Interior design is a studied art form that requires dedication, attention to detail, and hard work. Sandra Diaz, Principal architect at EOLO A&I design, and Julie Shvedyuk, Marketing & Trade Development Manager at California Closets, were hosted by Haute Living's Deyvanshi Masrani in an insightful conversation. The dialogue included their thoughts on the best use of space, the industry's trends, and the qualities that have led both of the companies they represent to the top in the industry. Watch the webinar below.

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Sandra Diaz, Julie Shvedyuk

Highlight quotes from today's webinar:

Sandra Diaz: "We love to learn, so we are eager to evolve in terms of more virtual communications with our clients, which we have been doing for some years now for those that don't live here in Miami. The clients love the 3-D experience... It's our job to do the due diligence of what new technologies there are... For smaller places in condo buildings, there is the challenge to take advantage of every inch to make it look amazing and spacious... People are focusing more attention on how to position spaces to be more multi-purpose, from a home office to a family room and gym or meditation area... Lighting and technology integration is going to be more carefully thought (on current and future trends)... On the wellness movement, we are trying to bring more greenery into spaces. There are more systems now for homes that are integrating UV lighting."

Julie Shvedyuk: "People are beginning to focus on the spaces that they spent the most time: kitchens, garages, family rooms, and of course, closets. They are using the spaces, seeing what is missing and seeing how to utilize them more efficiently with storage ... We are about 90% capacity reopened. The only hold that we are experiencing is getting into buildings or customers that are not comfortable with installers coming in, but for the most part it's the buildings opening up... In our industry, and Miami in particular, our circles are small and we are inter-connected. My favorite part is networking with trade professionals. You meet people randomly. Having the ability to make people's lives simpler and easier is such a plus... The virtual consultations are here to stay... Our showroom is open by appointment, but we still encourage people to come and look at (the inventory). It does make all the difference when you see our products in person and not so much what you think of before."

Watch more webinars on the latest in the real estate and interior design industries at dev.hauteresidence.com.

The post Watch: Interior Design Webinar On Reopening The Industry appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

The expert interior designers were hosted by Haute Living's Erik Haase. They engaged in a lively chat about life during quarantine, current and future trends, and how they have adapted their businesses to continue servicing clients.

Watch the webinar below.

About the panelists:

Sandra Diaz: Principle architect at EOLO A&I Design, emphasizes emotion, detail, and craftsmanship in her award-winning work.

Odalys Hernandez: Founder and Principal of House of Odalys, creates gorgeous residential interiors in Miami and internationally.

Joe Human: Founder of Designs by Human, inc, bringing specialized design to everyday life, recently featured on “HGTV”.

Giselle Loor-Sugerman: Co-Owner of award-winning, South Florida based B&G Design, founded in 2006. Over 40 years of combined service along with partner Brett Sugerman.

Kristen McKinlay: Owner of Mckinlay Rose Interiors, a trusted full-service design firm with over 20 years of highly qualified experience.

Top center: Odalys Hernandez. Left to right: Giselle Loor-Sugerman, Joe Human, Sandra Diaz, Kristen McKinlay

Highlight quotes:

Sandra Diaz: "After all these times, we have to stop and think more about how we are going to be better with ourselves and everyone else. We need to reinvent ourselves, how we interact with clients, doing designs from a more holistic point of view."

Odalys Hernandez: "I feel that our work may double or triple because of this lengthy period of time of everyone staying home. Kitchens are getting worn down and people will need new ones."

Joe Human: "People are finding flaws that they'd like to fix. People are finding out more about their homes and how they want them to look."

Giselle Loor-Sugerman: "Our clients are eager to continue with their projects. We are excited to get back on that... Your home should be a sanctuary or a retreat. It should evolve with you."

Kristen McKinlay: "We are adjusting and coming up with new ideas. I'm getting calls for home offices, study rooms, outdoor kitchens. We are designing them now and give clients the emotional support so they know that, even though it's taking a bit longer, it will get done."

The post Watch: Top Interior Designers Talk Industry Outlook During Quarantine And Going Forward In Webinar By Haute Residence appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo Credit: Juan Estupiñan

The project at Casa Del Mar was part of a complete gut out renovation of a 1960’s-era condo in beautiful Key Biscayne, Florida with a stunning ocean view.

Photo Credit: Juan Estupiñan

The clients, a family of five, wished for a large, welcoming, functional space to entertain guests; add a room with a private bathroom, and seamlessly integrate the kitchen with the living and dining areas.

Photo Credit: Juan Estupiñan

Our goal was to transform the outdated, closed-off kitchen into a lively flowing space where the family and their guests could enjoy the view and each other’s company. The challenge to transform the closed floor plan into an open, integrated space was further complicated by the aging building and outdated plumbing, A/C and electrical ductwork, as well as the elevator lobby.

