Florida is a state of contrasts; glamorous coastal homes nestle alongside sprawling tourist resorts, brash theatrical entertainment hubs lie a few kilometres away from tranquil mangroves and acres of meandering waterways. Marrying the two sides of Miami was a challenge that fell to French interior designer François Champsaur who was commissioned to transform the Sandpiper Hotel in Sandpiper's Bay.
Surrounded by the St-Lucie River and a sizeable mangrove swamp, the hotel was a tired vestige of Floridian hospitality. After a $25 million (Dh92 million) investment and the change of branding to ClubMed, the hotel has a rejuvenated presence that complements its stunning natural locale.
InsideOut caught up with the man behind Sandpiper's striking new look, who let us in on his concept for the redesign. "The site offers an extraordinary natural heritage, which represented a great source of inspiration for our design," he says. "I also chose colours that evoke the idea of Miami and its colourful architecture from the Fifties and Sixties." By harvesting this idea of a fun and vibrant Miami from yesteryear, the design started to take on a retro feel, reined in by François' desire to retain a seaside, natural vibe at the same time. A difficult juxtaposition, but a successful one thanks to his playful imagination, as he explains: "We used bright energetic colours and introduced nautical elements such as clapboard coast-guard wooden houses in the restaurants, decorated with old water wings, ropes and vintage surf boards."
A range of colours are used for the huts, which each have their own decorative theme, based on the maritime industry. Fishing nets, buoys and small, unusual everyday items sourced from the region's many antique dealers evoke an element of spontaneity and fun.
As inspirational muses go, Mother Nature provided François with an almost limitless supply of tropical colours, flower motifs and botanical prints in the immediate vicinity of the hotel, which he used in fabrics and furnishings throughout the property. "Since the hotel is located in such an outstanding area, the interiors had to open up towards nature. I used natural materials with simple finishes and colours, such as red for the sun umbrellas and deckchairs, chosen in order to create a dialogue and rhythm with the bright green of the plants and the blue of the river." Balancing the vivid hues prevalent throughout the hotel with maximising the guests' comfort was uppermost in François' mind during the designing process. "Colours carry a double meaning and you have to pay great attention to the context and the ambient light," he explains. "Some hues can be your ally in one project but cannot be used in another site because the meaning or the effect won't be the same at all. Comfort comes from the mix of natural materials and sophisticated shades."
This regard for nature does not begin and end with mere nods to the environment in terms of materials used and colours selected; at the very heart of the project great care has been taken to restore the ailing vegetation. Over 300 palm trees have been planted and creeping plants will eventually cover the newly clad exterior and shingle roofs.
Terraces complete with pergolas are built on large wooden decks, introducing an atmospheric play of shadow and light. This sedate feel is aided by the conservative choice of muted grey sand tones for the upholstery, and richly grained teak for the tables and chairs, allowing the greenery of the surrounding plants to take centre stage.
As a very deliberate and dramatic contrast to the al fresco terrace, the bar is awash with colour. The high-gloss red and blue floors are lacquered with bright varnish and François designed large, white, wooden banquettes decorated with boldly striped monochrome cushions, accessorised with small, red coffee tables and electric blue footstools. Renowned for his reworking of space, light and perception, François has brought his inimitable style to one of Miami's most sought-after resort hotels. The end result is a stylish space that has so many favourite elements and aspects for the designer, he maintains it's an impossible task to pick just one. He reminisces about the project, telling us: "The spectacular view over the St-Lucie River, the light at sunset, building the coast-guard houses in the restaurants, choosing the vintage nautical elements for the decoration, I enjoyed it all…"
