DESIGN & ARCHTIECTURE

LAYERS WITH INTENT

In Coconut Grove, mr alex TATE turns an ultra-modern new build into a fearless, color filled retreat where ModVic spirit, meticulous planning, and joyful collecting transform every room into a personal narrative.

JESSICA HALL

Alex Alonso is not interested in quiet rooms. As founder of mr alex TATE, he builds interiors with conviction, leaning into fearless curation and a love of discovery. His studio calls the philosophy ModVic, a Modern Victorian lens that embraces the romance of English influence, the pleasure of collecting, and the discipline of contemporary planning. The result is drama with structure and whimsy with intent.

In Coconut Grove, that approach meets an ultra-modern new build with a long north to south plan and an upper floor organized along a corridor. The brief from daring homeowners was simple and demanding. Turn away from minimalism and make a home that reflects who lives here. The studio answered by treating every room as a chapter and the corridor as an editorial spine. Scale was tuned, circulation clarified, and layers introduced so the plan reads as a sequence of experiences rather than a single open expanse.

The first floor carries the biggest move. What had been a vast, undefined volume becomes a set of intimately scaled zones that talk to one another. Semi-permanent fabric walls create division without heaviness, allowing light and air to pass while giving art and objects a place to land. The kitchen steps forward as the visual and social anchor. Waterworks cabinetry sets the tone for quality and proportion. A reworked layout introduces a peninsula, a central island, a smaller workstation island, and a wet bar. Everyday function improves and the choreography of cooking and gathering finally clicks.

The dining area leans into the studio’s passion for the Victorian era of collecting. A sideboard becomes a stage for art, ornaments, and flowers. The look is exuberant but not chaotic because the composition is edited and the palette is controlled. Across the ground floor, pattern meets restraint. You see Schumacher and Pierre Frey in conversation with Porter Teleo. You notice Emerald greens and inky blues holding their own beside warm woods. Lighting from Ochre, Rosie Li, Visual Comfort, and the occasional vintage find sets atmosphere rather than simply checking a box. Tables and seating from Holly Hunt, Avenue Road, Oly Studio, Noir, TRNK, Century, Made Goods, and Serena and Lily bring mixed silhouettes that feel collected rather than showroom fresh. Rugs from The Rug Company and DWR ground the compositions without flattening them. Stone and tile from Exquisite Surfaces, Ann Sacks and Popham, and Opustone add texture where it matters. Storage from Waterworks, Room and Board, California Closets, and custom millwork keeps function present but discreet.

Upstairs, the private rooms read as distinct yet connected. Each bedroom is a focused idea. Traditional meets modern toile with ceiling paper that lifts the eye. Fabric lined walls add warmth and quiet. Guest suites layer patterns with a measured hand so visitors feel indulged rather than overwhelmed. All rooms are en-suite, and each repeats the project’s central ethic. Be fearless. Be thoughtful. Be unexpected. The result is not a parade of themes but a conversation across the hall.

The studio’s space planning does the heavy lifting that makes the layers feel natural. The long corridor becomes a gallery rather than a chute. Sightlines are framed so that big color and bold patterns arrive as moments, not noise. Seating groups are scaled for conversation. Surfaces are set to receive flowers, books, and travel finds because this is a house for collectors. The cumulative effect is a living gallery that changes with the week and never loses its point of view.

Craft and suppliers matter because they set the floor for quality. Schumacher, Pierre Frey, and Porter Teleo give the textiles their depth and hand. Lighting from Ochre and Rosie Li introduces sculptural light rather than simple illumination. Pieces sourced through 1stDibs add patina. Exquisite Surfaces and Ann Sacks bring the tiles their texture and tone. These names are not dropped for effect. They are chosen because they perform and because they age well.

“This was truly a special project, the collaboration with the homeowners was fun and inspiring. From the vibrant kitchen to the personality filled bedrooms, the transformation was a celebration of creativity, individuality, and bold design,” says Alex Alonso. The quote reads like a mission statement and the rooms back it up.

Maximalism here is not clutter. It is clarity about what brings joy. It is an eye for contrast and a respect for composition. It is a belief that homes should invite you to keep looking. In Coconut Grove, mr alex TATE proves that more can be measured, vivid can be livable, and a modern house can carry a generous, romantic soul.