This Pink House Was Inspired by the Cover of Asha Elias's Debut Novel

A “social satire” set in glitzy Miami Beach, Asha Elias’s debut novel, Pink Glass Houses, is just one of the author’s many accomplishments - she’s also a journalist and a columnist for the Miami New Times. The book’s arresting cover image is Miami in a nutshell: pink sunset, palm trees, gleaming turquoise pool. It’s also an almost exact match for the colour scheme of Elias’s stylish new residence. “Asha Elias's direction was: ‘Make everything pink. I want it to reflect a strong, feminine woman,’” explains Monica Santayana, one half of the husband-and-wife duo behind Miami studio MONIOMI. “She wanted her home to feel expressive, dynamic and uniquely hers - a pink house that celebrated her success as an author.”

Under the direction of Santayana and her husband Ronald Alvarez, the four-bedroom 1930s house in Miami Beach has become an ode to colour drenching, inspired by that glamorous book cover. The designers made no major structural changes to the home, instead focusing on tonal décor in custom finishes that would provide a “soulful backdrop” for Elias’s creative vision. “She needed a home that functioned as a personal retreat and a space for writing, but also as a practical, family-friendly environment for her two young children, and a welcoming space for entertaining,” says Alvarez.

Awash in various shades of pink – from soft blush to rich mauve and deep burgundy – the house feels both indulgent and visually arresting. There are no sugary Barbie hues here: this is pink as grown-up decor. Guests invited for dinner are sure to be impressed, but also immediately soothed. How did the designers prevent all this colour from being overwhelming? “Our design philosophy was ‘organized chaos’ – a rhythmic use of pattern and colour that creates a sense of calm despite the boldness,” explains Santayana. “We chose blush shades to reflect feminine strength, and deep, cocoon-like mauves in the principal bedroom to create a den-like space for writing and relaxation. The common areas feature lighter blushes that feel airy yet sophisticated.”

The latter principle applies to the kitchen, where counters in rich Rosa Arabescato marble mingle with shell-pink cabinetry and walls painted in Portola Paints’ luminous Prayer limewash. “The soft, chalky finish has an old-world feel while still feeling fresh, honouring the home’s 1930s spirit,” says Alvarez. The living-dining room features similar contrasts: barely-there pink walls are teamed with a warm ochre velvet sofa (from Soho Home) and eye-catching textures, such as a raffia stool by Lyk Carpet. The custom millwork features a triangular pattern that forms a leitmotif throughout the home, appearing on bespoke pieces such as the marble-topped dining table and a patterned rug from the studio’s Made by MONIOMI line. “We mixed new pieces with items from Asha Elias's previous home for a sense of familiarity,” says Alvarez. “The curtains were used to create more drama, with yards of silk adorned with triangular trims from Hodsoll McKenzie. We love the addition of black-and-white moments throughout the home.”

The interior is punctuated by “wow” moments. On the staircase walls, an Eclectic Art Red abstract mural by Belarte Studio “ties together the home’s entire colour spectrum”; the rose-pink library next to the entrance hall “was designed specifically to house Asha’s book collection, and to celebrate her career as a novelist”. The author’s blush-coloured bedroom, where the textured walls are painted in Hushed Auburn by Sherwin Williams, is adjoined by a bordeaux-red dressing room with textured grasscloth door-fronts; an oriental lantern from her personal collection dials up the glamour.

The home also boasts a separate pool cabana - complete with its own lounge, bar and bathroom - that’s decorated in complete contrast to the rest of the home. “The house is surrounded by lush foliage,” explains Santayana, “and this space uses blue-greens and tans to mirror the pool and tropical surroundings.” To express this idea in unique style, the duo chose an overscaled jungle wallpaper by Pierre Frey to cover the entire lounge ceiling, adding jewel-like zellige tiles from Zia Tile and Lyk Carpet wicker stools to the bar area. The “playful yet sophisticated” décor embodies the studio’s design philosophy. “Asha is a free spirit and a risk taker, and this home represents a new chapter for her,” says Alvarez. “She loves that the home is filled with colour, comfort and love – it feels like a new journey.”