Miami Style

31.05.23

Photographer - Barry Grossman

Renowned international interior designer Alison Antrobus, creates dreamscape homes and luxurious retreats. Natalie Flaum caught up with her to discuss the current design vibe amidst the allure of the playground of Miami.

With its iconic luxe lifestyle, glamourous beaches and year-round warmth, Miami has always been an attractive hotspot and even more so recently, thanks to Art Basel shining a spotlight on the city’s formidable art world. Luxury real estate has never been more in demand, since a record number of high-net-worth investors have flocked to Miami to set up their businesses and homes. At the centre of that world, creating some of the highest real estate values in Miami’s history, is interior designer Alison Antrobus. “Our mission is simple - we create your dream home with a focus on luxury, celebrating the fusion of indoor and outdoor living,” she reflects. “Miami has an electric energy right now, thanks to a huge surge of wealth and investment landing that requires guidance in building and creating new homes. It’s critical to work with experienced professionals in our industry, who have a solid background of successful collaborations, to guide and assemble the talent required to execute homes of that calibre.”

Whilst clients provide inspiration in Alison’s own words, “different flavours of design,” what remains at the core of her work is a common desire for homes to feel like a dreamscape retreat, a luxurious Miami getaway that feeds into the design narrative more than any other projects she has designed in the US and abroad. It’s the allure of Miami being a “playground” that makes her projects here especially unique.

For two decades Alison has expanded her practice into a luxury, award-winning multi-disciplinary design studio, built on the foundation of creating transformative spaces, that are timeless and memorable. Her diversity in design is a true testament to her desire and ability to allow each client to be the source of inspiration. “Our signature style is deeply grounded in our principals: to listen and translate our client's story with our lens, allowing them to be the inspiration and unique creator of their own space.” This approach has earned Alison’s reputation amongst a long list of A-list celebrity stars and repeat clients, who seek to create one-of-a-kind properties, filled with warmth, character and soul.

Antrobus accredits her design foundation and ethos to her Caribbean heritage and unique academic training at The Rhode Island School of Design. She has also worked alongside design legends Philippe Starck, Axel Vervoordt, and the late David Hicks. Her innate talent as a visual artist allows her to explore interior and product design through the lens of a painter, sculptor, fashion designer and artist, resulting in layered details that relay the unique narrative to each project.

Prior to opening her practice in 2002, Alison worked for international architectural firm, Perkins + Will, and opened the Miami based design studio of London design development firm YOO Ltd, with Philippe Starck at the helm of Design. Her range of talent across all creative disciplines has earned Alison's unique collaborations beyond the scope of interior design. One notable venture was to design a watch strap for international watch brand Philip Stein, as featured on Oprah. Alison also received an international design patent for a handbag she created with detachable drawers and a convertible clutch, aptly named ‘The Antrobus Bag,’ featured in the coveted Woman’s Wear Daily and invitations to the CNBC network show The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch and The Today Show. Alison’s accolades span across notable publications including Hospitality Design, Architectural Digest Italia and a showcase feature in the first ever Interior Design magazine "Women in Design," issue.

So, when we asked Alison what’s next on the agenda for such a globally accomplished designer, she replied: “I’m only just getting started.”