Also, extant in the space were structural columns that could not be removed, resulting in a chaotic, narrow, L-shaped kitchen layout with limited storage. We designed a curved wall dressed with wood mosaic connecting the foyer and living area to the kitchen, softening the harsh, constrained angles of the original layout and laying the groundwork for a motive of curves and circles which carried throughout our design.

Photo Credit: Juan Estupiñan

To maximize storage and spaciousness, we camouflaged appliances behind false doors, grouping the tallest appliances together to achieve balance and flow. In lieu of an island for the kitchen, we added a dining table in the center of the design, allowing the client to fulfill their passion for entertaining while integrating the social spaces of the residence with the functional space of the kitchen.

Photo Credit: Juan Estupiñan

A large yet delicate sculptural chandelier continued to explore this sense of curvature and transparency. Through a game of proportions, scale, and continuity, we transformed a small, outdated space into a contemporary retreat perfect for a dinner party with a spectacular ocean view.

For more on Sandra Diaz and EOLO Design, visit her Haute Residence profile.

The post Condo In Key Biscayne Renovated To Perfection appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo Credit: Eugenio Willman

Haute Design: Which awards did you win with ASID?

Sandra Diaz-Velasco: We won 1ST PLACE Contemporary Residential Design over 3,000 sq. ft. for our Brickell Bachelor Project.

1st PLACE Contemporary Kitchen Design for our Brickell Bachelor Project.

1ST PLACE Powder Room Design for our Brickell Penthouse Project.

1ST PLACE Showroom Design for our EOLO Senseful Space in Casacor Miami 2018.

HD: Is there one that you cherish more than the others? Why?

SDV: Not really; but as a challenge we treasure our EOLO Senseful Space Casacor Miami because we pushed our team limits in every single way. Those limits included creative, innovative, budgetary, and time, since this was a temporary installation during Art Basel.  I experienced the full support of my internal and external team of Eolo staff, vendors and contractors. EVERYONE jumped on board with the challenge and made possible what I thought impossible. I am very grateful for that, beyond us winning this design award.

HD: How did it feel when you found out that you won one? When two? When three? When four?

SDV: It is something difficult to describe. First, we were soooooo happy and excited because we competed with top talents in the industry. On the second one were like "WOW we made it again!" and ran to get the award. On the 3rd one, we could not believe it… and on the 4th one we were beside ourselves but felt a bit embarrassed… 

Overall, we feel thankful to have such an excellent team inside and outside. It is because of them (Eolo staff, contractors and vendors) that we get to take beautiful pictures of what began as a thoughtful sketch and design concept.

HD: What do you wish to do with your next project that would hopefully merit further recognition from an organization like ASID?

SDV: I would do what we always do. We don’t stop learning and I encourage curiosity to my team. There is always something new out there; an improvement to materials and processes that would render better design solutions in order to exceed our clients' needs and expectations.  Our passion for design is endless, so I believe people and institutions will further notice our work.

For more on Sandra Diaz-Velasco and Eolo Design, visit www.eolodesign.com.

Photo Credit: Eugenio Willman

The post Sandra Diaz-Velasco And Eolo Design Win Four ASID Awards appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo credit: Juan Pablo Estupinan

This project was a total gut renovation of a 1970s-era two-bedroom condominium to meet the needs of a young bachelor, with balcony terraces and floorplan revised to create an integrated and open space for entertaining. Ample storage, an open layout, and abundant natural light melded with a masculine, geometric, and "uncluttered" style. The black and white color palette and natural wood accents added warmth, with natural stone coverings on main surfaces accentuating key architectural features to capture sleek, sensitive elegance laced with edgy, contemporary craftsmanship.

Photo credit: Juan Pablo Estupinan

We worked to design a space suitable for entertaining, with plenty of seating, room for gathering and movement, and an inviting, modern aesthetic. Spacious storage structures comprising clean lines and natural materials fulfilled the client’s “uncluttered” vision while serving as a stately, eye-catching canvas for gentle reflections of natural light. At the client’s request, we improved the quality of artificial light in the space while simultaneously taking advantage of the natural light already existent in the structure.

Photo credit: Juan Pablo Estupinan

Attention to detail and craftsmanship was key: high-quality materials imbued the space with compelling yet minimal palettes of texture and color, while also remaining within the client’s budget constraints. The result was a refined, welcoming, and – above all – functional design that transformed an outdated structure into a contemporary, desirable kitchen space.

