Chicago couple moves to Coral Gables

When a couple from Chicago was ready to relocate, they focused their search on Cocoplum, a Coral Gables neighborhood known for tree-lined streets and a sense of privacy. They found a 6,850-square-foot property with eight bedrooms and seven and a half baths. “The natural surroundings offered a welcome change from city life and were a key factor in their decision to settle here,” says interior designer Constanza Collarte of Collarte Interiors.

The housing market in Miami offers limited inventory.

The homeowner was initially drawn to the residence’s layout, though the interiors leaned contemporary and felt cold for their personal taste.

Warming the Modern Space

A key priority was to adopt the Florida lifestyle, which meant strengthening the connection between the indoors and the lush environment outside. Their goal was to make the space feel less like a showroom and more like a home. The collaboration between the designer and homeowner was thoughtful and highly engaged, with the clients adopting the design vision with a clear sense of trust and decisiveness. Constanza recalls that their shared focus was on bringing warmth and character into the space through elements like tadelakt plaster, large-scale area rugs, and richly textured fabrics, which would ultimately create a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

Constanza drew inspiration from the verdant greens just outside the windows, letting the lush setting inform the home’s palette and guide the overall mood of the interiors. This approach translated into a thoughtful use of neutrals—warm, subtle tones that provided a quiet backdrop for richer, more organic layers to emerge. The homeowners’ love of plants and florals also inspired Constanza to incorporate sculptural planters, jardinieres, and botanical motifs throughout, adding organic texture, softness, and a sense of life to the interiors. The incorporation of natural elements, such as plants and botanical motifs, helped to blur the line between indoors and outdoors, creating a sense of continuity between the two spaces.

Thoughtfully designed landscaping wraps around the home, creating a private garden oasis with a pool and barbecue area designed for seamless outdoor living and family gatherings. The outdoor space was designed to be an extension of the indoor living area, with the goal of creating a cohesive and harmonious environment. For both art and furnishings, Constanza selected large-scale pieces with presence, including heavily textured tables and casegoods that add depth and tactile richness to each room. The use of layered window treatments, which combine curtains and shades, helped to soften some of the home’s colder, more architectural elements, adding warmth, texture, and softness to the space.

The client also had a strong appreciation for character and history, which led Constanza to integrate vintage pieces from various styles and eras. This curated mix brought soul to the home and allowed the modern architecture to feel more storied and timeless. The combination of modern and vintage elements helped to strike a balance between the clean lines of contemporary design and the warmth and authenticity of the past. The home came together over the course of eighteen months, with the final layers emerging gradually over time. Constanza approached the interiors much like a collection, carefully layering in accessories, planters, textiles, tapestries, and fabrics as she found pieces that felt right for the home. By the end, the clients loved that the house felt warm, personal, and lived-in, a true reflection of their personalities and style.

The process of layering and curating the space was a deliberate and thoughtful one, with Constanza and the homeowners working together to create a cohesive and harmonious environment. The result was a home that felt truly unique and reflective of the clients’ personal style, with each room telling a story through the careful selection of furnishings, art, and accessories. The use of natural materials, such as stone and wood, added depth and warmth to the space, while the incorporation of textured fabrics and rugs helped to create a sense of comfort and relaxation. Ultimately, the home became a reflection of the clients’ love of nature, their appreciation for character and history, and their desire to create a warm and inviting space that felt truly like home.