Miami Design District Magazine - Functional Entertainment

Functional Entertainment
George Lopez and Wayne Taylor Utilize Imagination

Story by Aaron Glickman

“We love to entertain,” said Wayne Taylor, owner of now, A Style Store in Miami’s Design District. He and partner George Lopez, owner of Directions Miami (also in the Design District), have turned their Miami Shores home into a chic abode that utilizes many of the original 1950s characteristics, combining them with modern features.

“The kitchen is the primary area of the house,” said Taylor. “George and I both enjoy cooking and entertaining, and needed a bigger space. So, we took out the dividing wall, which was an original feature, and opened up the space.”

The focus of the kitchen is a custom-made revolving, rectangular table that resembles the sushi bar at the Delano. “The stone on the table and throughout the entire kitchen is terrazzo,” explained Taylor. The materials were purchased at Coverings in the Design District. “The table is on large castors and when we rotate it, it aligns with a bar that is revealed upon opening the pantry doors. This rotation allows us to create an extended bar that can facilitate a bar tender when we entertain.”

Adjacent to the kitchen is an outdoor Florida room that connects with the kitchen when the sliding glass doors are fully opened. The doors pocket into the wall to create a large open space that overlooks an expertly landscaped backyard. “It’s perfect in the winter,” said Taylor. “And George and I find the space to be a relaxing place to begin our day. We have our morning coffee and read the paper here.”

Adding to the atmosphere that the opened Florida room presents are neatly arranged decorative lanterns that hang from the ceiling along the wall opposite the kitchen. “We hung them for a party and loved the effect so much that we kept them and created a candle sculpture,” Taylor said.

Photos by John Anderson

In addition to connecting with the Florida room, the kitchen also connects with the living/dining area. This open space combines elements from the home’s original design, modern and vintage pieces, and personal items that Taylor and Lopez have collected over time. “The furniture has evolved,” said Taylor. “It’s an expression of our lives.”

The Elements

The floors are Cuban tile and an original design element. Made from cast cement with a colored glaze, the tiles are cool and easy to maintain. Ironically, the flooring was protected throughout the 1970s and 1980s by wall-to-wall carpeting.

The dining room table and matching chairs -- which look as though they were purchased as an ensemble -- are a mix of 1980s and today. “We bought the table to match the chairs,” explained Taylor. “The table came from now, A Style Store, while the chairs are a 1980s design from Philippe Starck. We like the crystal candle holders because they create a dramatic flash, especially when combined with the vintage chandelier that was salvaged from a Palm Beach restaurant. We bought that beauty from Susane R Lifestyle Boutique in the Design District.”

Masking the windows along the west wall are textured curtains from Costa Window Treatments. The curtains are backlit, which makes them glow. “The living room faces the street, so we often keep our drapes closed. Plus, we enjoy our privacy. The backlighting enables the fabric to glow, which, like the candle holders on the dining room table, is dramatic,” said Taylor.

Resting along the western wall is a plush lounging sofa. “It’s a very modern piece called Jaguar,” said Lopez, who chose the sofa from his store. “The white, patent leather sofa is 142 inches long and 52 inches deep, literally bigger than a twin bed.”

Opposite the couch, and separated by a chic Delos Lux Shag rug -- also available at Directions -- are two vintage chairs from Susane R. These refinished pieces have classical curves, yet are glam and modern at the same time. They create a nice contrast to the lounging sofa.

“These components were clearly thought out, and lighting was especially important,” explained Lopez. “We installed a Lutron Radio Rod Programmable dimming system that spotlights the art and furniture. It’s perfect for creating different moods. We achieved the desired effect with the help of Jill Bergman from Lux Lighting.”

Throughout the living room is a unique display of art that combines sculpture with painted works, all of which were purchased at the Steve Martin Studio. Standing roughly 7-feet-high is a polished stainless-steel sculpture created by Dr. Arthur Silverman from New Orleans. The geometrically designed piece was modeled after the six-story version that Silverman constructed for the Energy Center in New Orleans. The piece survived Hurricane Katrina, although Silverman’s studio did not.

In addition to the Silverman piece, two original Steve Martin’s are also displayed: a Martin wire sculpture and a painting from his latest collection, Faces of Adversity. Martin’s wire pieces are inspired by Picasso’s line drawings. The painting was created on Belgian linen and resembles one of Martin’s signature abstract faces. The white lacquered Baroque frame that surrounds the resolute face is an artistic element employed by Martin.

Overall, the home of Lopez and Taylor demonstrates the use of creative energy that costs little more than the use of imagination. Many of the pieces were accumulated over time, while additions came from stores in the Design District. It’s a Miami Shores home designed for entertainment with residents who are primary members of the Design District community.

Directions, 50 NE 40th St., 305.571.5595 www.directions-miami.com

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