Designing a Miami 1970s Coastal Postmodern Condo
When designing for a coastal city like Miami, you have to consider more than just style—you have to think about how the light hits, how the heat lingers, and how the energy of the city flows through a space. This project reflects my love for Miami’s coastal style and Italian postmodernism. For this small Miami condo, the palette, materials, and layout were all shaped by that reality: intense sun, limited square footage, and a need for levity. The result is a space that feels both grounded in its environment and translates beyond Miami because its focus on light, scale, and material addresses universal design challenges.
We kept the bones simple—white stucco walls and terra cotta tile floors, both classic Miami 1970s elements. The living room was tight, so we leaned into scale and lightness. A Jack Lenor Larsen petite sofa in beige, white, and black grid graphic upholstery anchored the seating, paired with a smoked glass lucite coffee table that kept the center open and reflective. A 1970s beveled mirrored panel behind the sofa amplified the daylight, nodding to Miami’s Art Deco roots without feeling literal. Overhead, a white MCM globe swag light floated above the coffee table—using ceiling space instead of crowding the floor.
Storage was an issue, especially with a long narrow hallway leading into the dining area. Instead of trying to force more furniture, we used a two-piece Milo Baughman chrome étagère that spanned nearly the entire wall—functioning as both storage and display. This let us keep the kitchen clear of clutter while giving personality to a tight transition space.
Mirrors play a key role throughout the space, amplifying light. A large octagonal mirror in the dining area worked double-duty, reflecting the condo’s only real natural light source: a kitchen window. A whitewashed pencil reed nightstand was repurposed as an entryway table as its scale and texture blended perfectly, while adding additional storage. In tight corners, postmodern burled wood and mirrored pedestals function as lamp tables and plant stands. Art was kept minimal to maintain openness—one notable piece is a 1970s charcoal abstract watercolor framed in sage green and chrome, its shape and tone complementing a nearby 1970s brass rectangular mirror.
The color story is grounded in white, terracotta, chrome, sage, smoky amber, reflective materials, and natural wood tones. Paired with plants, it feels airy but rooted—coastal without clichés. No blackout curtains or heavy upholstery—instead, materials that breathe, reflect, and expand a room. Even if you’re not designing in a coastal city, this approach translates: work with light, scale, and reflective surfaces, add big healthy tropical plants, and you can create your own Miami oasis wherever you live.