A stunning home in Bay Harbor Island mixes sophistication and easy living.
WRITTEN BY JEAN NAYAR
In contrast to the ubiquitous boxy white, ultra-minimal forms that characterize so many newly built houses in the Miami area of South Florida, the owners of this custom-designed six-bedroom home in Bay Harbor Island wanted a sense of warmth and a touch of tradition for their growing family. So when they enlisted Affinity Architects to design their new waterfront dwelling, they pointed to the tropical style of the West Indies as a source of inspiration. At the same time, they tapped Miami-based Dunagan Diverio Design Group to infuse the home’s interiors with low-maintenance modern sophistication.
“The home is owned by a close-knit family who wanted to accommodate frequent guests and multigenerational gatherings with ease,” says interior designer Charlotte Dunagan. “Indoor-outdoor living was also a top priority for the clients, so achieving a fluid connection between interior spaces and the outdoors without sacrificing comfort or functionality across the main living areas was the primary challenge.” Fortunately, the interior designers were hired simultaneously with the architects, so the design teams could collaborate on every detail from the start. “Visually we were able to be involved in everything from the layout and flow of rooms to the colors and sizes of windows to the choices of exterior materials, such as the roofing and the coral stone at the base of the front of the home’s exterior,” says architect and interior design partner Tom Diverio.
Among the gestures that reinforce the connection between indoors and out are sliding glass doors that stack back and open onto an exterior entertaining patio topped with a deep overhang. The covered patio space houses a summer kitchen and expansive outdoor dining zone as well as a lounge-y seating area, fireplace overlooking the pool, cold plunge, sauna, and spa. “The living room, TV room, dining area, and kitchen were all intentionally designed to open seamlessly to the exterior, blurring the lines between inside and out,” explains Dunagan. “And the generous overhang off the great room further enhances this connection, creating a shaded, breezy transition to the outdoors.” In addition, a space with floor-to-ceiling operable windowed walls anchoring one end of the home offers a fresh take on the classic Florida room and serves as a kind of relaxed, oft-used cabana where family and friends often gather to relax.
Taking cues from the classic island-inspired architecture, the designers used substantial materials like tongue-and-groove millwork on walls and ceilings and limestone and wide-plank white oak on floors to ground the home with easy-care elegance. At the same time, a pale neutral palette, layers of texture, and globally inspired details give the home an approachable lived-in feel. “We opted for a neutral, beach-inspired palette to echo the relaxed surroundings,” says Dunagan. “And comfortable, low-maintenance modern furnishings make the home ideal for everyday living and entertaining.”
A few bold contemporary works of art and integrated accents, such as the custom range hood in the kitchen and a variety of artful light fixtures, elevate the home with strokes of personality throughout. “The lighting was carefully curated to act as both illumination and visual storytelling,” explains Dunagan. “The Alison Berger fixtures in the kitchen, in particular, are a true highlight—their soft, ethereal glow and striking scale create a sense of drama and artistry that transforms this functional area into a sculptural statement.”
The close collaboration and thoughtful planning between the architects and interior designers ultimately yielded a home that not only allows for flow and flexibility but also honors the intimacy of each space while seamlessly connecting with the tropical environs of its community-oriented neighborhood.
