Florida Design Magazine Vol. 12, No. 2 Page 5
"ENVISIONING A MIAMI LOFT"
  
 
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ABOVE: In the sitting area of the master bedroom, an 18th-century desk is made of solid piopo — a wood often used to craft smoking pipes. When Bernal wants to relax and take in the panoramic view, he has two choices: lounge inside on the leather lounge chair and ottoman or outside in a hammock on the terrace..
 
 
Bernal, who loves to cook, knew he wanted something special for the kitchen, so he teamed with a designer from Snaidero to devise a plan. “We spoke about the kitchen for hours, and I liked how she visualized it,” he recalls.
Together, they selected a combination of wood and stainless steel — the same materials used in the dining area just steps away. While working on the project, Bernal discovered that the designer was also from Colombia and that they both had the same last name. As it turned out, Ana Maria Bernal happened to be Santiago’s second cousin.
The master bedroom offers a sweeping view of the city through its green-tinted, sliding-glass doors. To mix things up, Bernal placed two different lamps on the bedside tables. “Why must they be the same? One is a reading lamp and the other provides indirect lighting,” he says.

In front of the sliding-glass doors rests a desk of piopo wood with silver legs. “This 18th-century writing table could almost pass as contemporary,” he says. “Finding the right chair was most difficult, but I think the metal chair, upholstered in suede, is a perfect fit.”
The sliding-glass doors open to the terrace, which Bernal says is “the most exciting part of the entire apartment.” Lined with a glass railing, the terrace affords uninterrupted views of the Miami skyline day and night. “I live more outside than inside and like to take naps in the hammock,” Bernal admits.
Inspired by a vision of a downtown loft, Bernal created an interior reflective of his homeland, his love of art and the city’s incredible views.
 
     
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