 15th to the 24th. See the collection at www.pulpoproducts.com.

Images courtesy of Pulpo

The post Pulpo Launches Flagship In London appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.