Marcela Cure Reimagines Miami Living Through Material Restraint

Bathed in natural light and nestled within the leafy calm of Pinecrest, this 6,000-square-foot Miami residence designed by Marcela Cure offers a counterpoint to the city’s louder design clichés. Rather than leaning into high-gloss exuberance or overt tropical motifs, Cure composed an interior rooted in softness – where material nuance, tactile restraint, and quiet warmth redefine what a Miami home can feel like.

Originally built in 2013, the contemporary estate sits on a generously landscaped lot, complete with a large pool and expansive green areas that naturally invite indoor-outdoor living. Cure’s approach began by honoring that setting, allowing the exterior’s sense of openness and calm to inform every interior decision.

“The natural light in the property was amazing,” she explains, “which gave me the chance to use lighter nudes and tones that I naturally gravitate toward”.

The resulting palette is deliberately soothing: layered pastels, pale neutrals, and gentle nudes punctuated by occasional metallic accents. It’s a language that still speaks to Miami’s coastal lifestyle but in a more intimate, less predictable register. Rather than bold color blocking or graphic statements, Cure relies on tonal shifts and material contrasts to create depth and interest. Brass glows softly against stone; leather adds warmth to pale wood; woven textures temper the sleekness of contemporary forms.

Natural materials anchor the home throughout. Wood, leather, stone, brass, and artisanal textiles appear again and again, selected not for spectacle but for how they age, patina, and respond to light. The effect is one of understated luxury where spaces feel elegant without ever tipping into formality, refined yet deeply livable.

One of the project’s biggest challenges was the original layout, which felt fragmented and lacked a sense of flow. Cure addressed this not only through spatial reconfiguration but also through material continuity. Soft neutrals move seamlessly from room to room, while recurring textures – leather, stone, and hand-knotted rugs – create visual cohesion across the home’s six bedrooms and six bathrooms.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the kitchen and living areas, which were reimagined as the heart of the home. Here, custom millwork in warm wood tones pairs with sculptural furnishings and subtle metallic details. The dining area introduces Luteca’s Eugenio chairs and Knoll’s Spoleto seating, whose clean silhouettes echo the architecture without overpowering it. A custom buffet with liquid metal door fronts adds a moment of quiet drama, catching the light as it shifts throughout the day.

Across the interiors, Cure balances bespoke craftsmanship with globally sourced design pieces. In the entry, an oversized custom leather mirror and onyx console establish an immediate material dialogue – soft against solid, matte against polished – while sculptural sconces provide architectural illumination. In the living room, B&B Italia sofas are grounded by a hand-knotted CC Tapis rug, with Charles Zana’s Warton side chairs adding sculptural punctuation.

Bedrooms continue the story through textured wallpapers, custom-selected rugs by Beni Rugs and Soho Home, and lighting that casts a warm, ambient glow rather than harsh contrast. Bathrooms follow suit, with custom stone and brass vanities, sculptural mirrors, and restrained fittings that prioritize proportion and material honesty over ornamentation.

Though technically a second home, the residence functions as a primary gathering place for a multigenerational family. The materials were chosen not only for beauty but for comfort and longevity, supporting a lifestyle centered on hosting, togetherness, and ease. Cure describes the final result as “a serene, elegant retreat that seamlessly blends sophisticated design with warmth and family gatherings”.

In a city often defined by visual excess, this Pinecrest home offers a quieter, more contemplative vision of Miami living. Through a carefully calibrated material palette – soft, natural, and deeply tactile – Marcela Cure proves that luxury here doesn’t have to shout. Sometimes, it simply whispers.