Miami designer Phoebe O’Neill curates meaningful collections.

O'Neill transformed her white couch with custom slipcovers with fabric from St. Frank. She sits below There’s two wolves inside me and… by Susan Kim Alvarez.

With a fresh perspective, Phoebe O’Neill carves out her niche in the design world by integrating art curation into the fabric of her work. At her firm, Phoebe O’Neill Interiors, art isn’t an afterthought—it’s the foundation.

O’Neill’s apartment features custom paint colors in the living room and bedroom. Look closely, and you’ll spot a small bronze pig on the door frame for good luck.

Creativity runs deep in her roots—her father, a sculptor, immersed her in the art world from an early age, instilling a rich understanding and appreciation for artistic expression. Her journey as a collector began while studying at New York University when she befriended fellow student Chanel Khoury and purchased one of her early works. O’Neill’s discerning eye for talent proved spot-on, as Khoury has since blossomed into a sought-after painter. “Funny enough, I can’t afford her work anymore,” O’Neill says.

Designer Phoebe O’Neill with her latest acquisition, “Story of Eggs (Bird Gallery for Birds),” by Japanese artist COBRA, purchased at the NADA Art Fair in Miami; “Lone Bend,” an oil-on-canvas by Chanel Khoury, hangs above a 17th-century baroque chest and custom chairs made of cedar and canvas.

Through Miami’s esteemed Fountainhead residency and arts membership program, O’Neill continued to expand her collection with works by Susan Kim Alvarez and Adelisa Selimbašić. Developing meaningful relationships with these artists solidified her belief that collecting art should be an intimate and personal journey. This belief has shaped how she approaches interior design. “For the past five years, I’ve built relationships with artists, and it’s opened up an entire world for me,” she says. “I want to share that connection with my clients.”

Left: Strawberry Lollipop Adelisa Selimbašić
Right: There’s two wolves inside me and… Susan Kim Alvarez

For O’Neill, art is not merely an accessory but central to her design process. “I’ve realized there’s tension between gallerists and interior designers and I’m trying a new approach,” she says. Her firm has an art advisor, and together they introduce clients to artists and gallerists, bringing them into the deeply personal and exciting process that is collecting art—all while designing their homes so the two seamlessly intertwine.

O’Neill’s apartment in Miami is a testament to her inspired approach as it’s become a living gallery. In this vein, her acquisitions by Alvarez and Khoury inspired the entire design of her living room. “I love richness and dimension, but I wouldn’t call myself a maximalist,” O’Neill says. “I want things to feel eclectic but not chaotic.” By infusing bold colors and patterns into her palette, the interiors embrace the artwork into the fold for an inviting residence that is both authentic and curated.

O’Neill’s passions for art and interiors meet in spaces that radiate warmth and personality. Layering in singular details, she curates interiors that tell a meaningful story—reflecting her clients’ sensibilities in the same way her own home reflects hers.

Art makes its way into the bathroom of O’Neill’s apartment with a framed print in the shower.