Key Biscayne
Key Biscayne
Miami, FL
1100 SQFT
2026
Sebastian Merlo
Generation Digital Agency

Set on the prestigious island of Key Biscayne, this beachfront retreat reimagines the nostalgia of vintage Miami Beach through Bilal Rehman’s distinctive lens. Designed in collaboration with architect Sebastian Merlo, the 1,100-square-foot residence was opened to maximize its connection to the surrounding landscape, inviting the outdoors into everyday life.

A palette drawn entirely from the shoreline and ocean brings together colors, textures, and materials that echo the coastal setting. Honed Tundra Beige marble from ARCA in Wynwood extends across the countertops and floors, its soft tones and natural veining grounding the home in a quiet material continuity. Realizing a design of this detail required construction expertise and craftsmanship of the highest caliber, leading Rehman to select Spazzio Studio to bring the vision to life.

A Caviar chandelier floats above shell-shaped dining chairs, carrying the language of the shoreline into the room. For clients who collect art, the most meaningful pieces are personal: pear sculptures by a local artist in Ecuador sit alongside artwork created by their son and daughter. Each brings its own story to the space, balancing sculptural form with the intimacy of a family home.

The living room carries the shoreline’s quiet palette indoors. A cream sofa anchors the space, its generous cushions and soft contours recalling the ease of vintage Miami Beach, while the rug beneath gives the seating area its own defined ground. Color stays restrained, allowing texture and silhouette to hold the room: a coastal sensibility expressed through the way things feel as much as the way they look.

In the primary bedroom, the home’s coastal palette settles into a quieter register. A bed upholstered in taupe mohair brings warmth and softness to the center of the room, framed by Bocci pendants suspended from the ceiling. Their gentle glow draws out the texture of the upholstery, carrying the same feeling of tranquility into the most private space in the home.

Custom cabinetry by Casa Materia Studio, lined with Kelly Wearstler wallpaper, gives the primary bedroom’s media unit an architectural presence. The warmth of the wood meets the pattern within, adding depth to the room’s quiet palette. Together, they bring the considered comfort of a luxury hotel suite to this beachfront retreat.