I’d imagine this is exactly what life on the island of Key Biscayne should feel like. Just minutes from Miami, the island is defined by white sand beaches, tropical vegetation and uninterrupted ocean views, yet its pace is markedly slower. It is here, inside the first residential building ever constructed on the island in 1965, that Lamarc Studio has transformed a dated apartment into a contemporary three bedroom retreat where architecture, art and design exist in careful balance.
The apartment belongs to a woman in her sixties who uses it as a second home, welcoming her children and grandchildren throughout the year. Her brief was clear. She wanted calm interiors, but not a neutral home devoid of personality. Instead, she envisioned spaces where contemporary art, collectible design and meaningful objects could coexist against the backdrop of the Atlantic.
“Our two greatest sources of inspiration were our client and the views,” says Marcela Restrepo, founder of Lamarc Studio. “The design process revolved around understanding her personality and allowing that spirit to coexist beautifully with the endless ocean horizon outside every window.”
The renovation completely reconfigured the original floor plan. What had once been a two bedroom apartment is now a three bedroom, three bathroom residence, with circulation simplified and every room oriented towards natural light. The architecture itself is intentionally understated. Engineered oak flooring runs throughout the home, travertine defines the bathrooms, while limewashed cabinetry, ecru lacquer and Brazilian Archipiélago marble establish a warm palette inspired by the island’s shoreline.
“The client loves colour, which is precisely why we chose to keep the architectural palette very clean,” explains Restrepo. “This neutral envelope allows us to introduce bold, expressive moments through art and objects.”
That contrast becomes evident from the entrance. A portrait by Victor Rodriguez welcomes visitors before the corridor unfolds with a candelabra by Stoff Nagel and Fornasetti vases. A recessed niche displays Taschen books alongside a Kokeshi lamp by Lladró, Baccarat’s Eye Vase, a Serpent tray by Les Ottomans, a vase by Reflections Copenhagen, a Haas Huggers Box by L’Objet and Le Tricycle by Rotganzen, setting the tone for a home where every object has been carefully selected.
The living spaces continue that dialogue between contemporary furniture and collectible pieces. A Shanghai sofa by Poliform faces the ocean, accompanied by the iconic Bubble armchair by Roche Bobois and a sculptural bench by Piet Fran for Galerie Philia. A Norwegian rose marble coffee table by Form LA is styled with a Bloom vase by Vanessa Mitrani, a Bonbonniere by Reflections Copenhagen and the playful Tic Tac Toe set by the Haas Brothers for L’Objet. Nearby, a Bell lamp by Tom Dixon, a Conversation Vase II by Jaime Hayon for Lladró, a Bon Jour lamp by Flos, textiles by Saved NY and the Portal mirror by Sara Lundkvist complete the composition. In the dining area, Cassina’s Dudet chairs surround a travertine table beneath a Baccarat Ellipse chandelier.
“The challenge was to honour her taste for dramatic objects while keeping the space feeling light,” says Restrepo. “Every bold piece was carefully placed so it feels intentional, creating dialogue rather than noise.”
The same approach extends into the private rooms. The kitchen pairs artwork by Eser Gündüz with Jaime Hayon‘s Embraced sculpture for Lladró, while the bar features a Bower Studios mirror and a Pantheon Persephone vase by L’Objet. In the television room, Kartell’s Tip Top side table joins Nordic Knots rugs, another Tom Dixon Bell lamp, Pietro Franceschini’s Arch bench, Stoff Nagel bowls, Reflections Copenhagen accessories and yet another Conversation Vase II by Jaime Hayon. The primary bedroom combines a Dudet chair by Cassina with Lumina’s Daphine lamp, Flos lighting, Ferm Living‘s mirror, a Nordic Knots rug, Bordallo Pinheiro ceramics, a Helle Mardahl glass bowl and artwork by Eser Gündüz, proving that a restrained palette can still accommodate a confident collection. Even the powder room follows suit, with Watermark fittings, an IRIS light by A N D and a candle by Reflections Copenhagen.
Rather than competing with the ocean outside, the interiors frame it. Here architecture provides the foundation, while art, furniture and collectible design reveal the personality of the woman who lives there.
