A Miami masterclass in indoor-outdoor living by Stephanie Barba Mendoza

The idea of indoor-outdoor living is somewhat alien to the English lifestyle, where we may well enjoy a leisurely lunch on the patio on one of the three or four hot days of the year, but it is rare to give our exterior space the same status as our interiors. In Miami, however, where the sun shines, the sky is blue, and the greenery unfailingly lush, an interior designer has to take account of both, as Stephanie Barba Mendoza found when she took on this new house for her young clients.

The house is a new-build in mid-century style, set in the middle of Coconut Grove, an historic neighbourhood on Miami's seafront. Leafy and sophisticated, the area has the unique privilege of being home to dozens of peacocks who roam the streets freely. The couple had commissioned the house from a well-known architect, and when they moved in, it was, as Stephanie explains, a “white shell.” The project was a clean slate in more ways than one, as the couple were happy to get rid of all their former furniture, which was quite basic, and start from scratch.

Stephanie's mission was twofold: to give the house a sense of comfort and welcome, and to design a scheme which would satisfy both the husband's modern aesthetic and the wife's more classical leanings. “Fusing the two was an interesting challenge," admits Stephanie, but since it was crucial to warm up the “sharp and linear” architecture of the building anyway, she decided to lean into the wife's more European taste to accomplish that. One of the most noticeable elements of the open plan living area is the set of vast Austrian blinds that adorns the floor to ceiling windows. “I wanted to bring intimacy and warmth into the room,” says Stephanie, “and the blinds on those big glass panes help to break things up.” As well as softening the lines of the room, they also add a welcome dose of glamour and drama, as do the spectacular Murano chandeliers in the sitting and dining room. 

The decoration of the rest of the space has a distinctly holiday feel. The pale blue colour of the walls manages to be both warm and cool at the same time. “That kind of blue looks great with the light in Miami,” says Stephanie. “It’s an obvious choice in that it’s the colour of the sea and sky and it reflects the pool outside. We wanted a bright colour, but at the same time it’s their living room, so it couldn't be too strong.” The weather and atmosphere of Miami and its beachside location dictate many aspects of the decoration, down to the fabrics used. “I use more linens and cottons and lighter weight fabrics; you’re wearing shorts and skirts and dresses; you have to think about your skin touching the sofa.” While the sun and sand are never far from one's mind here – red and white striped upholstery on the two slipper chairs has cheerful associations with beach umbrellas, for example – there is plenty of sophistication in the sweeping curve of the sofa and the generous expanse of ottoman between.

Viewed from the generous windows windows, the outdoor space, with its pool and various seating areas, is just as much part of the house as the interior. The lush swathes of greenery form a backdrop to the view outside, a wall, as it were, for the exterior living room. “We wanted plenty of height and drama with the planting, and a real tropical feel,” says Stephanie, who helped with the design of the garden. She kept Slim Aarons' iconic photos of 1950s California in mind for the decoration of the outdoors, filling it with wicker and rattan furniture in the manner of Gabriella Crespi and pretty striped fabrics. There are separate areas for dining, for sunbathing and for lounging, which create the sense of a series of different rooms. From the perspective of a English summer, what could be more alluring?