When designing Condominium interiors, the proverbial blank slate can be a bit too blank. Charged with creating architectural interest within a Miami Beach unit, Sand Studios principal Larissa Sand started by removing two walls to join the kitchen with the rest of the home.

Pairing rectangular volumes with a palette of rich natural materials enhanced not only the eating area but the apartment’s overall atmosphere. “The clients wanted a kitchen that would be comfortable to live in — not just cook in,” says Sand. Bookmatched slabs of Calacatta marble line the back wall, where boxy walnut cabinets house appliances and storage.

The same mix of finishes defines the Donald Judd–like island, anchored by large-format limestone floor tiles. Making the most of existing conditions, concealed air-conditioning ducts are highlighted by halogen cove lighting that adds a sculptural dimension.

The focus on materials continues in the master bathroom, where the soaking tub and shower are backed by a slab of Black Spring granite whose graphic green-on-black markings resemble abstracted leaves. Says Sand, “People don’t get tired of looking at a piece of stone with its organic patterns."