It’s fair to say Miami has earned its reputation for doing the most: from Art Basel Miami Beach’s high-octane nightlife to Art Deco roots that influence the city’s decadent architecture. Gilberto Cioni, a Brazilian-born interior designer who has cultivated a reputation for executing Miami’s well-appointed residential towers, kept the latter in mind when a young couple enlisted him to breathe new life into a sumptuous high-rise apartment overlooking the ocean.
Touches of pink, mustard, and green throughout meld elements of Brazilian modernism with Miami’s characteristic Art Deco flair. Cioni incorporated floor-to-ceiling wood paneling from Ornare, Brazil’s go-to brand for custom millwork, to define the social center of the apartment’s open plan. The hardwood paneling imbues the living area with warmth and a distinct sense of place—both characteristics that can be difficult to cultivate in homes with such bracingly modern architecture. Woven art by textile design studio Oficina Caralarga, a Querétaro-based practice whose growth has been bolstered by interior design commissions, creates a dynamic focal point in the living area and fortifies the apartment’s warm atmosphere.
On that front, Cioni sourced eclectic furnishings throughout, such as the dining room’s geometric, spider-like Murano glass pendant, as well as antiques like a pair of vintage black French armchairs and the entryway’s period sconces. It all ties together to form a sleek and sophisticated residence whose design ethos is rooted in Art Deco touchpoints, but executed through a distinctly contemporary lens.
Below, take a closer look.
