Words by Allegra Salvadori | Photography by Mateo Soto
Just off the Miami coastline, on the island of Key Biscayne, Lamarc Studio has reshaped a 2,840-square-foot apartment into a precise study of light, proportion, and material presence. Designed by Marcela Restrepo, the Colombian-born founder now based between California and Florida, the project is defined by clarity rather than theme, and by the measured use of detail rather than decorative excess.
An Architecture of Adjustments
The homeowners arrived with two different aesthetic sensibilities. Instead of choosing one direction, Restrepo approached the project as a set of architectural decisions: sharpening lines, simplifying volumes, and introducing classical references in stripped-back, precise forms.
The entry sets the tone with Nero Marquina and travertine checkerboard flooring, antique mirrors, and a calibrated mix of sculptural objects. A private elevator opens directly into views of the ocean and Miami skyline, with the apartment unfolding across a single, open level.
Objects Treated as Structure
The furnishings and accessories were selected with architectural intent. A Poliform Saint Germain sofa, Maxalto Lithos coffee table, pieces by Lalique, Fornasetti, Baccarat, and Reflections Copenhagen are placed as visual anchors rather than embellishments.
Nothing is ornamental; everything has a role in establishing rhythm and scale.
Reworking the Plan
The project’s complexity was largely spatial. Restrepo reconfigured the layout to create a proper laundry room and expand the kitchen — moves that required rethinking circulation and proportions.
A narrow powder room gained a floating travertine sink and an oversized raw-wood mirror, adjusting the room’s visual weight and connecting it back to the foyer.
Material Decisions Informed by Use
The owners’ background in ship design sharpened the discussion around durability and ageing. Travertine flooring provides a continuous, calm surface; bolder stones — Viola and Hermitage — are used sparingly for impact.
In the kitchen and bar, Hermitage stone appears in monolithic blocks, balanced by ivory cabinetry and matte black fixtures. Heavy cove ceilings were removed to maximise height and allow light to operate as a defining material.
Measured Quiet in the Private Spaces
The bedrooms are deliberately understated, relying on taupe tones, natural textures, and pieces from Poliform, RH, and Flos. Rather than creating contrast with the social areas, these rooms refine the overall language of the home.
A Project Shaped Before the Keys Existed
The clients contacted Restrepo before they bought the apartment, seeking guidance on both the purchase and its potential transformation. Much of the design work began before the sale was completed, allowing structural and spatial decisions to be made early, with unusual precision.
The final result is an interior defined not by a dominant style, but by the intelligence of its construction — a home that privileges proportion, material honesty, and the thoughtful placement of every object.
