Dorothy Alon is the founder of prominent Los Angeles-based design firm, Sophea Interior Designs. Dorothy has previously explained what sets her firm apart from other firms in the industry. Sophea Interior Designs is an all-encompassing firm with a holistic approach an exceptional attention to detail. Recently, Dorothy took time from her busy schedule to discuss modern design with Haute Design. What is modern design, anyway? Dorothy provided her fascinating perspective on this and more.

Haute Design: Does modern design equate to minimal design? If not, why do you feel so many people think out does?

Dorothy Alon: To each their own. As with everything in design, each person will have their own conception of what modern entails. Minimalism originated in the midcentury as a result of the Bauhaus movement, where less became more. Through the years, I think people started to want to care for less. So fast forward to the 2000s, and particularly toward the past 15 years or so, things changed drastically as far as construction is concerned. There are more metals involved, engineering has drastically advanced, and in turn, become more complex and we are now able to create far greater expanses and openings. This leads to larger windows and doors.

Construction has plenty to do with it because now, architects are able to plan way beyond their dreams in comparison to the past, where supplies and techniques were much more limited. So due to advances in construction, the exteriors of these houses are almost completely made of metal and iron. This allows architects to create openings of 20 to 30 feet.

Photo Credit: Sophea Interior Designs

Additionally, the contribution of television and social media cannot be overlooked. Clients used to come to you with maybe two or three reference images, whereas these days, they have 30 images at the ready because they see these pictures from all around the world and they want that openness and that space.

However, with that openness and the lack of walls, comes plenty of issues. Most of the issues come in the form of storage. Because now, your home does not have walls, it has no room for shelves or places to hang your art. Back in the day, your kitchen would be hidden and with it, any mess you created would go unnoticed by any guests you may have. Now, your kitchen is open for all to see in the living room. So, it's difficult to host if you have a family because everything is exposed. So, not everything that came as a result of this modern design was necessarily positive.

Clients who come from traditional homes to modern homes run into problems all the time. If you collect art for example, no we need to start discussing how to hang your pieces from hooks and all of these elaborate systems because your new home is all window. This is not to say that there aren't solutions to these problems, but most clients do not even consider this beforehand.

Photo Credit: Sophea Interior Designs

HD: Do you think the average conception of a modern homes has changed, especially after considering all of our relationships with our living spaces over the past year and a half?

DA: If anything, I think most people realized they don't need that much. People have learned to make their spaces accommodate to their lifestyles rather than the other way around. For the most part, when clients say modern, they are thinking of an open floor plan and clean lines. And yet, most clients ask for a 'warm modern.' Because a minimalist home, does not feel like 'home' to most people. So, they do not necessarily want a modern home. Because if the exterior is this shell of a minimal, Bauhaus home, but the inside has traditional furniture, with stucco, and curved and cozy furniture, it's not a cohesive idea. The inside has to communicate with the outside. It's all about feeling.

HD: Is there such a thing as a timeless home?

DA: When you say timeless, I believe you mean classic. It's something I tell my clients every time, when talking about exteriors, "Go for the classic." To me, classic is comprised of anything from the beginning of the 20th century, until the '80s or '90s. Classics will still look great 20, 30 years from now, but more importantly, they work. All of these design homes from the past century, they might be updated with new colors and textures, but their shape remains the same, because it works.

Photo Credit: Sophea Interior Designs

The post Dorothy Alon Explains Why You Might Want To Reconsider Minimalist Design appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Sandra Fiorenza is a luxury real estate expert who perfectly exemplifies the Miami lifestyle that she sells to buyers in the South Florida market. Whether in real estate, lifestyle branding, or philanthropy, Sandra outshines her competitors as a cutting-edge entrepreneur. Due to her sophisticated background and international connections, Sandra has the upper hand in her career as a real estate agent.

Sandra was born and raised in Germany and obtained an MBA from the University of Dusseldorf before working in the advertising and fashion industries. As early as 1992, she could see Miami‘s potential as a globally significant location and knew it would be the next place she called home. Sandra officially made the move to the Sunshine State in 1998 and began to establish herself as a luxury broker/agent.

Prior to joining a real estate firm, Sandra was a homeowner on Fisher Island, in Miami, Florida. Here she bought, sold, gutted, designed, redesigned, and resold apartments due to the location’s high investment value and luxury lifestyle. In 2010, Sandra partnered with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty; she was then able to expand her sphere of influence and become a widely recognized leader in the Miami Beach real estate community.

