The Flower of Magic City
Author:Abigail StoneCourtesy of Good,Rich Miami’s iconic Mayfair reclaims its place atop this vibrant, art-filled city
The most successful remodels preserve the original building’s outstanding qualities while improving their functionality through thoughtful updates that blur the line between past and present. That describes the approach taken by New York-based interior design studio Good,Rich in their painstaking two year, $50 million renovation of Miami’s iconic The Mayfair Hotel & Spa, now rechristened Mayfair House Hotel & Garden.
Designed by Florida artist and architect Kenneth Treister in 1985, the Coconut Grove mainstay was inspired by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi’s Barcelona buildings. Good,Rich’s work builds on Treister’s unique vision and maximalist style, highlighting his signature archways, unique finishes and rich decor elements.
Witness the large ornate wooden front door, now restored to its former majesty. New windows flood the intimate lobby— and an installation by Miami multimedia artist Michele Oka Doner—with light. Rooms, adorned with their original door knockers, are accessed via outdoor corridors that look down into the vibrant and sun-filled courtyard and garden. Lush plantings, cascading fountains, beautiful pools, fanciful copper lighting, and sculptural architectural details confirm the atrium’s place as the heart of the hotel.
A broken fountain and an empty elevator shaft has been rethought as the Fountain Bar while the hotel’s namesake Mayfair Grill has been revived with a new concept and a new menu inspired by the wood-fueled, open-fire flavors of the American Southwest. Upstairs, a hand-painted wall mural by Bahamian artist Angelika Wallace-Whitfield serves as a colorful backdrop to the rooftop pool and its Calypso-style bar, Sipsip, named after the Bahamian word for “gossip” or “sharing news”. Fully-renovated guest rooms, which range from Studio King to the Mayfair Penthouse, each offering its own, private terrace, are washed in soothing, rich shades of turquoise, coral and deep sand, and decorated with art from international and local artists.
“Mayfair House Hotel & Garden was designed to be a culture-forward destination—a place shaped by artists and creatives where ideas are born and imagination runs wild,” says Lucy Martin, the hotel’s General Manager. “When you walk inside and see the custom art, bold jewel tones, soft furnishings, and natural Eden, it evokes an instant sense of warmth and hospitality – truly the most special hideaway.”
Mayfair House Hotel & Garden, 3000 Florida Avenue, Coconut Grove, FL 33133, (305) 441-0000
