Explore Calimia Home's New Showroom In A Historic Miami Building
Partners both in life and in business, Monique Miller and Gustaf Svensson recently expanded their full-service design studio, Calimia Home, with a new showroom and shop inside the historic La Palma building in downtown Coral Gables. With a location that mingles with lauded neighbors like Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bistro and Michelin-starred Shingo, the light-filled space with floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides treats clients to a tightly curated selection of well-loved vendors and undiscovered brands. Here, Miller delves into Calimia Home’s next chapter.
What inspired you to open this showroom? We always dreamed of having a physical space where we can interact with clients but also share our aesthetic and furnishings with more people.
Why were you drawn to the historic La Palma building? We had a small office down the street, and we used to walk past the property while it was being restored. We reached out to the developer and were the first tenants to sign on. They’ve done a beautiful job restoring the 1920s Mediterranean Revival-style building, which was one of the first hotels in Coral Gables. We love La Palma’s striking original architectural details.
Describe your signature style and how it translates to the shop. I grew up in California, so I gravitate toward relaxed, elevated interiors. Gustaf is Swedish, so he has that sophisticated Scandinavian style.The showroom is a perfect blend of both of our backgrounds.
The showroom feels like a home. Tell us about how it is strategically styled. There are different vignettes, including a bedroom and living spaces, household accessories like serving ware and flatware, a wall full of pillows, and a kitchen with a French range and Waterworks faucets. A client can really envision their space.
What can patrons find at Calimia Home? It’s full circle. Everything we use in our projects is in our showroom, and those brands have become our partners. We work with Stoffer Home on all of our cabinetry and Armac Martin for hardware, and we have custom upholstery and an oak shop. There is a sprinkling of big names as well as unique brands that we’ve discovered in our travels and want to introduce to clients.
