I’ve enjoyed sharing these weekly doses of design with you, but I’m stepping away for a while. Before I go, a few final gems.

Inside, changes in floor height organize the open plan without relying on full-height walls. Large-format stone continues across the floor, steps, and raised platforms, making these level changes read as a single continuous surface. Low plywood shelving divides space without blocking sightlines, while the exposed concrete ceiling keeps the overhead plane deliberately raw. Against these horizontal elements, the thin timber-and-cane chair feels almost weightless, emphasizing just how little furniture is needed to define the room.

The stair is treated less like a conventional passage and more like a freestanding object threaded through the house. Its curved white balustrade forms one continuous ribbon, turning upward beneath the exposed concrete ceiling and contrasting with the straight grain of the pale timber wall panels surrounding it.

A slender tubular handrail traces the curve with almost no visual interruption, making the stair appear unusually light for its scale. Seen through the narrow opening between cabinetry, it becomes a carefully framed moment that reveals the house gradually rather than all at once.

The stair is treated less like a conventional passage and more like a freestanding object threaded through the house. Its curved white balustrade forms one continuous ribbon, turning upward beneath the exposed concrete ceiling and contrasting with the straight grain of the pale timber wall panels surrounding it. A slender tubular handrail traces the curve with almost no visual interruption, making the stair appear unusually light for its scale. Seen through the narrow opening between cabinetry, it becomes a carefully framed moment that reveals the house gradually rather than all at once.

The kitchen pairs white veined marble countertops with dark oak cabinetry, black steel windows, plaster walls, and a heavy timber ceiling beam. The oversized marble apron-front sink makes the stone feel structural, not simply decorative, while iron sconces and hardware reinforce the darker architectural details. A black island introduces another layer of contrast without competing with the natural materials. Together, the finishes give the kitchen a European character that feels aged, functional, and highly considered.

This small workspace brings together a woven wood chair, a narrow hammered-metal table, reclaimed stone flooring, and a large abstract painting. The chair’s thick turned legs and woven seat give it a handcrafted, almost folk-like quality, while the table is noticeably lighter and more linear. The uneven stone floor adds visible age and texture beneath the otherwise simple arrangement.

The living room uses low, substantial furniture to soften the strong architecture established by black steel windows, white plaster walls, and the exposed dark timber beam. A tailored brown sofa sits opposite rounded white lounge chairs, creating contrast through both color and silhouette. At the center, the large dark-framed coffee table gives the seating arrangement structure, while the tall indoor tree adds height and breaks up the room’s straight architectural lines. The result is restrained, but the differences in shape, texture, and material keep the room from feeling minimal or flat.

The client envisioned a restorative wellness studio rooted in Haitian Revival and shaped by South Florida’s sun-washed ease. Warm plaster, sculptural arches, dark woods, woven textures and lush greenery create a calming foundation, while rhythmic pattern, expressive artwork and saturated color reflect the vitality of Haitian culture. The result is a refined, culturally grounded environment for movement, mindfulness and renewal.

Perhaps I’ll see you soon, my friends. Until then, take care of yourselves.

Warmly,
/shane