It’s a knockout worthy of a boxing superstar. In the front, two stories of illuminated marble slab greets visitors. In the rear, walls of glass provide unobstructed views of the Intracoastal Waterway.
When Nadia Di Donato of NDDESIGN found the rare property on one of Miami Beach’s most exclusive streets, she immediately had a vision. Most of the neighbouring houses were oversized and traditional in style, but Di Donato wanted to build something different. Inspired by time spent in Los Angeles, she designed a modern house with clean lines, open spaces and lots of glass. “I wanted it to be more of a boutique-style smart home that was very original in all its details,” she says. The finished house attracted plenty of attention, with world champion Floyd Mayweather beating the competition to the punch with a $7.7 million USD offer.
The foyer is a study in contrasts. The pristine white look of the space is juxtaposed with one raw concrete wall. The curves of a blown-glass chandelier by Dale Chihuly stand out against the home’s clean lines. The kitchen features cabinets by a Toronto-based kitchen and cabinet company—the lowers are done in natural walnut and contrast beautifully with white lacquer uppers. The sink is a modern take on a farmhouse basin that fades seamlessly into the countertop. White glass floors complete the look.
Upstairs, four bedrooms feature solid hardwood and floor-to-ceiling glass walls. “Light, palm trees, water, I wanted it to be one and the same,” says Di Donato. The showers also have glass walls, taking advantage of the home’s natural privacy and the Florida sun.
Miami Beach is famous for outdoor living, and this home offers a choice of venues. A full rooftop patio is the perfect spot to sit and watch the Intracoastal, while down below an infinity pool seems to flow directly into the water. “I picked the exact position on the lot,” says Di Donato. “It was an optical illusion that I really wanted to capture.” That’s the kind of attention to detail that makes a house stand out. And makes it worthy of a champion.
Photography by Carlos Arocha and Jose Madera