BRICKELL PH REIMAGINED BY EOLO DESIGN, OPENING SPACES FOR ENTERTAINING AND HIGH DESIGN WITH ORNARE KITCHENS AND CLOSETS

Originally made famous in the opening credits of Miami Vice, the Brickell skyline has evolved into one of the most sought-after residential destinations globally. Set along Biscayne Bay, and punctuated by the towers of Miami’s financial hub, the booming new live/work/play neighborhood is calling on new lifestyles and designs to match.

The owners bought this two-story 1980’s penthouse and called called in Sandra Diaz-Velasco, Principal Architect of EOLO A&I Design, to reimagine and update the design to suit their needs of everyday life and entertaining a 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.

Known for her sleek, contemporary designs that are on the cutting edge of technology, Sandra was featured by Kitchen & Bath Design News as one of the Top 50 Innovators of 2017, leading the industry in artistry, professionalism, and creative design. Finalist in the 2019 Wolf-SubZero Kitchen Design Contest and a three-time consecutive Gold Winner (2016, 2017, and 2018) of the KBDN Kitchen & Bath Design Awards, Sandra and EOLO bring vast experience and perspective on how to feature the kitchen as a design highlight of the living space. 

Sandra brought in Ornare, the luxury cabinetry brand from Brazil with US flagship in Miami Design District, known for designing and constructing quality closets, kitchens and bath furnishings, to custom outfit the kitchen. It blends effortlessly with the different textures and colors of the open plan living space. The lines were elaborated with care and obsession to details made a difference to the atmosphere of the room, creating a unique environment. The kitchen creates harmony and clear surfaces with the varieties of storage spaces. Furnishings such as drawers, cabinets and shelving serve a purpose and function but also were interpreted as elements that generate interlinked and harmonic spaces, which reign true with the flow of this reimagined home.

While the kitchen serves as a heart of the home, materials were chosen to lend richness and texture throughout 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 Jader Almeida; 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 A/C system. EOLO 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, EOLO 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, EOLO  once again called on the luxury custom cabinetry of Ornare to help open the space and completely rearrange 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, the owners now can wake up and take a bath enjoying a dramatic bayside view.

Principal Architect of EOLO A&I Design, Sandra Diaz-Velasco emphasizes emotion, detail, and craftsmanship in her award-winning work. Uniting architecture, interior design, and artistry, and guided by a philosophy of constant renovation and environmental preservation, EOLO is highly sought-after for luxury projects in Florida and beyond.