When you build homes for a living, it’s a safe bet that you know some of the tricks of the trade. But Bart Reines, a luxury homebuilder based in Miami, didn’t opt to create his family a new house from the ground up. Instead, he teamed up with the interior and architecture design studio Argent Design on a $4 million gut renovation of his 1952 ranch-style home.
The result? A resort-inspired, tropical Art Deco estate meant to accommodate the lifestyle of Reines, his wife, and their eight children. Along with the beachy hues, vibrant greenery, and plant-patterned furnishings, a big focus of the redesign was making the home friendly for a large family by maximizing storage space and using easily cleaned materials—lots of kids can make lots of messes, naturally.
The playroom includes a couch big enough for all eight kids.
Paul Stoppi
“We approached this renovation with both practicality and artistry in mind,” Nicola Fontanella, the founder and CEO of Argent, told Robb Report. “The one-story layout allowed us to design a natural flow between distinct zones—inviting gathering spaces, playful family areas, and a serene master retreat—blending sophistication and functionality.”
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In the kitchen, for example, there’s seating at both the island and a banquette, so that some kids can do homework while others eat. The banquette features a hidden drawer for shoes, while the island’s storage is wrapped in mirrored paneling for an increased sense of expansiveness. In the playroom, an oversized curved sofa has enough room for all the children to sit and watch TV, while an Italian ping-pong table allows for more active, screenless delights.
Integrated trays mean easy snacking in the home theater.
Paul Stoppi
New to the home is a theater with upholstered wall paneling wrapped in woven leather and cerulean blackout curtains to create a real cinematic vibe. Recliner seats make up the front row, while a large couch in the back comes with integrated trays for mid-movie snacking.
Of course, not every inch of the house was optimized for just children. In the primary suite, the chatelaine’s dressing room is a fashionista’s dream with a showy display for her shoes, in which every pair is presented like jewelry on a backlit white onyx Goldshire background.
On the grounds, there’s an outdoor gym and spa, including a sauna, a cold plunge, and a rain shower. Plus, across the property, Argent made sure to use marine-grade materials, meaning they can stand up to the sea salt, sun, and high humidity that’s all too common in Miami.
Click here to see all the photos of the family-friendly Miami home.
Authors
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Tori Latham