Founded in 2012, SDH Studio has risen to become one of Miami’s most sought-after modern architecture and interior design firms. The company has a team of passionate and gifted professionals. All of which has seen the firm grow and dominate the market with its inspirational designs.
As an innovative architecture firm specializing in the design of luxury homes, SDH Studio has completed several projects. Most projects by SDH Studio emphasize integrating light and function into the design. They achieve this by complementing the existing space with exceptional design that preserves the adjacent natural environment.
During its first years in the design market, SDH Studio focused on custom and luxury homes in Miami. But over the years, the firm has expanded its offerings to include commercial project designs. These include office buildings, restaurants, and retail spaces.
SDH Studio’s Journey to the Top
Stephanie Halfen, the founder of SDH Studio, moved from Venezuela to Miami in 2009 and opened up her practice shortly after. Stephanie has always been interested in integrating landscape and architectural form from an early age. And her past projects in Caracas have been a success. That said, her reputation and passion for innovative designs grew with her after relocating to the US.
Today, SDH Studio has become a household name in Miami’s architecture and interior design space. The firm has received several notable awards over the years. And most of the projects have been featured in several architecture magazines and publications. One of the firm’s awards is The Miami Architect’s award for Best Residential Architects. Another one is the Ocean Home Magazine’s award for the Top 50 Coastal Architects in the USA.
Part of SDH Studio’s competitive advantage lies with the team’s experience integrating exterior landscape with the home’s interior and exterior. Over the years, this modern indoor-outdoor architectural design has been gaining popularity. At the heart of these designs is a keen focus on space, lighting, and functionality.
Most homes with an indoor-outdoor architectural feel maximize indoor space. This is often possible through the use of multi-functional rooms. The design also minimizes the use of solid walls and instead embraces glass walls. This helps bring in as much natural light as possible, plus it also offers beautiful and unobstructed views of the outdoors. That said, SDH Studio has completed several such projects and has served as an inspiration to many.
Understanding the Design Process: Architecture vs. Interior Design
Every building project follows a lengthy design process. This often begins with the design concept all the way to implementation. Throughout these stages, you’ll need to work with a competent team of expert professionals to guide you every step of the way. More often, an architect will focus on outdoor and indoor space planning, including the exteriors and interior. On the other hand, an interior designer will do the actual furnishing and the decorations on the interior.
Unlike interior design, architecture is quite extensive. This is because it involves more than just designing some aesthetically pleasing buildings. The design process will often depend on what the client wants and the architect’s signature design styles. For instance, SDH studio often focuses on designs that maximize space, utilizes natural light, and preserves the integrity of the adjacent environment. Here, the architects must balance practicality, beauty, and vital environmental aspects.
Working with an Architecture Firm
More often, your architecture firm will handle everything from the exterior to the interior. That is, even if it means bringing in another interior design firm to handle the final furnishing and décor. A great architecture firm will always listen to your design needs. That is, before analyzing them to determine if all that you want is possible from the design perspective. You’ll also have a chance to discuss how you want the building spaces to look, i.e., from the interior to the exterior.
After a while, your architect should get back with some sample imagery to help you visualize the building once it’s complete. This should also be accompanied by an accurate estimate of the cost and the progress to expect at every stage.
Once you’ve confirmed the layout of the project, next is to focus on the finer details of the design. These include cabinetry, wall details, windows, custom kitchen decors, and flooring. The architect will also review the architectural drawing and specifications to ensure the building meets federal, state, and local building regulations.
Even then, the work of your architecture firm doesn’t end here. They are also the ones to coordinate the selection and buying of building materials, furniture, décor, and lighting fixtures.
Choose the Right Architecture Firm
By partnering with the right architecture firm, you get access to exclusive services. These include supervision of your building project from start to finish. So, if you are interested in contemporary tropical design architecture that blends environmental elements into the design, SDH Studio has got you covered.
That said, finding a great architect isn’t hard. But finding an exceptional architecture firm that understands the market and is willing to go above and beyond to deliver on its promises is much harder than you think. Feel free to browse some of the completed projects by SDH Studio, and you are sure to fall in love with them.