South Beach Project
This modern home in South Beach, once owned by Madonna, was acquired several years ago by a world class entrepreneur who owns homes throughout the world. He hired Michael Wolk to create an informal clean lined family home wanting the focus to be on the ocean views as he cherishes South Beach. This two story Miami Beach home is one of the few located directly on Miami Beach and features a major art collection. The owners objective was to open up the two story space and be customized to fit his lifestyle.
Once construction was underway, Wolk, went on the hunt for furnishings, lighting and accessories, creating a 'beachy' color palette of water, sand and sky that would make for a relaxed setting. “All the furnishings are a highly considered mix of contemporary, classic and iconic designers and are light in color and feel,” he says. They are also sculptural and allow sunlight to pass easily through them. Originally, the client told Wolk not to show him anything he couldn’t immediately get into the condo. But soon after the designer reviewed concepts and showed him samples, the homeowner agreed that waiting 18 to 20 weeks for special pieces coming from Europe would be worth the wait. “Once he was comfortable, he gave us a tremendous amount of leeway,” says Wolk, who also incorporated outdoor pieces from his collection for Pavilion Furniture.
Basket-weave chairs designed by Michael Thonet, from Bauhaus 2 Your House, surround the table in the casual dining area. Thin and light as a worn beach stone, the table is by Maxalto. Custom-designed cabinetry beneath the staircase has the same recessed edge as the walls to give the illusion that it is floating in the space. Accessories are from Urban Art and Niba Home.
The kitchen’s all-white theme—including cabinetry fabricated by Arkin Construction—keeps the space as light as a cloud, while an Avonite backsplash by Aristech Surfaces and Gaggenau ovens from Monark offer contrast. The Carrara marble countertops, from Modern Interior Mall, were fabricated by Elegance Marble and Granite of Fort Lauderdale. Pencil-legged barstools by Zanotta continue the modern scheme.
Office: Light wood bookshelves in the office play off the base of Zanotta’s Cavour desk. Wolk’s custom cabinetry is the perfect perch for a geometric sculpture by Paul Thomas for Niba Home. Art by Nick Goss, from Josh Lilley in London, provides a bit of outdoor fantasy. The Rox rocking chair is by Davis Furniture. Additionally, the home office features the glass top iconic Carvour desk designed by Carlo Mollino, and a series of custom built-ins designed by Michael Wolk.
Bedroom: Nino Longobardi’s coral-hued painting, from Evelyn Aimis Fine Art, lends softness to the guest bedroom. A chest from Jalan Jalan Collection holds the essentials for a weekend visit by the beach, while a bedside Giorgetti lamp allows for reading once the sun has set. In the background, Zilvinas Kempinas’ art piece from Galeria Leme commands attention above the fish tank in the living room.
Wolk worked closely with the architects and builder to bring his custom designs to fruition, as he conceived several built-ins that dovetail with the clean, modern theme. For example, Wolk designed barely-there bookshelves for the study and a low, unobtrusive bed—anchored in rich dark walnut wood—that keeps the view at front of mind. The arctic white dining room buffet and the custom cabinetry that acts as a room divider between the living and dining areas are each big in function yet light as clouds. A television rises up from the partition cabinetry and can turn 180 degrees, so anyone who wants to watch can do so from either space. More bookshelves cap the ends, and shelving on the dining room side holds a collection of shells that speaks to the beachfront setting.
Today, no matter how hectic the owner’s life might be, he is assured that his beach retreat awaits, welcoming him with mesmerizing views and calming scenes. With each carefully curated furniture piece, artwork and custom feature, you’d never know there were any time constraints. Ask Wolk and he’ll say the waterfront revival allowed for enormous creative freedom. “The only real parameter became the three-month deadline,” he says, “and that just made the project more fun.”
Once construction was underway, Wolk, went on the hunt for furnishings, lighting and accessories, creating a 'beachy' color palette of water, sand and sky that would make for a relaxed setting. “All the furnishings are a highly considered mix of contemporary, classic and iconic designers and are light in color and feel,” he says. They are also sculptural and allow sunlight to pass easily through them. Originally, the client told Wolk not to show him anything he couldn’t immediately get into the condo. But soon after the designer reviewed concepts and showed him samples, the homeowner agreed that waiting 18 to 20 weeks for special pieces coming from Europe would be worth the wait. “Once he was comfortable, he gave us a tremendous amount of leeway,” says Wolk, who also incorporated outdoor pieces from his collection for Pavilion Furniture.
Basket-weave chairs designed by Michael Thonet, from Bauhaus 2 Your House, surround the table in the casual dining area. Thin and light as a worn beach stone, the table is by Maxalto. Custom-designed cabinetry beneath the staircase has the same recessed edge as the walls to give the illusion that it is floating in the space. Accessories are from Urban Art and Niba Home.
The kitchen’s all-white theme—including cabinetry fabricated by Arkin Construction—keeps the space as light as a cloud, while an Avonite backsplash by Aristech Surfaces and Gaggenau ovens from Monark offer contrast. The Carrara marble countertops, from Modern Interior Mall, were fabricated by Elegance Marble and Granite of Fort Lauderdale. Pencil-legged barstools by Zanotta continue the modern scheme.
Office: Light wood bookshelves in the office play off the base of Zanotta’s Cavour desk. Wolk’s custom cabinetry is the perfect perch for a geometric sculpture by Paul Thomas for Niba Home. Art by Nick Goss, from Josh Lilley in London, provides a bit of outdoor fantasy. The Rox rocking chair is by Davis Furniture. Additionally, the home office features the glass top iconic Carvour desk designed by Carlo Mollino, and a series of custom built-ins designed by Michael Wolk.
Bedroom: Nino Longobardi’s coral-hued painting, from Evelyn Aimis Fine Art, lends softness to the guest bedroom. A chest from Jalan Jalan Collection holds the essentials for a weekend visit by the beach, while a bedside Giorgetti lamp allows for reading once the sun has set. In the background, Zilvinas Kempinas’ art piece from Galeria Leme commands attention above the fish tank in the living room.
Wolk worked closely with the architects and builder to bring his custom designs to fruition, as he conceived several built-ins that dovetail with the clean, modern theme. For example, Wolk designed barely-there bookshelves for the study and a low, unobtrusive bed—anchored in rich dark walnut wood—that keeps the view at front of mind. The arctic white dining room buffet and the custom cabinetry that acts as a room divider between the living and dining areas are each big in function yet light as clouds. A television rises up from the partition cabinetry and can turn 180 degrees, so anyone who wants to watch can do so from either space. More bookshelves cap the ends, and shelving on the dining room side holds a collection of shells that speaks to the beachfront setting.
Today, no matter how hectic the owner’s life might be, he is assured that his beach retreat awaits, welcoming him with mesmerizing views and calming scenes. With each carefully curated furniture piece, artwork and custom feature, you’d never know there were any time constraints. Ask Wolk and he’ll say the waterfront revival allowed for enormous creative freedom. “The only real parameter became the three-month deadline,” he says, “and that just made the project more fun.”