Photo credit: Juan Pablo Estupinan

This project has received the 2017 AIA Miami Merit Award for Interior Architecture, the Gold Medal for Best Kitchen Under $100,000 in the 2017 KBDN Kitchen & Bath Design Awards, Third Place Powder Room in the 2019 NKBA Professional Design Competition, and winner of the 2019 IIDA Bragg Award for Residential – Single-Family Project. The project has also been named a Finalist in the 2019 Wolf-SubZero Kitchen Design Contest and has been selected by notable design industry educator Ellen Cheever as a teaching tool for an interior designer education course (CEU approved by IDCEC, NKBA, NARI and AIA) to train the next generation of design professionals.

The post Geometric Elements Accentuate This Edgy And Contemporary Brickell Apartment appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

This complete structural makeover of a two-story 1978 penthouse sought to integrate the kitchen and social area, creating an open layout allowing houseguests to interact more fluidly, while taking advantage of the natural light afforded by a reconfigured, double-height view of Miami’s Biscayne Bay. Materials were chosen to lend richness and texture to the space, defining proportions and ratios, with an emphasis on clean, compelling lines to complement the clients’ entertaining objectives while embodying a warmer, “Modern Eclectic Contemporary” feel. Custom furniture including a sleek, youthful bar and seating as well as oversized artwork emphasize proportion in the two-story space while maximizing the space’s relationship to the double-height view. The design aimed to toy with depth and drama, employing a custom geometric chandelier, streamlined furniture, and glimpses of color to create a welcoming, interesting, and eye-catching space.

Design Statement:

The owners bought this two-story 1980s penthouse to live out their golden years and entertain their large family. In the original structure, the kitchen and social area were separated; one design objective was to integrate these spaces, creating an open layout that allows houseguests to interact more fluidly, while taking advantage of a reconfigured, double-height view of Biscayne Bay.

Materials were chosen to lend richness and texture to the space, defining proportions and ratios, with an emphasis on clean, compelling lines to embody a “Modern Eclectic Contemporary” feel. Oversized artwork; furniture from Patricia Urquiola, Poltrona Frau, Luminaire, and Jaider Almeida; a custom-designed Ornare kitchen; rugs from the Rug Company; and a custom geometric lighting fixture in the dining area emphasize proportion in the two-story space, while maximizing the space’s relationship to the double-height view.

The original layout of the space featured a floating staircase in the middle of the foyer/living area, interrupting the flow of the living space. Ceilings were low due to an outdated AC system. We used the residual areas between bathrooms to encase the new stairway, complete with stone-integrated Ann Sacks sconces, creating a large foyer that organized the circulation on the first floor. The new foyer also serves to display part of the clients’ art collection.

The original space on the second floor had similar problems with flow. By relocating the stair and cancelling a Den/Bedroom, we reorganized a Guest Bedroom illuminated by Axolight, created a new Laundry Room, and achieved a dramatic, open, two-story dining room. In the Master Suite, lit by Bover, we opened the space and completely rearranged a labyrinthine Master Bath and Closet to obtain a simple, linear layout that provides a flexible design solution, seamlessly integrating the Ornare custom-designed closet to the rest of the space. Now the owners can wake up and take a bath enjoying a dramatic bayside view.

Photos courtesy of Kris Tamburello

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Photo courtesy of Brianna Bitton of Bitton Design Group

The comeback trend of 2019:

“Art Deco is back but with a fresh look to it.” -- Natalia Neverko of Natalia Neverko Design.

The colors and patterns to look out for:

“A lot of brighter colors with an earthy twist. I’m thinking mossy greens, dusty blues, ochre, and of course coral (Pantone said it first.)” -- Brianna Bitton of Bitton Design Group and the interior designer behind Halsey's Los Angeles home. 

Best item(s) to splurge on:

“Art. Every penny you spend on artwork will always yield a return. It’s one of the best investments you can make toward achieving a truly beautiful and meaning interior design.” -- Sandra Diaz of EOLO A&I Design.

Photo courtesy of eolodesigns.com by Sandra Diaz

What will be the aesthetic of 2019?

“Unapologetic. People are less afraid to decorate with the things that make them happy, to defy traditional design expectations.” -- Susan Rocco of the Kitchenworks.

The number one design tip:

“Listen to your heart, spend time filling the space and sketching around. Don’t make fast decisions, don’t rush it. Everything will come to you if you read and interact with the space. Trust yourself.” – Pepe Calderin of Pepe Calderin Design.

Photo courtesy of Pepe Calderin

Where do you see the market trends heading into the new year?

Bolder furniture and unique original pieces will be the trends of this year. People are looking more and more for handmade object that stand out from the mass-produced items. -- Sergio Mannino of Sergio Mannino Studio. 

The post 6 Interior Design Professionals Weigh In On The Design Trends and Tips Of 2019 appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.