Air Date: Friday, June 20, 2003
Serene Key Biscayne Home
We've all heard the term bringing the outside in. But one South Florida designer is really taking that phrase to another level.
(WSVN) -- Just walking through the door puts you in a relaxed frame of mind.... this Key Biscayne home is overflowing with serenity and tranquility...
Catalina Echavarria
from Alchymia Design says, "You know how you're in the beach or in a pasture and all of a sudden you're so in tune with nature and just the sheer beauty you're in awe and you feel good well I feel you can bring that into your home and that way you can live life at a different level.."
Interior Designer Catalina Echavarria achieved it in this house by keeping everything as simple as possible.
The 66-hundred square foot home is sophisticated yet subtle.
The master bedroom has incredible views of the ocean.
As does the master bathroom.
Which includes a dressing room with custom chestnut wood cabinets.
Catalina says, "I think it's the art of placement how you place things and they look harmonious and also that they are simple that you're not trying to be ostentatious that it's about objects that mean something to you.."
In this case the Colombian born designer used materials and traditions from Central and South America for the home.
Take the sofas in the living room -- for example -- they're covered in fabric hand woven by women in Colombia.
In this sitting room the base for this glass table is made from pieces of polished lava from a volcano in Ecuador.
Passion fruit and pineapple fibers were used for this chaise lounge.
And banana fibers weaved with silk are the materials of choice for the area rugs throughout the house -- all of the items made by South American craftsmen and women taking months to complete.
Catalina says, "All these methods are centuries old and it's something that as we don't work at it as South Americans they're going to just disappear..."
The outside of this 3 level house is just as stunning as the inside...
To say the view is incredible is an understatement..
And Carolina added an overhang on the second level so when you enter the living room through the front door you feel even closer to the water.
"I think when you come in you're...oooh...connected to the water you feel good.."
The overhang creates a waterfall that empties into the pool.
"Can this house get any better I mean look at this..."
Elements of nature add warmth and character to this stunning Luxury Living home, but it's the designers knack for simplicity that really makes the difference...
The home is for sale for 6.7 million dollars...
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: bnerey@wsvn.com
Designer
Catalina Echavarria
alchymiadesign@aol.com
305-365-5480
Realtor
Eshter Percal
305-674-4022
percal.e@ewm.com
www.estherpercal.com
