182 // BESPOKE ON SPEC
A British developer and a Florida luxury home builder blend European flair with tropical modern design.
BRITISH DEVELOPER BRETT PALOS AND FLORIDA
LUXURY HOMEBUILDER BART REINES TEAM UP
TO BLEND EUROPEAN FLAIR WITH TROPICAL
MODERN DESIGN IN AN ULTRA-SOPHISTICATED
WATERFRONT HOME.
Details abound at the 12,000square-foot, $25.5 million, seven-bedroom, eight-full- and two-half-bath bayfront mansion Bart Reines and Brett Palos recently completed on Miami Beach’s stylish North Bay Road. Cascading waterfalls flank the entrance, glass walls slide open, and exotic stones and rare woods are seamlessly layered. A dock accommodates a 90foot yacht. Ocean Drive takes an exclusive peek:
How did this project come about? Bart Reines: I like to use the word collaboration between Kobi Karp (the architect), Brett, and the interior design team Argent. We bring out the best in each other. Where does your inspiration come from? Brett Palos: We generally take the concept, interior designs, and layouts from the historically European experience. We then add our vibe and feeling and make [the designs] stand out [so it’s not] another white-box experience. There is also a bit of Asian in the vibe, like an Aman resort. What was most important when designing and building this luxury spec home? BP: We are creating an environment that will suit the buyer. We are seeing more Americans moving to Miami. Not everyone wants to live in a tower, especially the kind of
individuals who like their space and having their own pool. They have their own staffs and don’t need the services that a condo provides. BR: When we talk about design, what we are trying to bring to this world-class home is a bespoke nature. Everything is purposely built; you are looking at unique details designed just for this home, unique color schemes that you don’t typically find in Miami, exotic materials, exotic stones, rare woods, bronze inlays, shagreen, a lot of parchment, and blackened steel. Does green technology play a role in the design? BR: I pride myself in having a very smart home. We use 99 percent LED lighting; the glass has special Uv-limiting properties. We use the highestefficiency mechanical units and appliances to lower our energy footprint. What are some of the home’s fun features? BR: You can seat 15 people at the breakfast bar. All the televisions are recessed or extend out from under the bed. A freshwater koi pond abuts the living room and kitchen. We have a spectacular midlevel terrace and rooftop terrace, [and there’s also] a flush level pool with an integrated spa with a glass window. It’s about indoor and outdoor living and multiple living spaces outside the home. It is not just the backyard and the front yard—it is the morning garden; it is the sunset cocktail area, the nighttime fire-pit experience. EWM Realty, 419 Arthur Godfrey Road, Miami Beach, 305-6744022; 6466northbayroad.com