High above historic Coconut Grove, a blank-canvas high-rise apartment arrived with one extraordinary asset: panoramic views that dissolve the boundary between the bay, the canopy, and the open sky. Everything else had to be built from scratch.
Luciana Fragali and her team at Design Solutions were commissioned to deliver a full design and decor renovation for a growing family relocating to Miami. The brief was precise: create a home that is genuinely lived in, that holds the client’s personal art collection from their home country, and that performs beautifully for a family that entertains. This luxury apartment renovation in Miami was completed during the height of the pandemic, under the pressure of rising material costs and supply chain disruption — and it delivered without compromise.
Arrival: wood, warmth, and the art of the first impression
The entry sets the register for the entire home. Textured wood paneling draws the eye naturally toward the living and dining area, where warm tones establish the material language that runs through every room. A low-profile sectional in soft gray anchors the main seating area. Mid-century-inspired armchairs in crisp white with caramel leather cushions introduce contrast without friction. A plush neutral rug grounds the composition.
The client’s personal art collection takes center stage here, displayed against a deliberately restrained backdrop of neutral textures. A large mirror integrated into the custom shelving extends the sightline and multiplies the ocean view beyond. The decision to let the client’s pieces lead was intentional: in a home of this height and openness, the art and the view share equal billing.
The bar and kitchen: designed for a family that entertains
Around the corner from the main living area, a custom bar unit with a fluted dark marble backsplash signals this client’s particular investment in hospitality. The material choice is deliberate: the texture absorbs light differently throughout the day, making the bar feel like a distinct room-within-a-room rather than an afterthought.
The kitchen continues this logic of contrast. Matte black cabinetry — floor to ceiling, punctuated by an integrated range hood — creates a bold focal point. A warm wood island with simple bar stools invites informal meals and conversation. White polished tile floors and an exposed concrete column introduce an industrial counterpoint that keeps the space from feeling precious. The result is a kitchen that works hard and looks considered.
The second living area: industrial edge, personal character
A more secluded sitting room balances the openness of the main living space. A custom black metal shelving unit houses a curated mix of books, plants, and objects that reflect the family’s personality. A bold black-and-white geometric rug energizes the floor plane. The television integrates into the shelving rather than dominating it. This is a room designed for evenings in, not for display.
The powder room: Moooi, marble, and deliberate drama
Luciana’s approach to powder rooms has always been the same: never waste the opportunity. In this apartment, the room is wrapped in Moooi botanical wallpaper — a dark ground alive with oversized flora and fauna that creates the illusion of a hidden garden suspended above the city. A black marble vanity sits at the center, lit by recessed framing around a central mirror. Open shelving in natural wood flanks the vanity, holding curated objects and potted plants. The contrast between the dark wallpaper, the pale wood, and the black marble is precise and intentional.
The primary bathroom: the view as architecture
The main bathroom is designed around a single idea: let the ocean in. The layout positions the glass-enclosed shower and freestanding soaking tub directly against the floor-to-ceiling windows. A custom double vanity in light wood with a smooth gray countertop provides storage without visual weight. Recessed shelving with integrated lighting adds warmth at both day and night. The bathroom does not compete with the view; it frames it.
Execution during a pandemic: what this project actually required
This renovation was completed during a period of significant disruption. Rising costs of labor and materials, supply chain delays, and the operational constraints of pandemic-era construction demanded constant recalibration. Every specification decision carried budget implications that did not exist six months prior. “The apartment was a white canvas, and now every corner of the unit is finished to perfection,” Fragali reflects. That result required the kind of creative adaptability and project discipline that only comes with two decades of South Florida practice.
A home that holds a family
What this project delivered is not a showroom. It is a home where a growing family cooks, entertains, displays the art they brought from another country, and wakes up to one of the most remarkable views in Coconut Grove. The luxury apartment renovation in Miami that matters most is the one the client never wants to leave. This is that project.
If you are planning a full-scope renovation for a luxury residence in South Florida, contact Design Solutions to begin the conversation.
