Tour a Tropical-Modern Miami Beach Penthouse That Feels Like it's on a Boardwalk

Texture and Handcrafted Pieces Breathe Life and Warmth Into This Modern Outdoor Space

Once the headquarters of the Miami Heart Institute, the interconnected highrises that now house The Ritz-Carlton Miami Beach Residences (after a transformation by Italian architect Piero Lissoni) have earned a reputation as some of the sexiest luxury residences in Miami Beach. This spectacular penthouse spans over 9,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor space atop the former hospital and offers a new definition of luxurious waterfront living, thanks to designer-to-the-stars Catalina Echavarria of CEU Studio (an interior design and custom furniture firm with A-list clients like Cher, Shakira and Donna Karan).

How did Catalina turn businesslike concrete spaces into a tropical wonderland? “I think we homed in on how the Balinese design their homes,” she explains. “It’s a sensory experience with a total respect for space and the elements. The architecture of the building is by one of the best architects in the world, so we kept in line with that level of integrity and excellence inside the residence and focused on sight and touch. We ethically sourced one-of-a-kind pieces that were simply extraordinary, with natural textures and carved or woven by hand by the best artisans in the world. The furniture is bold and monumental yet warm and welcoming at the same time.”

Use Simple White Sectionals to Make Outdoor Sitting Areas Feel Calm

Neutral, oversized seating provides instant all-weather luxury — and cultivates a spa-like sense of calm — in this plush gathering spot. “We chose our Cubo sofas for the exterior space because we wanted to create a moment that was inviting, comfortable and clean,” Catalina says. "This piece is ideal for adding to that narrative because of the level of comfort it offers — the moment you sit on [it] you feel like you are in a cloud and an immediate sense of relaxation flows through you. Combine that feeling with the breeze that flows through the space and the endless picturesque views and there’s a total moment of tranquility, serenity and pause.”

Make a Bold Statement With an Oversized, Heirloom-Quality Dining Table

Catalina had a rough idea of how she would anchor this portion of the home, but the piece she ultimately deployed came her way through a stroke of serendipity. “When we were working on the initial design of the project, we always thought about including a long table in this space but the look and feel of it wasn’t yet determined,” she recalls. “Coincidentally (or not), an artisan that I have been working with for over 15 years called me to say she was finally going to sell a slab of wood that I had had my eye on for a very long time. In Indonesia slabs of wood are considered family heirlooms which they pass on from generation to generation and sell them only for a special reason — this was for her daughter’s wedding. I immediately knew this was going to be a statement piece and ideal for this project.”

Luxurious Hammock Encourages Guests to Engage With the Outdoors

“The views in this penthouse are incredible, but the design here allows people to become part of that picture through the senses — you can touch the sky, see the water, feel the breeze, swing on a hammock and hear the grass rustling, feel the sun on your skin as your sit on a bench,” Catalina says. “It is a holistic, spiritual and wholesome experience, and that is my favorite part of the design in this space.”

This Outdoor Furniture Was Lifted to the Penthouse With a Crane

Establishing an atmosphere of ease can require some heavy lifting: The penthouse’s swings, dining table and some of its larger coffee tables were all hauled up from street level by crane. The reconfigured residence itself now occupies what was once six interconnected buildings, and took shape after developers re-poured three rooftop slabs and created new support columns.

Large, Versatile Outdoor Pieces Encourage Guests to Linger and Connect

Though substantial pieces like this antique log bench are tricky to handle, they are what make this home so special. “For me, the crown jewel of the residence is the outdoor seating spaces,” Catalina says. “I think that these spaces promote a human exchange we’re all in need of, whether between a group of people or with our deeper selves. Whether people are engaging in thoughtful conversation while lying on our comfortable sofas or meditating on top of a coffee table that can double as a seat, the space promotes a profoundness and a moment that feeds the soul.”

Mix and Match Chairs and Benches for an Outdoor Dining Area

The pieces surrounding that massive table, in turn, are a magnificent mix. “We wanted to do something fun that still flowed well with the rest of the space, so I recreated what I’ve done in my home, which is to mix stools and benches for a more relaxed setting that plays on the eyes with loads of color, texture and shapes,” Catalina says. “Naturally, we added some of our Caracol chairs to mix it up.”

Plant Ornamental Grasses at the Perimeter of Your Outdoor Space to Evoke Windswept Dunes

The penthouse provides both bird’s-eye views of the ocean and the intimate feeling of being at the shore, thanks to clever landscaping. “The idea was to have grass all around to bring the outside elements of the ground-level into a higher floor,” Catalina says. “In this way, you don’t just appreciate the greenery, but you can watch its movement with the natural wind tunnel, you can feel the grass and shrubs through touch, and you can listen to their playful rustle against the breeze.”

Add Interest to a Minimalistic Sitting Room With an Architectural Pendant

Constance Guisset’s iconic copper Vertigo pendant creates movement in this cozy sitting room, both literally and figuratively: When the windows are open, it will spin and sway in the breeze. (After dark, it will also cast fantastic shadows on the ceiling.)

