Casa 545

Here’s a refined version with improved grammar:

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During our search, we discovered this very unique 1947 home, and I was immediately drawn to it because of its distinctive character.

In this part of town, you typically find standard lots—5,000 to 7,000 square feet—with a 1,500 square foot home positioned near the front, usually featuring a one-car garage, two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a small backyard.

However, this property stood out with its 10,000 square foot lot and 3,500 square foot house located all the way at the back, which is highly unusual. Entering through the expansive yard created a dramatic sense of arrival, almost like having an oversized front yard or pool area—something quite unique. As soon as you walk in, you get that “wow” feeling… you immediately sense that there’s something different about this place.

Like many homes in Miami, this one underwent a series of renovations and additions in the 1970s and 1980s. The original 1,500 square foot house expanded to 2,500 square feet with the addition of a new wing and carport, and finally reached 3,500 square feet with the addition of a second level—a bit of a Frankenstein.

It had the square footage we needed, and the structure was in great condition, but the layout was terrible, and the finishes were completely outdated.

This presented a lot of opportunities for quick improvement.

The original house had too many walls, creating isolated spaces that were dark and poorly laid out. The design itself was outdated.

The first thing we did was completely demolish the interior, exposing the entire structure—bearing walls, columns, beams, everything. We gutted the place down to its bones.

To remove most of the walls downstairs and connect all the social spaces, we had to heavily reinforce the structure. Two large supporting walls were removed, along with a column that originally sat in the middle of the living room. As part of the reinforcement, we enlarged most of the windows, bringing more light into the house and enhancing views of the surrounding greenery.

We designed an open-concept kitchen with modern European cabinets and an extra-large entertainer’s island, combining wood and super-matt solid taupe. The industrial gas range by Fisher & Paykel is a standout feature, along with the porcelain-clad hood and wood shelves flanking it. We maximized storage and included fully paneled appliances, also by Fisher & Paykel.

The kitchen seamlessly integrates with the dining and living rooms, where all the walls are adorned with custom-built millwork and wallpaper, carefully designed in-house. A frameless door offers privacy for the new powder room, which is nothing short of elegant and modern, combining wood and charcoal natural stone.

To preserve the stairs, we refinished the concrete structure with a cement micro-topping that adds a handcrafted character. We opened up the previously tunnel-like stairs and added a large window to bring natural light into the stairwell.

The second floor houses the main bedrooms, including two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and, at the end of the hallway, the master suite. The master suite boasts a spacious master bathroom, fully tiled with shell reef natural stone. Features include a double-sink vanity, a massive couple’s shower, a bathtub, and a glass-enclosed toilet room.

On the exterior, we added numerous new features, including a brand new standing seam metal roof, all new hurricane-proof impact windows, and vertical wood accent walls.

The pool was completely renovated, maintaining its original kidney shape but with all new materials and equipment.

The former carport was converted into a covered seating area with a new summer kitchen, wood-clad ceilings, and a stylish IPE wood slat screen to block some of the view from the front entrance, creating a natural barrier with the landscape and wood.