European sophistication and citrusy Florida charm create an alchemy of aesthetic delight and everyday comfort in this thoughtful renovation fashioned after the French Riviera.
Scalamandré draperies splash orange to the dining room, where RH chairs surround a table from Authentic Provence. The light fixture is from Serena & Lily. Photo JACOB SNAVELY
THE PROJECT
Vintage finds. Sculptural chandeliers. Provençal-style millwork. And a shapely fireplace from Israel crafted using Jerusalem limestone. They all contribute to the timeless magic of this Sunset Island residence in Miami Beach that exudes European sophistication and Old Florida charm. Mariana d’Orey Veiga of MDV Design (marianadoreyveiga.com) and Eduardo Gomez of GD Construction endeavored to reconfigure the Mediterranean-style home through a partial gut renovation that redesigned the bathrooms, refinished the flooring, updated the lighting, and refreshed the overall interiors.
The custom fireplace is from Haifa Limestone. Photo JACOB SNAVELY
Outside, updated stucco and terra-cotta pavers surrounding the pool stay true to the original Spanish vernacular. But inside—from the inviting living room that feels plucked from the South of France to the handsome book-filled study clad in custom navy-hued shelving and patterned wallpaper—the home lends itself to entertaining or seclusion in equal measure. “The serene white living room serves as a peaceful sanctuary, while the vibrant side spaces add a touch of excitement and energy,” says Veiga. “This design philosophy is rooted in our desire to create a space that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also deeply personal, reflecting the clients’ true essence and lifestyle.”
Mariana d’Orey Veiga refreshed the owners’ vintage chairs and a daybed in the living room with fabrics from Schumacher, Claremont and Quadrille. Sam Kupiec’s oil-on-canvas paintings hang above an RH sofa. Photo JACOB SNAVELY
THE DETAILS
That lifestyle began in the Côte d’Azur, where the homeowners have previously lived and where Veiga looked when conceiving her design approach, drawing inspiration from the rustic charm of the Provençal cottages her clients are so familiar with. “We sought to create a similar ambiance in their Miami home,” Veiga says. “To achieve this, we repurposed their existing furniture— furniture that they had collected over the years in their travels—carefully restoring its original beauty through refinishing and selecting complementary upholstery fabrics that evoked the warm, inviting atmosphere of a French countryside retreat.” The interiors incorporate a marriage of breezy linens and personality-filled patterns to ensure a mix of calm and vibrancy that reads French Riviera, Mediterranean, and sun-drenched South Florida all at once.
A vintage Knoll chair pulls up to a Kravet desk in the study, clad in Brunschwig & Fils wallpaper. Photo JACOB SNAVELY
THE OUTCOME
In order to give her clients a home that felt like the culmination of all their lived experiences, which also included time spent in South America and Palm Beach before settling in Miami, Veiga followed a few principles that always lead her down the right path: the power of personalization; the importance of balance through color, texture and style; the value of storytelling; and the significance of comfort and functionality. “We wanted the clients to consider their new home a true sanctuary—a place where they can relax, entertain with ease, and experience a profound sense of fulfillment,” Veiga says. “The design should evoke feelings of warmth, happiness and contentment.” As they say in France: Voilà!
Orange reappears in the family room via shades from Le Gracieux. The furniture, chandelier and rug are from Serena & Lily. Photo JACOB SNAVELY
Design Details
Type
House
Location
Miami Beach
Design
MDV Design
Build
GD Construction
A nature-inspired Thibaut wallcovering provides a backdrop for a mix of vintage furnishings and new finds from Serena & Lily in the primary bedroom. Photo JACOB SNAVELY
RESOURCES
HAIFA LIMESTONE
Fireplace in living room
HUDSON VALLEY LIGHTING
Wall lamps in study
LILIANA’S CUSTOM CREATION
All pillows, upholstery and window treatments
SERENA & LILY
Light fixture in dining room; furnishings in family room; bed, bench and light fixture in bedroom; rug by fireplace in living room serenaandlily.com
SCHUMACHER
Window treatments in dining room, bedroom and study (the latter is trimmed with Samuel & Sons tape) schumacher.com
PATTERSON FLYNN
Rug in primary bedroom and in the living room near the sofa
