Refined Sunny Isles Beach Condo is Neutral Territory

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When a world-traveling couple from Mexico City swapped their South Florida vacation home for a 4,500-square-foot, new-construction condominium at Turnberry Ocean Club Residences on Sunny Isles Beach’s Millionaire’s Row, they didn’t waste time hiring Design House Studio’s Janine Geller to transform it into a bright and welcoming beachside retreat.

“From the beginning, our taste levels were very aligned,” says Geller, whose reputation for interiors that are elegant without ostentation resonated strongly with the well-heeled and discerning owners.

After a few meetings with her clients, the designer’s mission became clear: low-key and low-maintenance sophisticated environs. “They entertain a lot and have grandchildren,” says Geller. “They didn’t want anyone feeling uncomfortable about putting their feet up.”

Geller and her team began by culling a neutral-oriented palette that eschews Miami’s glossy white standard in favor of beiges and crème fraîche-colored tones that echo the sandy beaches below. Coming up with refined décor that’s also amenable to spilled drinks and pint-sized handprints was a tall order, but one to which the designer happily rose.

In the common areas of the residence, oversized marble tiles in off-white reflect light and create an air of grandeur. “They make every room seem much larger than it is,” notes Geller. To make up for the home’s lack of storage, custom case goods were added throughout, as was light white oak millwork that begins in the foyer. 

Nearby, the family and media room share a similar lightness thanks to a Ditre Italia sectional topped with cushions in performance fabric. The mostly beige and cream room, which faces a paneled wall harboring a secret doorway leading to the secondary guest rooms, is centered below a tray ceiling with LED lights. “To create the sphere, we had to drop down the entire ceiling about six inches,” Geller reveals. “It’s incredible how much depth and interest a small step up can make.”

While the condo came with a dark walnut kitchen, the designer and her clients agreed it had to be refurbished. The cabinetry was resurfaced in a lighter hue, countertops were replaced with large pieces of Taj Mahal quartz for more surface use, and a supplemental island with barstools was installed. The footprint was even expanded to accommodate an auxiliary wall with custom built-ins for the wife’s collection of fine tableware.

The designer’s adoration for wow-factor light fixtures is on display throughout the home, including in the dining room where a crystal Solitude chandelier was so well received, a second one was ordered for the couple’s primary bedroom. The bold illumination choices continue in the semiformal living room with a cluster of bubble-shaped fixtures by Bocci that appear as if they floated up from the ocean and into the residence.

Serenity reigns in the primary bedroom, where a geometric-shaped headboard adds an architectural counterpoint to a sleek, down-cushioned chaise lounge from RH. “She wanted something comfortable where she could lay and read a book or look out at the sea,” says the designer. “This was the perfect piece.”

Geller smiles when she remembers her clients’ reaction to the completed project. “I turned the lights down to set the mood and there was this magical orange-pink sunset when they walked in,” she says. “They started crying, then I started crying. Seeing my clients so happy makes me realize how much I love what I do.”

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Janine Geller, Design House Studio, Hollywood, FL

Text by Kerry Shorr

Photography by Troy Campbell, Miami, FL

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