Everyday Getaway

everyday BANISHING HUMDRUM, A SOUTH FLORIDA APARTMENT BY DESIGNER JUAN MONTOYA EMBRACES THE ADVENTUROUS getaway

OPTICS OF THE TROPICS.

Logic tells us the joyous spirit of escape isn’t available at home; home, however lovely, is what we escape from. But logic hasn’t reckoned with the power of floor-to-ceiling windows, an oceanside setting and the genius of Juan Montoya. In the new book Designing Paradise: Tropical Interiors by Juan Montoya (Rizzoli), the acclaimed interior designer joins writer Jorge Arango to showcase living spaces that so far transcend the ordinary as to put guests in a swoon and cloak residents in subtle, day-to-day bliss. Of course, Montoya works his magic partly by exploiting vast ocean vistas that simply could never become mundane—for instance, in an apartment in the revamped Surf Club in Surf City, Florida. Here, an assortment of ancient artifacts amassed by the homeowner, a custom collection of celestial photographs and oceanic paintings and one-of-a-kind artisan chandeliers all combine with the dramatic views to create a triumphant sense of adventure—yes, in a home.

This page: Dinner is the showcase for a formal get-together, especially when guests arrive dressed to the nines. With that in mind, interior designer Juan Montoya created a massive dining room table with 14 John Boone chairs upholstered in lavish horsehair. More traditional works of art appear overhead in LA-based artist David Wiseman’s bespoke bronze-and-glass light fixture and the Winslow Homer-esque ocean waves painting by Ran Ortner. Opposite page: Eyes follow a mirrored sideboard toward Temporal Sitter, a polished-bronze sculpture by Irish artist Kevin Francis Gray.

This page: Ancient artifacts from China, Egypt and countries in Africa draw attention to the family room’s built-in bookshelf, but the pieces stand out more when illuminated by the custom Studio Drift chandelier. Opposite page: When closed, specially built pocket doors made of polished African teak separate the office from the home’s main living space. The doors’ unique design, however, always provides a peek at the Luca Missoni works on the far wall.

This page: The view in the master bedroom doesn’t disappoint, no matter where one looks. Dramatic ring sconces by Irish designer Niamh Barry flank the bed, while fur pillows and a blanket adorn the bed and the double chaise lounge, which was designed by Montoya. Opposite page: Montoya also designed a black trim for the master bathroom floor that serves as a runner leading to the sink. Behind the patterned blue glass panes set in polished nickel frames are a separate vanity area, shower and toilet.