Emphasize Indoor-Outdoor Living by Carrying Interior Flooring Through to Exterior Spaces

Catalina’s client happens to be an expert on how her project came together. Allison Greenfield — a trained architect and partner at Lionheart Capital [the Miami-based investment firm that helmed the development] — calls the “Sky House” home. She explains that its striking "beachside boardwalk" look “needed to be versatile, as this is a very indoor-outdoor space — so we wanted a floor that would work in both situations.” The material of choice? “For the upper portion of the deck, we have teak wood floors that run inside and out.”

Accent a Coastal Coffee Table With Unfussy, Monochromatic Floral Arrangements

In a white-on-white sitting area like this one, a trio of art and photography books provides more than enough contrast with the serene tones Catalina chose for the area rug, sofas and draperies. A mismatched pair of vases that evoke sand-scoured beach glass hold simple, sophisticated bunches of white hydrangea and summery green Bells of Ireland.

Don’t Be Afraid to Place Pale Sofas in High-Traffic Areas

Catalina is no stranger to clients who are reluctant to open their hearts to white fabric, “especially when they love to host or have children — but once they actually use it and see how practical the maintenance of it is, they then only want to have white plush seating. The material of [these sofas] is designed in a way that it is resistant in indoor and outdoor environments, and can actually be washed and even withstand strong bleach-like products or stain removers for emergency situations."

Well-Chosen Textiles and Wood Draw Out the Raw Beauty of Concrete

Though an interior ceiling like this one might seem like a curious choice for a luxury property, it’s a natural fit for Catalina and her collaborators. “The presence of concrete and other natural materials in this residence echoes our objective of living with pieces that are as close to their purest form as possible,” she explains. “What CEU Studio and the artisans we work with have done is to showcase that purity and bring out beauty through hand-driven craftsmanship in raw materials like concrete, wood or linen pieces throughout the residence. The aesthetic in this space is raw and yet welcoming. I think it welcomes imperfection in raw materials.”

Skip Statement Lighting in Spaces That Prioritize Views

The flush-mount lighting and simple pendants in this space illuminate the room and stop short of competing with the spectacular Florida sunset. Even the floor lamp beside the sectional offers a gentle glow that doesn’t draw the eye away from the main event.

Dark Stone Backsplash and Counters Add Dimension to Creamy Kitchen Cabinets

The kitchen backsplash, counters and island feature slabs of Pietra d’Avola, a honed chocolate limestone that features whitish veining and varies from grayish-brown to near-black. “These countertops were used throughout the project,” Allison explains. “We love that they have movement and texture throughout the stone.” Upper and lower cabinets uninterrupted by hardware create graphic bands of contrast.

Style Dynamic Shelves by Integrating Barware With Books

Hardcover volumes share space with glassware and decanters on architectural shelving between the kitchen and the deck. This look feels creative rather than cluttered because of the uniformity of its components: the books are uniform in size and relatively neutral, and the goblets and decorative pottery interspersed with them share similar shapes.

Resist the Urge to Crowd Your Kitchen With Excessive Seating

This space could accommodate several more stools — but why should it? With entertaining spaces aplenty on the deck and in other interior areas —remember, this is a 9,000-square-foot penthouse — there’s no need to seat an army at the island. In smaller spaces, it’s still well worth your while to leave plenty of room between perches.

Streamline Appliances and Accessories in High-Traffic Areas

A pair of diminutive, professional-grade Gaggenau ovens tucked into the island offer discreet functionality in the kitchen. Sheer curtains between the prep area and bar and the low dining area outside don't visually break up the space. Teak planks create continuity between the spaces.

Go All In on Design Choices That Suit Your Lifestyle

Allison is so committed to enjoying her home’s outdoor spaces that there are no dining areas within its walls. There’s casual space at the kitchen island, sure, but those long, lovely tables and the low-slung seats that suit them are all on the other side of the glass doors.

Subtle Metallic Details Create Texture in a Marble-Tiled Powder Room

The lines between the Carrara marble tiles in this powder room are actually thin brass rods inserted around the stone: the pattern, known as Tratti, was created especially for Salvatori (a storied Italian company that specializes in marble and other natural stone). Replicating the look is an investment (as Tratti rings in at about $500 per square meter), but channeling its look is possible at different price points: asymmetrical arrangements can add visual interest to tiled feature walls of all kinds.

Make a Modern Statement (and Conceal an Unsightly Drain) With a Teak Shower Pan

The planks in this serene space are more than just a design statement: the durability and moisture resistance that make teak ideal for outdoor furniture and flooring also make it an excellent shower accessory. An on-trend (and comparatively inexpensive) insert like this one can beautify your bathroom for between 10 and 15 years.

Balance a Dazzling White Bedroom With a Dark Feature Wall

The charred European larch wood that wraps around the walk-in dressing area and the wall behind the bed helps to ground the ethereal space: paired with a textural area rug, it offers a tonal retreat from the panopticon of the penthouse.

