Joshua Rose & Rafi Kalichstein

Photo Credit: FORM Design Studio

Founders and Principals at FORM Design Studio, Joshua Rose and Rafi Kalichstein, recently sat down and spoke to Haute Design about their design philosophies and why they prefer to work in tandem rather than as sole proprietors.

Haute Design: What is your favorite part about working as a duo?

Joshua Rose: I think we get to the iterative process faster than a lot of other sole proprietors or single principal firms. Along with our team, if we do not all agree that a particular decision is the best option, we don't move forward. At the end of the day, once all of us are aligned on the same perspective, the results are that much stronger and our collective buy-in allows us, in many ways, to work more efficiently.

Rafi Kalichstein: It's important to note, as Josh mentioned, that we aren't a firm of two. We are two principal designers in a small team. That said, one of the things I think is most valuable in design is peer review. There's no architectural firm worth its salt that is going to issue a set of drawings without peer review, regardless of how high or low in the chain the person who drafted these drawings finds themselves.

I think we have a tremendous advantage because the peer review process is so engrained in our DNA. The intrinsic trust and understanding among our team allows us to deliver work at a level of quality that I think is hard to find.

Lastly, I would say there is a practical benefit inherent in the way we deal with projects and personalities. We have extra tools in our tool kit to manage clients' expectations, personalities, or whatever the case may be. If I am not reaching a client in a certain way, there is a chance that someone else in the team can. We rely heavily on each other.

Photo Credit: FORM Design Studio

HD: Josh, what do you feel is the most valuable skill set you bring to the table? What is Rafi's? 

JR: The most valuable skill I bring, Rafi will probably say is the thing that drives him most crazy about me is that I'm really a do-er and I like to get things done and move on. I think I can cue things up really well and can get us to move the ball down the field efficiently. The creative is a given, you can't be a principal designer without having some sort of talent. But what I'm referring to is a more managerial high-level thinking.

Rafi's greatest skill set is that he is unbelievably detail-oriented. We're all detail-oriented to an extent but he's detail-oriented on so many different levels, not only on design and execution but also when collaborating with subcontractors, working with trades, and being cognizant of what the clients are going to be left with. He thinks on this really multi-dimensional level to make sure that every 'i' is dotted and every 't' is crossed, so that we can feel extremely confident in the work we deliver, which tempers my inclination to just keep moving. It is a constant dance between us.

At the end of the day, when you're dealing with millions of dollars, you have to be responsible and you need to feel comfortable with not just aesthetics but how people will live with your designs.

HD: Same question to you, Rafi. 

RK: Josh has an incredible observational capacity. Not to mention his memory, on which I rely heavily. While I know I'll see all kinds of things, to know that there is someone who can see your blind spots, is unbelievable. There is a real freedom and joy in that.

I think tenacity is my best quality, which can also be a hindrance, as Josh points out. But my unwillingness to let go until we have gotten the best solution is really an asset. There's a yin and a yang to everything we do together.

Photo Credit: FORM Design Studio

HD: Each of you has separately unique design backgrounds. Rafi, what is the most valuable trait you have kept from your Feng-shui background?

RK: First, I'll broaden it to say that it's diagnostic skills and tools, as well as the ability to see the unseen. There are things that I just know in my bones, which comes from years of diagnosis.

HD: Josh, same question to you, regarding your time in visual FX. 

JR: I think the strongest trait I have kept from that time is dealing with big personalities. I've been in very intense situations with some of the biggest film producers in the world. Navigating that in my 20's taught me so much, so I can certainly deal with clients and builders and intense deadlines.

HD: Where do either of you see FORM Design Studio in the next five to 10 years?

JR: I see us continuing to do what we're doing, which is delivering commissioned, beautiful, large-scale luxury projects. I think our product development channel will continue to grow as we add partners and collaborators. By then I think we'll definitely have fabric and wall coverings, and we'll have established a luxury high-end furniture presence as well.

RK: We would like it to grow our team a little bit, but there's a line past which we are not interested in traversing because of what we love about what we do. If you get too big, you become manager and project-getter, but you can't really get your hands dirty because there's no time. I don't think either of us is interested in just being managers. We will both always want to be deep in the worlds we design.

Photo Credit: FORM Design Studio

The post The Dynamic Duo That Provides The Yin And Yang To FORM Design Studio’s Success appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Michele Salazar

Photo Credit: @YSV_Photo / Yara Virreira

Michele (Cozy) Salazar was born in Miami, Florida, daughter of Suzanne “Sissy” De Maria and Joseph De Maria. Her childhood nickname “Cozy” stuck, evoking the warmth and charm she exudes. "Cozy" eventually evolved into her burgeoning brand name.

Michele recently took the time to formally introduce herself and explain a bit of her design philosophy and what she envisions for the future of Cozy Salazar.

Haute Design: If you could describe your design style in three words, what would they be?

Michele Salazar: Traditional meets contemporary.

HD: When was the first moment you realized you wanted to become an interior designer?

MS: My mother says my birthday request was always to redo my bedroom growing up. We still have my "dream bedroom" I drew when I was about 10 years old!

HD: What would you consider to be the most crucial moment in the design process?

MS: I would say the important stages are:

• Establishing your clients' wants and needs while managing their expectations.
• Remaining organized throughout the duration of the project. Organization is vital to a successful outcome. In design, there are so many moving parts, so keeping everything tight and organized is the best way to avoid any unnecessary complications or misunderstandings.

