There’s a particular kind of calm that only salt air and the golden hour’s soft light can bring. On a breezy corner of Miami’s Venetian Islands, that calm takes physical form—sleek and sculptural, yet deeply soulful—in a home crafted by Design Solutions CEO Luciana Fragali and her team.
Nestled on a prominent corner of San Marco Island in Miami Beach, this newly constructed residence embodies the spirit of modern coastal living. Originally intended as an investment property, the six-bedroom home transformed into a full-time residence when the Brazilian owner—an avid traveler and entertainer—decided to put down roots. With panoramic views of Biscayne Bay and Key Biscayne, the home’s location alone sets it apart.
From the outset, the vision was clear: a space that felt elevated but never unapproachable, tailored but never sterile. “The client wanted a home that embodied refined living without sacrificing warmth,” Fragali explains. “Something sophisticated and full of life.” And so began the transformation—one rooted in precision, guided by purpose, and polished with personality.
To support that vision, the Design Solutions team reimagined the flow of the space. Walls were opened to encourage movement between interior and exterior spaces, new entrances were created, and areas like the pool and outdoor kitchen were designed as extensions of the interior experience.
The home was envisioned first and foremost as a retreat—a place to unwind, reset, and disconnect from the city’s constant motion. Yet beneath that serene exterior lies a layout designed for elegant, effortless entertaining. Expansive terraces, open-plan living areas, and a sculptural kitchen allow for seamless indoor-outdoor flow, perfect for everything from sunset cocktails to casual weekend gatherings.
A Home for Living, Hosting, and Breathing
Every detail in this home reflects a lifestyle where family ties, personal retreat, and elevated entertaining exist in perfect harmony. “We designed every room with intention—whether for gathering or slowing down,” shares Fragali. This balance is most evident in the expansive open-concept living areas, where sculptural furnishings and generous terraces blur the line between indoors and out. Natural light flows across clean lines and polished finishes, creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Every element is purposeful, from open gathering spaces to quiet moments of escape—like a softly hidden reading nook designed for reflection. Anchored by a sculptural lounge chair and tactile wall art, it’s a carefully curated pause within the home. “From the curves of the chair to the texture on the wall, it’s a space that gently says: sit, breathe, stay,” Fragali adds.
Transitions with Intention
The true story of this home unfolds in the details—the kind you almost miss until they stop you in your tracks. Flush baseboards. Oversized pivot doors. Hidden frames and reveals that whisper rather than shout. “These elements demanded absolute precision,” says Fragali. “Every transition was custom-crafted. Millimeters mattered.”
Take the doors: conceived not merely as passageways, but as extensions of the rooms themselves. One side may be clad in rich wood, the other in lacquer—each finish echoing the palette and materials of its respective space. Achieving this level of cohesion required reworking the framing, refining alignments, and designing with restraint. Here, the architecture doesn’t dominate—it defers by design.
Materials That Speak
That level of commitment carries through in the materiality. Wall treatments are layered with quiet complexity: fabric-wrapped panels, natural wood slats, bespoke wallpaper, and lighting that feels more like sculpture. Together, they lend warmth and rhythm to the home’s clean geometry.
The powder room, accessed through a concealed panel, showcases a rare volcanic stone sink—a piece selected for both its visual impact and its uniqueness. It’s one of many examples where unexpected materials elevate everyday spaces, all while preserving the home’s clean-lined aesthetic.
In the primary suite, a freestanding tub sits near the glass façade, framed by wood-slatted ceilings and paired with a rain shower in minimalist form. “That space is about stillness,” says Fragali. “It resets your pace.”
Art, too, is central—not as an accessory, but as an emotional anchor. The entryway features a sculptural bench, functional yet poetic. A cheeky bubblegum portrait introduces levity. “It’s a reminder not to take life too seriously,” Fragali says.
That ethos carries through to the outdoor spaces, where serenity meets subtle celebration. Outside, a curated sculpture sits poolside—a personal choice from the client and a gentle counterbalance to the architecture’s sharp edges. The woman-diving piece, suspended in motion, evokes courage and freedom.
The MiaCucina outdoor kitchen is concealed beneath sleek porcelain finishes, blending form with utility. The surrounding white travertine and expansive dock speak to a lifestyle centered around movement, wellness, and open-air living.
Built With Feeling
If the art speaks to the homeowners’ spirit, the structure itself speaks to their values. Several furnishings were custom-built to suit the home’s scale and flow, especially in gathering areas where proportion is everything. Even the lighting—layered, sculptural, intentional—was designed to enhance both mood and movement.
What made this project especially rewarding, Fragali notes, was the trust. “There was an ease to the collaboration—a shared desire for beauty, but also for function. The clients had style and remained open to possibilities. That kind of openness creates space for magic.”
And perhaps that’s what sets this home apart. It doesn’t demand attention—it earns it. Every element is deliberate. Nothing is overly adorned. Yet together, the parts compose a home that’s quietly stunning.
This oceanfront Venetian Island residence isn’t just a project—it’s a portrait of purposeful design.
A modern sanctuary where elegance lives easily, and life feels like art.
