Inside a Serene, One-of-a-Kind Residence on Miami’s Exclusive Fisher Island

Miami‘s Fisher Island is a prestigious and insular enclave just below the tip of South Beach that’s known for its genteel resort environement and A-list residents, including Oprah Winfrey, Julia Roberts, and Robert Herjavec, who have previously owned condos on the exclusive island. Most of the island’s residences are condos but a rare home, the only beachfront single-family house on the island, provides its owners with a singular retreat that was custom designed by the Miami-based architecture and design studio Light on White in a collaborative effort with Jarosz Architects.

Jarosz Architects handled the exterior architecture, while Light On White, took on the interior architecture and interior design. And since Fisher Island has a strict architectural protocols that requires the exteriors of every structure to reflect Mediterranean styling, the challenge was to blend this Mediterranean detailing with cool, contemporary interiors in a seamless, sophisticated way.

“The clients loved the lifestyle that Fisher Island offered them,” Light on White founder Alizée Brion tells Robb Report. “There’s a school on the island and they have young children. An opportunity arose for them to purchase multiple condo units in low-rise buildings. One by one they purchased these units and demolished the original structures to replace it with a new-build, single-family residence. Nobody has ever really done that before in this capacity.”

Having started work on the project in 2018, it took several years to complete due to the time it took to obtain the necessary approvals and the fact that Fisher Island is only accessible by boat, meaning it was no easy feat hauling the materials. Brion says that any project that would take two years to complete on the mainland would take roughly five years if you’re building on Fisher Island. However, Brion says, the family was dedicated, as they knew it was their forever home. 

“The owner wanted it to feel extremely serene; she doesn’t really like patterns or bright colors, and she wanted it to feel very timeless,” Brion explains, adding that Light on White’s design philosophy is simple, luxurious, and innovative. Simple yet elegant, the firm is known for its bespoke design elements and use of natural materials. 

The home spans more than 10,000 square feet with a total of five bedrooms and six bathrooms. Upon entering the home, you’re greeted with a tranquil entry foyer that leads to the main living space, awash in shades of gray and white. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors connect directly to a covered terrace with oversized Mediterranean-style arches that frame the ocean views. The nearby kitchen features warm wood cabinetry, aged brass hardware, a black quartzite center island, white marble countertops, and an airy dining space overlooking the ocean.

The main level also features a serene office, complete with custom millwork, a chic powder room, a moody library, and a formal dining room. A monochromatic family room, designed for watching TV and relaxed lounging, the family room has a darker palette of black and deep blues that contrast from the rest of the home’s neutral hues. 

“It’s a very spacious and purist home, which allowed us to really let the beauty of the natural materials and neutral color palette for itself,” she says. “We incorporated some strong lighting fixtures and brought in some geometric shapes that acted as focal points for the interiors. The home has incredible symmetry and a great flow.”

The bedrooms, including the children’s rooms, are filtered throughout the first and second levels. The sumptuous primary suite features its own private entrance that leads to a generously sized sitting room with a marble fireplace. The primary bedroom features a custom bed and  nightstands, a custom sofa, and white marble table lamps. Despite the neutral color palette, there are rich materials throughout the home. Finally, there is a sauna and a gym with a Pilates reformer, treadmill, and other exercise equipment. From the backyard, the home has a private pathway that leads directly to the beach.

Brion included furniture and lighting pieces from iconic brands, such as Christian Liaigre, Apparatus Studio, Fernando Mastrangelo, Stephen Antonson, Allied Maker, Herman Miller, RH, Ralph Lauren, and more. 

Click here for more photos of the beachfront home on Fisher Island.