Photo Credit: @YSV_Photo / Yara Virreira

HD: Describe your ideal relationship with a client. 

MS: It's so important for me to connect with a client. My ideal relationship with my clients is one where they feel heard and understood, that way they know their wants and needs are my priority when working on their project. When a client knows you have their best interest at heart, they are more comfortable and as a result, more trusting of your vision. Trust is key! If the client doesn't trust you, they won't be willing to stretch out of their comfort zone, and that is where the magic happens!

HD: Which is your favorite space to design in a home? Why?

MS: Every room is so important. I suppose the kitchen or dining room. Both spaces bring people together and offer up a unique set of requirements. For example, a client with small children who wants a very formal dining room but needs practicality, or a couple with conflicting ideas for their kitchen (one spouse wants minimal design and the other, a chef's kitchen). Each special request offers up a fun challenge and allows us to stretch our creativity.

HD: What is your vision for the future of Cozy Salazar?

MS: I would love for our team to continue to grow. Every project is more exciting when there are multiple creative minds working together. It's always incredible to look over the progress of a project from our initial vision to the final. This is often due to collaboration and different perspectives. Additionally, it's important to me that we stay true to our style and edge. We are not 'one style fits all' here. We are constantly mixing looks and styles, which is what makes us unique.

If you are interested in booking Cozy Salazar Interiors for an upcoming project or wish to earn more about Michele Salazar, CLICK HERE.

The post Michele Salazar Shares Her Vision For The Future Of Cozy Salazar Interiors appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Humza Arif

Photo Credit: kliniko Miami

Dr. Humza Arif is one of South Florida’s native cosmetic and restorative dentists. A devotee of art and architecture seen through the lens of dentistry, Dr. Arif provides full mouth rehabilitation encompassed in an unsurpassed clinical experience. Through his elevation in the dental space, so too has the profile of clientele that travel to sunny South Florida. “The people are as eclectic as the city’s architecture and art. We create an experience made tangible in every smile and every experience my patients go on to create on their own thereafter. It’s an ongoing gift that maintains humility in service to my patients.”

Haute Design: When did you first recognize your own passion for design?

Humza Arif: For as long as I can remember, I have always had this natural attraction towards design. An expression through architecture, materials, and structure set the foundation for a career in dental medicine. It is a tapestry of both design and the human connection in its purest of forms.

HD: How would you describe your office's design aesthetic?

HA: Inspiration for our office space came with the intention of returning to a pure and elegant artisan experience. Our aesthetic was a wonderful collaboration with Yodezeen Architecture. The particularity in choice of material and color coalesced seamlessly just as the evolution of our oral architecture has: raw, simple, and perfect. This experience sets the foundation for an elevation of natural aesthetics through the work we do at kliniko. It is truly something to behold.

HD: What does the elegance and style of the kliniko office add to the clients' experience?

Nature has given us the best gifts - to feel, to smell, to touch, to see... each one of our senses was considered at kliniko Miami dental office. This fusion creates a new medium to experience the art of dentistry. The patient-practitioner relationship returns to its purest form and through it, appreciation for a beloved craft.

HL: What is your vision for the future of kliniko?

The vision for the future of kliniko is to remain committed to our mission and values as a highly reliable organization in healthcare - which is to serve our community for its oral healthcare needs. We want to do this while contributing to the beauty of our South Florida community by way of beauty of form and function with each of our patients.

If you wish to learn more about kliniko Miami dental Office, CLICK HERE.

The post Humza Arif Of kliniko Allows For Dentistry and Design To Join Forces appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Golden Isles II Living Room

Photo Credit: Emilio Collavino

With clean lines and a monochromatic palette, this Hallandale Beach home steers away from formality warming its contemporary tones with soft textiles and rich wood.

Designed in a soft palette of grey and white with pops of vivid red, the living and dining spaces blend seamlessly together to define the great room. Porcelain tile flooring weeps through the main floor and connects to the outdoors. The plush, red-velvet “Mad King” armchair by famed designer Marcel Wanders catches the eye immediately. 

Golden Isles II Dining Room

Photo Credit: Emilio Collavino

In the dining area, a glass-topped table seats 10 guests comfortably on sophisticated black leather-clad chairs. Near the stairway, a stone wall reaches up to the second floor. Just off the entry, the wine room is a well-lit space fashioned with a grid-like bottle display.

Golden Isles Bottle Display

Photo Credit: Emilio Collavino

In the clean-lined kitchen, Calacatta marble tops both the large island and a unique backsplash that extends up to the ceiling. Stylish, oversized counter chairs are a fun creation. They are dressed in metallic silver vinyl, each seating two comfortably.

Golden Isles II Kitchen

Photo Credit: Emilio Collavino

A tufted white headboard, an abstract area rug and gauzy draperies add texture to the airy master bedroom.

Golden Isles II Master Bedroom

Photo Credit: Emilio Collavino

In the luxurious master bath, a shower that doubles as a steam bath features a relaxing wavy chaise. Beyond, a custom marble wall designed by 2id Interiors creates a dramatic backdrop for a spa-like step0-up tub.

Golden Isles Master Bath

Photo Credit: Emilio Collavino

Successful in fulfilling the owner’s vision, this contemporary home is product of a 14-month collaboration between a client with a dream and a design team with the expertise to translate it into a functionally elegant home.

The post 2id Interiors Presents Latest Residential Project: Golden Isles II appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.