Two is Better Than One
Sofia Joelsson Opens Up an Ocean View Gem
Story by Danny Brody
Sofia Joelsson, principal and creative
director of SoJo Design in Miami, loves cocktail parties – especially
when the festivities can’t help but show off one of her latest projects.
“Almost 90 percent of my clients are referrals,” said Joelsson, “and
often they have been to a cocktail party in a home that we have designed
or redesigned.”
Such was the case in a recent project at South Beach’s Il Villaggio,
where Joelsson had premiered a beach house. When a Philadelphia couple
attended the soiree, they were inspired. They already owned a
two-bedroom unit in the oceanfront high rise and had purchased the
adjacent two-bedroom unit. Both units offer spectacular southerly views
of Ocean Drive and over the beach sands of Lummus Park.
They asked Joelsson to create an interior space that was comfortable and
allowed for unobtrusive views. Joelsson oversaw the entire project from
concept to completion. She brought architect Dean Kotzen and Cliff Blate
of Blate Construction on board. The views were the inspiration Joelsson
needed. The design team gutted everything. “We gutted it completely,
there was not a thing left except structural columns,” Joelsson said.
“We wanted to create a large home, but one that could be divided easily
for privacy when family or guests came to visit.”
Joelsson’s challenge was blending the structural elements into the
design. Here, Joelsson used dark wood and added recessed lighting,
turning the columns into an architectural feature.
The effect is modern and spacious, as the open floor plan creates an
effortless flow. “We wanted to have an open and free-flowing space with
clean lines,” she said. “And that started with creating an ‘enormous’
entertaining and living space, which is really a large great room. On
one side of the home is the master bedroom and bath. On the other are
three guestrooms, an office, a family room and bathrooms. The middle
space houses the living room, dining room, bar area and an open kitchen.
Throughout, the color palette is neutral. “I tried to use accents with
pops of color, but not so pronounced that it will go out of style in
five years,” Joelsson said. The flooring is
Crema Europa limestone in a brick
pattern.
In the living room, a white Minotti sofa faces the floor-to-ceiling
windows, its sharp 90-degree corner softened by a facing woven chair
from Artefacto and a round ostrich grey slate leather ottoman from
Silverline Furniture and custom-designed by Sojo Design. The modern yet
classic white round end-table, also from Silverline Furniture, stands at
the corner of a lush, nearly black square cowhide rug from eCowhides. At
the opposite corner is a whimsical mahbruky floor lamp, part of the
MaMo Nouchies series by Ingo
Maurer, whose almost sail-like fixtures appear to float on the thin
metal strands – very appropriate for such an incredible ocean view. |
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Photos by James Wilkins |
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In the bar area, one gets the impression
of being in a very private, modern speakeasy, or perhaps below deck in
an ocean-going yacht. Joelsson created a sculptural wall covered in a
wavy cladding from Modular Arts, creating the illusion of movement. The
wall is made of cast-rock panels that precisely interlock for seamless
surfaces. Recessed lighting from Sesco Lighting illuminates the face of
the bar from within, and gives the area its own identity, even though it
is completely open. Wenge wood cabinetry from Florense contrasts with
hanging burnished steel pendant lamps, also from Sesco Lighting. Lava
stone in slate grey by Coverings Etc. acts as the bar’s counter top and
contrasts with the white leather bar stools from Calligaris. “We wanted
the bar to be a cozy area for the clients when they are alone, but also
welcoming for a party,” said Joelsson.
The kitchen features wenge cabinetry by Florense and a waterfall-edge
counter made of tumbled lava stone from Coverings Etc. Appliances are
from Sub-Zero and Miele. The dining area seems almost casually elegant.
A long, dark table is paired with two benches covered in Edelman
Royal Hide Cat Bird leather and white chairs adorned in Edelman
Royal Hide Dead White.
A white, rectangular chandelier from AXO Light naturally draws one’s
sight line to the floor-to-ceiling windows of the terrace and beyond to
the ocean.
Like the living area, the master suite features Joelsson’s trademark
neutral palette, yet with subtle textures and layers. From the white
Florense platform bed to the dark chocolate-colored wall paneling
custom-designed by Joelsson, the emphasis is on understatement. The
white nightstands from Boxes by Porro add a dash of color and feature a
sturdy, rectangular base for the free-flowing, almost bird-like lamps
from Poul Poul by Ingo Maurer. The bedding is from Thread Count, and
opposite the terrace doors sits a floor mirror from Room & Board.
The guest bedrooms are done in shades of ivory and covered in wallpaper
from Trove. The pattern is abstract bubbly clouds that appear to come up
from the floor to the ceiling. The white platform bed and nightstands
are from Florense and bedding is by Thread Count. Sleek silver lamps by
Artemide snake out from behind both sides of the headboard.
In the bathrooms, Joelsson created a very inviting space inspired yet
again by the water theme all around. The sinks are by LaCava and the
fixtures by Kohler. Custom cabinetry by DD Woodcrafters goes hand
in-hand with river rock and limestone to create this ambiance.
“Inspired by color, this modern home showcases what great design and
minimalism can do. “You can always do more, but sometimes, as they say,
less is more, and I think we accomplished that here.” |
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