Mood Over Miami

When North Miami Beach homeowners opted to buy the bungalow across the street from their primary residence, it was to create “spillover space” for kids and guests. It would have room for visiting family and friends, bunk beds, game tables, musical instruments, and a home gym. They also adopted a more playful and audacious approach to the interior design.

“We knew we could fully turn up the dial,” says Monica Santayana, one half of the husband-and-wife team behind MONIOMI Design, an award-winning interior design firm housed in the Little River neighborhood of Miami. “Our clients told us we could go all the way in terms of color. So we went in with the goal of saturating each room in a different hue.”

“When we designed their main home, they wanted it to feel clean and serene, with a more conservative approach to color,” adds Ronald Alvarez, Santayana’s husband and design partner. “So I knew we would really enjoy this bungalow project.”

Taking cues from the vibrant coastal neighborhood, the team chose the most intense tones within a beach-inspired palette. “Essentially, each of the rooms reflects Miami Beach: the turquoise blues of the ocean, the deep rosy pinks and mustard yellows of the sunrise and sunset,” says Santayana, “but those colors are also supported by texture and detail.”

These dynamic elements are reflective of the designers’ backgrounds. Santayana is a native Miamian who grew up surrounded by artistry. “My grandmother was a seamstress, and my father's family are jewelry designers,” she says. “So, I think that's where a lot of my inspiration and direction come from. I always wanted to embrace the vibrancy and individuality of Miami in some way but told from a very colorful approach.”

Santayana met Alvarez, who is originally from Venezuela, when they were both studying architecture at Florida International University. “We started sharing projects, and we were each the first person the other felt they could trust,” says Alvarez.

While working separately after graduation (Santayana at a large architecture firm and Alvarez in marketing), they found themselves partnering on decoration projects. “We launched MONIOMI in 2010,” says Santayana. “We both design and work completely in tandem.”

PHOTO BY JEANNE CANTO
The “Armadillo Low Table,” by Lukas Wegwerth in collaboration with Corinna Dehn, was made from oiled pine, with individually pigmented wooden shingles in larch and poplar.

For this bungalow project, the MONIOMI team installed custom millwork and carpentry, as well as furniture designed in-house. “The ottomans in the primary bedroom are from MONIOMI’s own line, and we had embroidered fabric customized for the pool table,” says Santayana.

In addition, they are skilled at discovering intriguing decor from other local makers. “Miami is, in itself, a very global city,” says Alvarez. “So, we look to our own area for great inspiration. We always try to foster relationships with vendors and showrooms here in Miami to give our clients options for unique pieces that make a statement in the home.”

The team also attends internationally renowned design expos, such as Maison & Objet in Paris, France, and Alcova (which takes place in Milan, Italy, as well as at other satellite locations), and regularly sources from global artisans.

Highlighted in one of the guest rooms are items from London’s Gallery FUMI, including Jeremy Anderson’s “Sky” floor lamp, first launched at the 2023 Design Miami. Hand-crafted from glazed stoneware, the design is a good representation of Anderson’s process, which he describes as “a conduit to tap into childlike play.”

PHOTO BY JEANNE CANTO
Santayana likes to mix patterns unexpectedly, sometimes placing a bold piece in an otherwise quiet room, such as this structural armoire with geometric details.

“The colorful ceramic seashells on the kitchen wall are from a company called Shellegence,” says Santayana. “They are one-of-a-kind pieces hand-crafted and hand-painted in South Africa by artist Lucie De Moyencourt. We carry them in our showroom here in Miami and are one of only two vendors in North America that carry them.”

The shells enhance and invigorate the sleek, soft greenish-blue kitchen, which is outfitted with a suite of Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove appliances, including a Wolf 48” Dual Fuel Range with Infrared Charbroiler and Griddle, a Pro Hood Liner, 30” Designer Wine Storage, and 30” Designer Series Over-and-Under Refrigerator/Freezer. “The clients knew they wanted Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove,” says Alvarez. “And we said, no question, they are the best on the market.”

Choosing products that would add to the ease and efficiency of the home was top of mind. “Because it's a house that's being used for kids and for guests or maybe a separate party, the space had to be versatile,” adds Alvarez. From a guest making coffee in the morning to preparing snacks for the kids or hosting a get-together, the kitchen had to be both functional and beautiful. “They wanted the space to feel essentially like a high-end amenity for them and their friends.”

“Every room was intentionally designed to feel layered, personal, and mood-driven,” adds Santayana. “It’s a home that celebrates ease, inspiration, and the essence of living in Miami Beach.”

PHOTO BY JEANNE CANTO