Use Bedside Pendants in Lieu of Table Lamps for a Minimalistic Look

Catalina cultivated a streamlined feeling of lightness in the principal bedroom by hanging a pair of sculptural pendants inspired by Japanese rice paper lanterns. That airiness expands to great effect in the sinuous look of the Nest bed, a piece that seems organic and architectural all at once: “It is made out of rattan and woven by hand to create this sculptural form,” she says.

Replace Doors With Bookcases to Divide Rooms Without Interrupting Flow

Thanks to more-than-ample cabinets in the dressing area, there’s no need to sequester that space from the rest of the principal suite. An integrated shelf with a stylish mixture of objects and books creates a distinction between sleeping and storage spaces that preserves the penthouse’s open-concept layout.

Minimalistic Windows Create the Feel of a Bath Suite in the Sky

The plate glass window that (nominally) separates the principal bath from the roof deck is intended to give the suite the feel of an outdoor shower on the beach — but, as Allison explains, there’s more to it than that. “[T]he whole residence is meant to feel like it is suspended in the air — like you’re showering in the sky — which is why we named the residence Sky House,” she says.

Linear Tub, Shower, Tiles and Vanity Have Dramatic Effect

Natural variations in the luxurious stone installed throughout the bath suite take center stage, thanks to ultra-simple silhouettes that give their subtle patterns space to emerge. Allison is an unabashed fan of Salvatori’s designs with Italian marble: “Their aesthetic is impeccable,” she says.

A Streamlined Floating Vanity and Frameless Mirrors Function as Modern Art

The minimalist masters of the early 20th century would nod with approval at the spare-yet-luxurious wash stations in the principal bathroom. A trio of sculptural, low-maintenance Tillandsia xerographica (the “Queen of Air Plants,” a showy yet hardy variety that needs little care) adds texture between the sinks, and reflections of Miami highrises are all the accompaniment they need.

Resist the Temptation to Crowd a Large Patio With Unnecessary Pieces

Bearing in mind that real estate itself is the ultimate luxury in Miami, Catalina used just a few pieces to create functional spaces near the angular hot tub outside the principal bedroom. Primitive-looking chaises crafted with sculptural, organic wood slabs flank a smoked black stool doubling as an occasional table and form a lounging area, and a pale, round table and stools in the foreground offer a spot to enjoy a cup of coffee as the sun rises. Sure, you could populate this area with additional seating or surfaces, but the sky’s-the-limit feel of unbounded space it offers right now is priceless.

Hardscape With Natural Materials Like Stone and Fossilized Coral

Find the perfect neutral base hue for your outdoor space by skipping over artificial hues and heading straight for Mother Nature’s palette. “For the lower portion of the space we chose a stone called shell reef that was actually quarried from fossilized reefs,” Allison explains. “It has the color of the beach of the Bahamas — not too white and not too beige. The hot tub it frames was a suggestion from longtime collaborators: “Our good friends at Salvatori thought this would be a beautiful sculptural object to look at and not just bathe in,” she says.

Create Visual Contrast in White Rooms With Dark (Not Black!) Wood

The handsome antique, exotic wood framing this large leaning mirror stands out against this hallway’s white paint and contrasts beautifully with the warmer pieces in the room beyond it. Its deep, smoky tone recalls a charred piece of driftwood and suits the home’s casual, coastal atmosphere, whereas a solid black frame in the same spot could feel a bit artificial and stark. “The framed artwork we commissioned from a Philippines artist who uses only metal to paint and uses different oxidization [techniques] to give [the piece] the different colors,” Catalina says.

Customize a Pair of Beds With a Single, Oversized Upholstered Headboard

Catalina emphasized this room’s low profile by commissioning a special version of one of CEU Studio’s standard pieces: a broad expanse of button-tufted natural linen carries all the way across the wall and frames both beds. A lighter-than-air fabrication complements the natural rattan desk chair and adds additional visual interest: “The sculpture on the wall is made out of paper with different folds and curves to give it that look,” she says.

Low, Cushioned Outdoor Seating Combines Eastern Simplicity With Western Comfort

This handmade trestle table owes its dramatic tone to a Japanese technique called shou sugi ban, a process that involves charring, cleaning and finishing wood with oil to achieve a handsome, weatherproof effect. The dining area’s low profile is borrowed from abroad as well: “We were inspired here by Japanese tables where you sit on the ground and you feel closer to nature, but to make it more comfortable we added in these low chairs,” Catalina says. The chairs’ curvaceous, handwoven natural rattan softens the strong lines of the table’s antique wood.

A Well-Designed Space Creates Connections Between Guests and Nature

In the home’s outdoor spaces, “we wanted to create a feeling of relaxation and more than that, a connection with nature,” Catalina explains. The heirlooms-to-be she chose for areas like this one are more than just handsome furniture. “We think there is tangible energy in that awareness and in the pieces that were handcrafted by artisans practicing century-old techniques. If you touch the table, you can feel that — the strokes, the patience, the history. It’s a story-telling moment, a connection to the elements and the energy around us, and it’s a conversation piece that’ll instantly connect and ground residents and guests.”

Tour a Posh Miami Beach Penthouse That Feels Like a Beachside Bungalow

Related To:

Shop This Look