Perla Lichi Creates Dramatic
Interiors for Waterfront Home


Interior Design: Perla Lichi, Perla Lichi Design, Tamarac, FL
Photo: Barry Grossman, Weston, FL
954.726.0899

After seeing some photos of Perla Lichi’s work in a magazine, a professional South Florida couple selected this award-winning designer to create the interiors of their 12,000-sqare-foot South Florida waterfront home. The oversized rooms in this spacious home called for dramatic treatments and extensive detailing. It was important for the clients to achieve a look of classic elegance and to have everything reflect the highest quality.





To achieve a timeless look, the designer suggested a color palette of earth tones embellished with metallics and textures. This approach is immediately recognized when entering the house through the front door, where gold and silver leafed walls and ceilings enhance the foyer and a hand-carved exotic wood table displays a vase of fresh flowers. Curved staircases with marble steps and wrought-iron balustrades lead to the second floor. From above, a wrought-iron chandelier descends gracefully from a round ceiling medallion.



The 63-feet long great room, directly behind the foyer, was a challenge for the designer. Ms. Lichi decided to create two seating areas from four woven chenille sofas. The sofas in the two groupings aren't matched. Instead they are coordinated through subtle choices of fabric, color and pillows. The tables in each grouping are also different, but the overall result is an interesting and pleasing arrangement. High above each cocktail table, a crystal chandelier descends from an oval ceiling insert.



A velvet chenille bench was placed, for visual interest, in front of the double seating area. Under both seating areas is a 36-feet by 18-feet hand-tufted area rug that follows the oval shape of the ceiling. Two floor-to-ceiling Venetian antiqued smoked mirrors highlight opposing walls behind the front seating area. Placed exactly opposite each other, the mirrors create a feeling of luxury and opulence that seems to go on forever.



In the dining room, a huge wrought-iron chandelier hangs from the center of the faux painted gold oval ceiling. An area rug ties the colors in the living room to similar earth tones in the dining room carpet. A large wood dining table seats eight comfortably on tailored side chairs upholstered in subtle plaid silk with box-pleated skirts and two upholstered leather wing chairs at either end. A crystal and wrought iron chandelier adds a festive glow to the table below.



Over-sized chests flank the hand carved bed that is enhanced with burl wood inserts. Antique silver leaf paint on the ceiling glows when the lights are lit. A chandelier is framed by a ceiling insert. Two upholstered chairs and a round ottoman create a seating area in this large bedroom. Cream carpeting with a scrollwork pattern adds a subtle hint of texture.



Burl wood inserts add charm to a hand carved wooden bed. The bedroom features two seating areas, one on each end of the room.



The master bathroom features a beautiful faux-finished ceiling with silver-leafed coffers that follow the contours of the shower and vanities. Window treatments soften the look in this his-and-hers bathroom.



The original porte-cochere was just plain concrete. Perla Lichi Design enhanced the entire area by creating a Zen-inspired water wall of glass mosaics flanked by two murals of Lake Como that were pre-printed on 12-in. by 12-in. travertine tiles. Multi-colored Chicago brick creates the floor of both the garage and porte-cochere.



From the garage, the entrance to the house (bottom photo) is via an elegantly appointed downstairs lobby (last photo) that rivals that of any luxury hotel. Oversized velvet chairs are positioned on each side of the room facing a round velvet tete-a-tete bench. Above, a round ceiling insert frames a crystal chandelier. A hand-carved mirror and table between two double-winged back chairs completes the furnishings and the entire ceiling is silver leafed to give the room the opulent look that the clients wanted.

To create a cabana atmosphere, designer Perla Lichi added outdoor chaises and umbrellas and a hammock in the pool area of this waterfront home. (first photo on top)