Sandra also loves giving back to the community of Miami. She says she, “loves creating opportunities for people, especially children, and making education, healthcare, and alternative medical therapies more accessible.” Her philanthropic pursuits include fundraising events for the University of Miami Jackson Health System and GiveBack for Special Equestrians. Sandra’s involvement with Special Equestrians is especially close to her heart as she was an accomplished equestrian in both Germany and the United States.

With decades of personal immersion in the luxury lifestyle, Sandra Fiorenza’s expertise in luxury experiences is unmatched. Sandra has accumulated about $500 million in total career sales and $65 million just in 2021. Her international background and experience in the lifestyle sector allow her to perfectly market and select suitable clients from around the world.*

For more information, please contact Sandra Fiorenza at 305-281-4727 or sandra@fiorenza.cc

Sandra Fiorenza is the exclusive agent representing the Miami Beach, FL real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of her listings here.

The post Luxury Realtor Sandra Fiorenza Lives And Sells The Miami Lifestyle appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Design & Layout

Make sure your space is well-equipped and furnished with colorful eye-catching designs. Play with art, light, and textures. Arrange bedrooms and seating areas in a way that fits the maximum amount of people in a comfortable way. 

Pricing

Set a dynamic pricing strategy, considering factors like market supply, demand, local events, and holidays. Avoid year-round flat rates. 

Reviews

Work hard on those guest reviews by always thanking guests and kindly asking for reviews at the end of each stay. Make sure to respond to inquiries quickly and in a friendly, personal way. 

Self-Check-In/Out Process

Let guests arrive on their own time by using smart locks. This will save time for both parties and will allow for a much smoother and successful stay. 

Photos

Taking beautiful marketing photos will ensure your residence stands out from the rest. This will translate ultimately into higher occupancy. 

It’s All About The Details

Having a minibar, or simply offering complimentary wine or chocolate for your guests will make a world of difference! 

About Quadro At Miami Design District

Completed in 2019 and built by Alta Developers, Quadro at Miami Design District offers turnkey luxury residences with the option to OWN, LIVE, AND SHARE. The fully finished residences are optimized for short-term use, whether it’s for weekly, monthly, seasonal, or long-term stays. Additionally, owners have the option to purchase a unit occupied by a long-term tenant. Six interior design packages with hand-selected accessories and furniture packages are also available. Studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom residences range from 548 to 1,199 sq. ft., all with spacious balconies and/or terraces. Select units have oversized outdoor patios up to 1,155 sq. ft. The 12-story boutique building, architecturally designed by Behar Font & Partners and filled with over 500 works of custom art by Art With DNA, boasts walkability to shopping and dining in the internationally renowned Miami Design District with its designer boutiques and galleries, which are all only minutes from Wynwood, Miami Beach, and the airport. The expansive amenities deck with a pool, summer kitchen, and cabanas provides plenty of spaces for outdoor recreation with panoramic views of Biscayne Bay, while the spacious poolside clubroom, yoga, and spinning rooms create a private setting fit for relaxation or spending time with friends and family. Quadro at Miami Design District is exclusively marketed and sold by Fortune Development Sales, and residences start at $450,000.

For more information, visit their website here. 

The post Quadro Miami Gives The Best Practices For Managing Successful Short-Term Rentals via Nomada Residences appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Minimalist design does not mean boring or basic. It may appear simple, but that’s just an optical illusion architect, designer, and artist Luciana Fragali has been perfecting for decades. The Brazilian-born designer produces exceptionally luxe spaces as a result of her innovative way of thinking and the unique materials and techniques she utilizes. “A project is not about decorating, but about figuring out the DNA of a space,” she says.

For this 7,718-total-square-foot oceanfront residence at Surfside’s Fendi Chateau, Fragali was tasked with giving this 5 bedroom 7 bath home a relaxed feel while emulating elegance and grandeur. The clients, who she met when they popped into her Miami-based architecture and design firm Design Solutions, had purchased this residence as a second home but while they knew they wanted warm and cozy elements – had no idea how to achieve it. Fragali’s architectural background and experience made her the perfect choice. Plus, she shared the clients’ appreciation for a minimal aesthetic that encompasses a sense of timeless beauty. “Clients know I’m going to give them a home that’s a reflection of their needs, personality, and culture,” she says.

Photo Credit: Barry Grossman

Although the owners appreciated the high-rise building’s modern architecture by famed Florida-based firm Arquitectonica, they preferred a softer design for their own space. To set the tone from the outset, Fragali covered the walls in the foyer and great room—which contains the living and dining areas—with a mixture of fluted and non-fluted wooden panels. “It adds a softness, but it still has strength,” she says. The warm, tactile result counters the modern edge of the gleaming terrazzo marble flooring.

