These Modern Miami Home Design Ideas Are Extra Hot

Married couple, and HGTV's 'dueling designers' Eilyn and Ray Jimenez, have a novel take on the home improvement game. As seen in their series Divided by Design, they stray from the familiar scenario of a duo working in tandem on home renovations. Instead, these HGTV co-hosts take a distinctly competitive approach. Both are accomplished interior designers, and they run separate high-end design firms in the tough Miami market. What's more, it's not unusual for them to find themselves bidding for the same project. But this couple thrives on the competition. "Actually, it fuels us to be better," says Eilyn. So bring on the projects, and may the best design win. But no matter whether it's Eilyn or Ray who lands the job, with designs like these, the client is always the winner.

For this project in the Miami's Coral Gables community, Eilyn leaned into a bright, neutral palette, an open feel and lots of sunlight. A wall formerly separating the dining room from the kitchen has been removed to create a single unified space. In the formerly dark and closed-off dining room, new glass-paned French doors and a large arched window flood the space with natural light.

Replacing the wall that formerly separated the kitchen and dining room, a new bar peninsula with marble countertop helps to visually unify the two spaces. Suspended glass shelving mounted above the bar is the perfect place to display decorative decanters and glassware.

The open design of the suspended shelving doesn't impede the view between kitchen and dining room. Newly installed French doors enhance both the utilization and the view of the backyard.

Eilyn opted for heavily veined marble for the kitchen countertops and backsplash, creating eye-pleasing interplay between the luxurious stone and natural wood used for the cabinetry. It's an upgrade from standard quartz, but she felt the added expense was worth it for the visual impact.

This bright-and-airy breakfast nook provides additional and informal dining space while further taking advantage of the outdoor views of the backyard.

For this Coral Gables project, the client requested a spacious walk-in pantry. Eilyn was able to deliver on that wish, and then some. The pantry features floor-to-ceiling built-in shelving concealed behind wood pocket-style doors. It's a standout feature in the new kitchen, where "concealment" seems to be a theme. A new dishwasher and a wine fridge both have wooden front-panels, painted to match the finish of the lower cabinets. Now the functional appliances blend seamlessly with the new cabinetry.

The showpiece in the renovated primary bath is a massive glass-enclosed walk-in shower with Moroccan tile, replacing a former shower-tub combo. A separate freestanding tub brings modern appeal to the space.

Other highlights in the main bath include twin vanities topped and surrounded with luxurious veined marble as seen in the kitchen. Dual sinks are integrated into the continuous marble surface and feature polished chrome fixtures. "It's a bit of a premium," says Eilyn, "but it makes such a difference."

Prior to the renovation, the bathroom had an awkward, angled layout. Now the dual vanity, with its clean straight lines, spans the space. Black accent pieces, accessories and shower-trim coordinate visually, complementing the backdrop of the marble surround and light-stained wood cabinetry.

For this kitchen renovation, Ray leaned fully into an industrial, modern and minimalist look, pairing stainless-steel with deep gray stone surfaces. Prior to the renovation, this was a cramped and dated galley kitchen with garish floral-print wallpaper, white floor tile for the countertops, contractor-grade cabinets and outdated appliances. Ray completely re-imagined the space, giving it a rich and sophisticated vibe.

The beautifully sleek and inviting kitchen incorporates a palette of dark and neutral tones paired with multiple prep surfaces, rubbed bronze fixtures and a generous amount of storage.

The kitchen area includes this informal dining space. A green marble table paired with modern styled dining chairs in chrome and black leather offer an edgy elegance.

A secondary seating area adjacent to the kitchen features midcentury style accent chairs and a distinctively modern table lamp. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors open onto a lush, green backyard.

1970s era wall-to-wall carpeting has been replaced with large-format porcelain floors. The natural light, outdoor view and comfortable seating in this bonus space combine to make an ideal spot for relaxing with a good book.

Prior to the renovation, this sunroom was an underutilized space with dated white tile floors, exposed wood ceiling and old-school louvered jalousie windows. The new space replaces the dated windows with three new single-pane French doors. The wood ceiling and exposed beams received a refresh with a richer, darker wood stain.

The color palette Ray chose for this living area is subtle an subdued, dominated by neutrals and relaxing shades of gray. The space is now divided into two separate but contiguous areas using creative placement of furniture and area rugs.

"It's fun, and very monochromatic," Ray said of the sunroom and living space following the renovation. "These shades of gray, the blacks, the taupes [help create] a semi-rustic but modern and minimalistic environment."

Ray highlighted another gathering area in the sunroom with a modern upholstered sofa, a statement floor lamp with drum shade and pair of accent chairs in a bold blue-and-white geometric print. The walls are covered in textured, split-face limestone in natural gray. It's a key addition that helps provide the space with Ray's signature aesthetic — modern, industrial, warm and inviting.