English text by Angela Feng
Photography by Claudio Manzoni
Situated among the sprawling turquoise waves of the Atlantic Ocean are the Venetian Islands, a chain of six man-made islands that are a part of Miami Beach, Florida. Known for beautifully landscaped waterfront homes as well as spectacular views of the Miami skyline, the Venetian Islands are the epitome of luxury.
Residents of this elegant oasis can easily access the trendy shops and exciting nightlife of Downtown Miami via the Venetian Causeway. Thus, people from all around the globe have been attracted to this tropical paradise that offers the best of both worlds—a relaxing island lifestyle as well as the bustle of city life. As a result, the Venetian Islands contain some of the most sought-after properties in all of South Florida.
Exclusive Island Home
Among the Venetians’ many magnificent homes is this 7,000-square-foot residence located on the exclusive Di Lido Island. It was designed by Alexandra Mangimelli of STRANG Design, a Miami-based architecture firm. The home combines notions of modernism and mid-century ideals to create a space that feels sleek yet homey. The spacious abode contains five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a private dock, three-car garage, and a heated pool.
With such beautiful surroundings, it’s no surprise that the designers chose to go for an open floor plan that blurred the lines between indoors and outdoors. Throughout the entire house, floor-to-ceiling windows offer an abundance of natural light and stunning vistas of the ocean. “We believe that encouraging a connection to the outside lends to a happier and healthier home,” Mangimelli said in an email interview. With Miami Bay on one side and dramatic architectural elements on the other, the openness and lack of boundaries give the home a larger-than-life quality.
The house is arranged so that upon entry, one immediately steps into a great room that contains the living room, an open lounge, the dining room, and the kitchen. With an area so vast and multi-purposeful, it was important for the designers to differentiate the spaces so as to avoid the blending into one seamless mass. This was achieved through meticulously chosen ceiling details, furniture, and material transitions. In the lounge, a wood ceiling was designed to give the space a warm and cozy ambiance. A recessed lighting cove around the living room adds drama and scale, while floor-to-ceiling sliding doors offer picturesque views of the terrace and pool.
While most of the main living space uses light-colored furniture, the kitchen stands out with its matte black cabinetry and honed Dekton counters from Binova. “The dramatic dark kitchen was a bold decision,” Mangimelli explained. However, upon putting the palette together, the designers were thrilled by how it highlighted the home’s masculine undertones.
Though the house contains many dramatic, modern features—such as a striking underwater Swarovski crystal chandelier—more traditional elements were included to add warmth. The exposed concrete, crisp details, and minimal trimmings are balanced out by warm wood accents that give the home a cozy, welcoming feel.
Living in Tranquility
When asked about her personal favorite room, Mangimelli explained that it’s the bathroom of the female resident. “I love ‘Her Bathroom’—the materials are feminine but strong,” she said. The room’s elegant design makes it the ultimate tranquil sanctuary. A freestanding bathtub sits in front of the floor-to-ceiling sliding doors, allowing one to relax while enjoying the stunning view of the ocean and Miami skyline. All the bathrooms are outfitted in custom marble and unlacquered brass Vola fixtures.
Throughout the process of designing the exteriors, the STRANG team and homeowners envisioned delightful Sunday evenings out on the terrace by the pool and barbecue. According to Mangimelli, this has become one of the residents’ favorite parts of the house. With four different seating areas, it is the perfect spot for entertaining. Guests can enjoy different activities, whether it’s hanging out by the bar, lounging, dining, or sunbathing on a chaise.
This stunning waterfront abode resulted from the diligent collaboration between STRANG’s architectural and interior design teams. Through their careful coordination, they’ve created a contemporary Miami Beach villa that embodies the idea of luxury island living.
