REIMAGINING SPANISH STYLE

Design: House of One Miami

Photography: Kris Tamburello

Text: Andrea Danelak

Miami-based design firm House of One took on the challenge of reviving a Spanish-style home in the Sunshine State, preserving certain existing elements while introducing striking custom features. We’re taking you on a tour of the completed redesign, which seamlessly blends dramatic and vintage for a result like no other.

Situated on the desirable North Bay Road enclave in the heart of Miami Beach, this Spanish-style home was already bursting with character when designer Brittany Farinas took on the redesign.

“The architecture of the home was the design inspiration,” says Farinas, chief executive officer and creative director of House of One. The Miami-based design firm specializes in one-of-a-kind, curated luxury residential, hospitality, and commercial categories and has launched several lines in wallcoverings, textiles, and furnishings, some of which have been incorporated into the residence. “Its bones really drove the aesthetics of the interior, material selection, and furnishing.”

In reviewing the floor plan, Farinas decided to honor the existing layout, modifying “50 to 60 percent” of what was in each space and blending contemporary and SpanishMediterranean styles for a moody, yet timeless, aesthetic. As part of their mission to design spaces that tell a story, Farinas and her team preserved some of the home’s original elements like the arches, crown molding, and flooring for a new-meets-old-world Spanish style.

Essentially broken into three different sections, the home features a private master wing, private guest suite, and common areas, such as the kitchen. The master wing marked one of the spaces Farinas most wanted to focus on.

“We knew we wanted to really modernize that space,” says Farinas, who founded House of One over five years ago and now leads a team of five. To that end, she took advantage of an existing pair of structural columns to construct a magnificent double-sided fireplace that separates the main sleeping area from the sitting area, bearing the same romantic theme found in other elements in the home.

Paying homage to the homeowners’ shared passion for art—their collection displayed prominently—Farinas also added a personal touch above the fireplace, enlarging an image of the client and framing it specifically to the space. “We designed the fireplace to be able to hold that piece, and it turned out very well,” she says.

Adding to the dramatic feel, stone features make a statement in several rooms. To play off the vintage rose quartz slabs preserved in the guest washroom, Farinas sourced Calcutta vintage slabs for the kitchen countertops, also creating a custom vanity in the same stone for the powder room.

“Something I really enjoyed was selecting the new stone because I had to pick a stone that looks lived in and vintage, with an older feel,” she says. “These types of stones only apply to a certain aesthetic, and we tried to pick out different materials for a balance of old and new throughout the home.”

Another priority for the redesign was to maintain a sense of continuity and flow from the indoor to outdoor spaces. “We took a lot of the elements from the interior and brought them outside, such as incorporating metal elements from the dining table into the outdoor furniture pieces,” she says.

A spectacular pool sits grandly in the corner lot’s backyard space, a favorite gathering place for visiting friends and family. “Everyone wants to hang out by the pool area,” says Farinas, who brought in a specialist to recreate a floral emblem in mosaic tile for the pool, a motif also embedded into a fountain. “That created such a focal point.”

Prior to beginning the project, Farinas walked through the space with the homeowners as part of her usual design process. “I like to talk about the clients’ plans for the house—how they will use it, whether it will be their forever home and so on,” she says. “I also hone in on anything they are unhappy with in the current design to understand them better. I want them to have a say about every single space.”

Farinas prides herself on developing close relationships with her clients, encouraging them to become creative collaborators to make the space their own. “We really focus on a bespoke design experience and on creating custom pieces like lighting and furniture for our clients,” she says. “They’ll receive the VIP service no matter the scope of the project. We want to give them a turnkey product.”

Given the age of the home, which was built nearly a century ago, Farinas and the homeowners knew they might encounter some surprises along the way. “We found some restrictions in terms of electrical and plumbing, but we knew coming in that would likely happen,” she recalls. “It’s very common for us—you can’t really anticipate what you’re going to find [in older homes].”

The added hurdles, however, didn’t delay the project. From initial conception through completion, the project took about eight months, with the homeowners eager to resume entertaining in their refreshed space.

“They were absolutely in love with it,” says Farinas. “The pool was the number one thing because it was such a transformation from what was originally there. It’s a great property and a one-ofa-kind project.”

Art is a simple yet sophisticated way to add a stunning elegance and personal flair to any room.