Centerline Architects | Sawitz Residence

Say ran one of Miami’s most successful and famous South Beach restaurants for over 40 years. His goal for his house: World class kitchen, intimate scale, open feeling for comfortable entertaining with food preparation, integral to the dinner experience. Norma’s goal for her house: Updated modern finishes with a sculptural feeling of forms and the creation of an open plan with clearly defined spaces.

The existing home was like a dumb bell with an entry/mudroom in the middle with living areas on one side and the master suite and sitting room on the other. The kitchen design and new entry brought the divided house together. Soaring spaces captured light from above to articulate three distinct sculptural pieces; the stairs, the fireplace and the arched entry dividing screen.

The result is a house that accommodates a dinner for 20 as comfortable as a dinner for two. The flow of space is both open yet carefully controlled. The play of maple floors, cabinets set against red brick, fir beams and the blood red granite counters gives this space a sauce of excitement. You just cannot help but feel good in this space.