lorious blue skies, aquamarine waters, lush tropical foliage, breathtaking sunrises and sunsets – Florida's natural beauty never ceases to amaze me. It's the reason why most of us live here and others come to visit. The outdoors is such an integral part of Florida living that designers make a point of integrating the landscape with the interior envirionment, as the stories in this issue illustrate.

When Mimi McMakin and Brooke Huttig first saw their client's home in Coral Gables, they "were swept away by the magnificient view of Biscayne Bay," Huttig recalls. Their renovation of the home included a sun-filled loggia that opens to the patio and pool area and the bay beyond, creating a smooth transition between the indoor and outdoor spaces.

In nearby Coconut Grove, Bradley W. Blair reconfigured his client's home to showcase his contemporary art collection in a gallery-like setting. While planning the interior, he considered the dense garden of palms, ferns and bromeliads surrounding the home. As a result, expanses of glass line the rooms, allowing the tropical paradise to become part of the interior while providing a scenic backdrop for clean-lined furnishings, Asian pieces and works of art.

The sweeping views from a waterfront penthouse so impressed James John Goodman and Earle Jay Goodman, "that we drew our colors from the natural environment to create a warm and serene atmosphere," Earle says. Shades of sandy beige and aqua blue wash over the interior like waves on the shore.

And Fort Lauderdale's famous beach sets the stage for a modern vacation retreat. Working with designer Brett Cohen, the owners used recurring motifs and mirror images to establish a sense of symmetry.When you can wake up to this, who could ask for anything more?

Karen B. King McCallum
Managing Editor