For a look at what’s new around town, we’re crossing Red Road over to the east side of the town center into Coral Gables on the north of Sunset Drive and Miami Dade County to the south. It’s here we find Cozy Salazar and Jacqueline Pinto who have recently opened their respective, and very creative design businesses, one in interior design and the other in fine- crafted jewelry. It was an enjoyable visit with each of these visionary artists. And a walk around Red Road to “Sunset East”, as I refer to the area, where there are three new eateries coming into the area. Something to look forward to in town.
A FULL-SERVICE DESIGN HOUSE FOR THE MODERN CLIENT
In the former location of The Red Apple, a popular SOMI brand for decades, we see how “Cozy” has transformed the space into an exquisite, bright, playful and elegant showroom and design studio.
Born and raised in Miami, Michele “Cozy” Salazar started working in design at eighteen years of age in New York. A lifelong student of design, she completed professional design courses after graduating FIU with a psychology major and interned for major firms with high-profile clients nationwide. In the last ten years Michele has garnered great professional experience and appreciates being part of the Miami art and design hub.
She opened Cozy Shop + Studio on October 15th. It is a full-service interior design studio created for modern clients. Her projects include completely new home construction, rehabs, and condos. Michele styles range from her own favorite “traditional-meets- contemporary” aesthetic to whatever sparks client joy. Michele’s guiding motto is that “design is nothing if it doesn’t reflect the individual.” Cozy devotes 100% attention to each project. Salazar operates with warmth and transparency in everything she does. By offering multiple design packages, clients can tailor the experience to what fits their needs. Her “all girls team” consists of two architects, a junior designer, project manager, accountant and logistics coordinator.
This vine covered brownstone is a city landmark in one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Miami. The historic beauty was designed by Phillip Goodwin, the architect responsible for New York City’s iconic Museum of Modern Art. Set in the heart of Coral Gables’ charming French Village, Michele worked with clients to upgrade the space from its original and heavily traditional state. The outdoors beckon you through a stunning courtyard accented with fountains, statues and trellises. Michele carefully honored its natural elegance by incorporating heirloom- quality mahogany pieces with more transitional accents and pastels to refresh the entire space.
See her portfolio online at cozysalazarinteriors.com 7283 SW 57th Avenue | 786.615.4790
THE CALLING OF AN HEIRLOOM JEWELRY COLLECTION
On 74th Street off Red Road we met up with Jacqueline Pinto as she was preparing for the grand opening of her brand fine-jewelry boutique, Miami Atelier.
Jacqueline’s brand was born in Miami in 2012. It is in her collections that she takes the plunge to let inspiration tell the stories of her culture and her heritage. In her latest collection, La Vie En Rose, she tells the story of her grandmother’s flight from Communism, where pain and faith are represented in beautiful jewels. She invites her clients into her stories and makes them active participants. She makes her characters bold, intriguing, and feminine, all while feeling modern and adventurous as they unite to tell the story Jacqueline has designed with each piece. She also uses this inspiration to create individual pieces through her Atelier, which brings her vision to life. She has had the opportunity to study under Van Cleef and Arpels, L’Ecole.
In her Miami Atelier, she works with tradesmen who specialize in gem setting, gem cutting, CAD design and hand-forged metalwork to bring Jacqueline’s pieces to fruition.
The Atelier is where precious metal and stone becomes an intimate piece of personal history – a storied heirloom passed down for generations. This personal custom collaboration between artist and client begins in the studio, and together, the vision and conversation turn into a sketch, an illustration evolves into wax molds. Vision and passion meet artistry with the result being something one-of-a-kind that will be treasured forever.
5607 SW 74th Street | To schedule an appointment, please call: 305.315.5150.
On the Sunset East side of our town center, there are three new eateries opening soon: the popular La Boulangerie in the space which was formerly with Georges’, then Gringos, and another followed, a short-lived lobster bar. Down the street will be a new Sanwch location, popular in Doral, and across Sunset in Sunset Strip will be Delicias de España, also a very popular dining spot near Bird Road which was destroyed in a fire. For those cupcake lovers, know that Mishas is moving from there current location to the old Swensen’s location on US. To read more about these SOMI eateries, stay tuned to SOMIMAG.com.