Inside, Fragali pays homage to the cerulean ocean and verdant landscape with a limited yet sophisticated natural palette of materials and colors. Leather, linen, glass, walnut, light, and shadow all take center stage here without visually competing. To add symmetry and simplicity to the unit, Fragali designed an elaborate system of invisible doors. The flawless systems seamlessly integrate into space so that they disappear when not in use. In the living room, she created a custom recessed wood ceiling in a sharp-edge architectural design that resembles delicate pieces of origami with integrated LED lighting as a way to make them seem higher.

Photo Credit: Barry Grossman

Throughout the home, furniture is sourced from all over the world and from trusted partners such as Baxter, Poltrona Frau, and Artefacto. Unique pieces from these stores were responsible for adding that much-needed charm for example the statement piece selected for the ocean-facing living room displayed Artefacto’s natural wood coffee table, perfectly accompanied by Poltrona Frau’s Archibald lounge chairs – offering the perfect combination of substance and form. For Fragali, the dining room is the heart of the home. Here, she chose an oversized white lacquered table paired with Artefacto’s white leather- Infinity chairs that seat guests in the center of it all. Imagine a stunning display blooming above you, enter two Sky Garden pendants making a powerful impression with their sheer size- standing beneath it, you will see the intricate design that gives this piece its name.

Photo Credit: Barry Grossman

The unit has a flow-thru plan from east to west, which allows the clients to enjoy both Atlantic Ocean views and western sunset views over the bay and Intracoastal Waterway. In the hallway leading to a masterfully designed family room, Fragali strategically placed a full-length mirror resting on wooden panels for depth accompanied by captivating artwork emitting tranquility and charisma. Emerging from this enchanting corridor you will be met with a modern yet earthy fashioned family room where earth tones take center stage. “Earth tones are inviting, relaxing, and lend well to a lot of different decor styles. The best part about earth tones in decor is you can switch up your decor easily without removing the bulk of your furniture.” Says Fragali. Earth tones are usually browns, beige’s, greens, and grays. When done right you can have a contemporary, modern, or bohemian room look well put together and be a relaxing environment. The trick is to keep almost everything neutral but to have just a few things that stand out. Here Fragali used the fierce crimson red offered by Lumen’s Twiggy floor lamp for that pop of color while also relying on textiles, fabrics, and accessories to tie in the room.

Photo Credit: Barry Grossman

When asked to design the ultimate tv wall unit Fragali turned to her trusted millworker Diego Fulia of Fulia Inc, after 15 years of partnership – he was able to anticipate her needs and fabricate exactly what Fragali envisioned. Using a mixture of textured wallpaper, fluted wood panels, and natural wood for shelves this vision came to life – add the accessories and what you ultimately have is a family room your guests won’t want to leave and two exceptionally delighted clients left to enjoy sunset views over the bay.

The post Design Solutions Walks Haute Design Through Luciana Fragali’s Project The Fendi Chateu Residences appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Minimalism in interior design is about clarity and a sense of zen, but all too often we get hung up on minimal texture and minimal color. The best spaces are the ones that take risks and in this living room, we dared to let a few knockout pieces stand for themselves. We grounded the space with natural elements while infusing a rich color palette with soft, luxurious texture.

This one-of-a-kind sofa was found in a warehouse buried under bolts of fabric and lovingly named, Giuseppe. Covered in a Ralph Lauren crushed velvet, its chesterfield style paired with mid-century modern legs is the epitome of luxe and sophistication. It softens the cold stone of the magnum fireplace yet stands strong on its own. No throw pillows necessary.

Photo Credit: John Friedrich

The unique tree sculpture next to the sofa was actually a fallen tree at one point that was stripped and charred and now repurposed as natural art, adding intrigue, texture, and warmth. The way it stands formidable and opposite the fireplace is an irony that deepens the character of the space.

We wanted textural window treatments, but for this application, we chose to think outside the box. Whenever you do something unexpected in interior design you breathe life into the space, giving it a pulse as this creates a sense of safety and desire. We cut thousands of strips of carpet binding and knotted them onto a galvanized pipe that acted as our curtain rod. The result is a stellar covering that filters the light and blends with the walls so naturally, you get the feeling you’re under a weeping willow tree. Pair that with the silk rug and oversized art and you are left with a calming, luxurious space evoking a personality all its own.

Photo Credit: John Friedrich

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