This summer, I was invited to The Betsy South Beach by Jonathan Plutzik and his wife Lesley Goldwasser. The Betsy is their boutique luxury hotel located on Miami Beach’s iconic Ocean Drive. The couple has installed a focus on cultural and community programming, including The Betsy Writers’ Room Program that has welcomed more than 800 artists in residence at The Betsy.
With visionary direction from Italian designers Diamante Pedersoli (private residences for Ralph Lauren) and Carmelina Santoro, The Betsy South Beach embraces the natural heritage of its location to offer a timeless style.
In the Colonial wing, dark wood Venetian blinds cover floor-to-ceiling windows that reflect light off the Atlantic Ocean and ensure guest-to-city transparency that brings the outside-in by day, and the inside-out by night.
Lighting fixtures include Fortuny Sheherazade chandeliers hanging from coffered ceilings complemented by colonial-style fans and other custom design reminiscent of world culture.
Historical terrazzo flooring is accented with natural fiber area rugs surrounding seating areas that have a comfortable, residential feel of a home owned by a global traveler in the British Colonial era.
Zebra framed mirrors, coffee table art books, a public poetry library with a vintage typewriter, and wood chess sets give the property an international feel.
The public spaces in the Art Deco wing echo the overall beach-chic theme with similar hues, walnut wood floors, and raffia displays, paying homage to the building’s historical time period.
Custom-designed furniture and fixtures adorn the multi-functional spaces with a diverse blend of wicker and teak bases fused with decorative brass and mirrored features. Hand-selected velvet, cotton, and linen fabrics bring gentleness to the pieces in soft, ocean-inspired palettes.
When we start travelling again, it’s important to support family-owned hotels and especially hotels that put a focus on culture, community, and creativity.
CREDITS
Story x Veronica Webb
Venue x The Betsy South Beach