Interview: Carola Pimentel and Coconut Grove Villa

Winner interviews

January 28, 2025

Interview: Carola Pimentel and Coconut Grove Villa

At Assure Interiors, founder and lead designer Carola Pimentel has built a reputation for merging artistic flair with practical solutions, creating environments tailored to her clients’ lifestyles. Her latest project, “Coconut Grove Villa,” has garnered the Residential – Apartments & Houses (House 400+ sqm) award at the 2024 INT Interior Design Awards. This recognition speaks to Carola’s skill in designing spaces that balance comfort, style, and functionality—both indoors and outdoors.

Project Spotlight: Coconut Grove Villa

Assure Interiors’ award-winning “Coconut Grove Villa”

Located in Coral Gables, Florida, “Coconut Grove Villa” was conceived for a large international family with four children and two big dogs. The homeowners sought an environment that could seamlessly accommodate multi-generational entertaining, active outdoor living, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Carola and her team at Assure Interiors repurposed existing furniture pieces and international art from the clients’ previous home, adding new lighting fixtures and a mix of contemporary furnishings. The result is a serene, modern retreat that embraces Miami’s tropical lifestyle and offers functional, stylish living for a bustling family.

Interview with Carola Pimentel

Carola Pimentel

1. You grew up in the Dominican Republic in a family of contemporary and Latin American art collectors. How did that shape your approach to design?

Carola Pimentel: An enjoyment of art-filled homes, as well as my parents’ involvement in the interiors and hospitality industries, stimulated my interest in design and gave me an understanding of the practical elements involved in projects. As an interior designer, I—and our studio—excel at well-considered space planning, intuitively combining beauty and functionality with a client’s lifestyle.

My practical approach to design focuses on a clear layout and considered interior architecture, delivering light-filled, calming spaces. Early in my creative journey, I pursued a BFA at Ringling College, where I enjoyed exploring design in the context of a tropical setting. My early architectural influences included the work of Lina Bo Bardi—particularly her “Casa de Vidro” in São Paulo—and the “Casa Estudio” by Mexican architect Luis Barragán, both of which informed my approach to light, space planning, and context.

As a collector of contemporary art myself, I am drawn to small-scale sculpture and wall-mounted installations by Central European and Latin American artists, attracted by the three-dimensional quality and impact these pieces create in the context of a room.

2. What was the design brief for Coconut Grove Villa, and how did it inspire your creative approach?

Carola Pimentel: Assure was asked to design comfortable, stylish, and functional indoor and outdoor spaces for a large international family with four children and two big dogs. The house, with a pool, had to balance interiors for entertaining across generations while offering well-considered outdoor rooms for an active social life. We also needed space for the children.

We edited existing furniture pieces from a previous property and brought international art out of storage to repurpose for this new setting. The client required new lighting fixtures to create warm, welcoming rooms, along with a mix of contemporary furniture to enhance the fresh mood of the house. We oversaw the full decoration, introducing a serene palette of neutral hues and layering texture through tactile materials suitable for tropical living.

3. What challenges did you encounter while implementing your vision, and how did you overcome them?

Carola Pimentel: The paneled living room, centered by a mantlepiece integrated into the wood paneling, was a challenge. Positioned at the heart of the house and next to the kitchen and dining room, it could have felt like a corridor. Our well-considered space planning responded to the architecture by delivering two inviting seating areas and a large room that functions well despite the many doors.

4. Your work reflects a passion for both Art Deco and Mid-Century movements. How has your creative journey evolved?

Carola Pimentel: My work often reflects my passion for the Art Deco and later Mid-Century movements. Through regular research trips, I explore the influence of Art Deco style as interpreted across the Americas. Inspiring architectural details, craftsmanship, luxurious materials, and clean lines are adapted and interpreted for our clients’ bespoke projects.

Mid-Century architecture, particularly Miami and California houses dating from the 1940s, is referenced in our alluring use of natural light, signature large-format flooring, and built-in elements such as wood room dividers and paneling. I’m also interested in collectible design from Brazilian names like Sergio Rodrigues and Polish-Brazilian designer Jorge Zalszupin, known for their simplicity of line executed in exotic woods and leather.

I often explore and shop galleries and markets in Southern Europe, Morocco, and Mexico. My eye allows me to source and incorporate unusual finds and statement pieces from our network of resources into Assure’s projects.

5. How would you describe your design philosophy, and which principles guide your creative decisions?

Carola Pimentel: Assure’s approach often channels the lifestyles of places like Florida, California, and especially Rio, São Paulo, and Angra dos Reis in Brazil, subtly blending indoors and outdoors. Structured planning, considered lighting, and special finishes create a finely detailed envelope for decoration. We are known for our fresh and respectful approach to historical buildings and are regularly commissioned to create comfortable, clearly resolved interiors in buildings designed by top architects ranging from Rem Koolhaas and OMA to Foster + Partners.

Signature materials include white oak, walnut, natural stone, porcelain tiles, and terrazzo, selected to add warmth and visual interest. We always consider climate and appropriateness in response to each client’s needs. We gravitate toward calming hues and an earthy palette of sky and ocean blues, emerald and apple greens, and neutrals in stone and sand. Great thought goes into the influence of color on mood and well-being. We customize colors for different rooms to enhance usage, enjoyment, and function.

We source furniture and accessories from across the US and internationally, focusing on Spanish, French, and Japanese dealers, as well as up-and-coming Miami, New York, and California galleries. Bespoke elements—such as custom upholstery and cabinetry and one-of-a-kind pieces in acrylic—are key to achieving a unique vision for our clients.

6. Of all the projects you’ve worked on, which one is closest to your heart, and why?

Carola Pimentel: One of my first projects was an apartment in New York City, where I tackled all the challenges and constraints of working in a large residential building with limited access, as well as an interior layout from another era. This Pre-War building apartment began as a four-bedroom unit that I reimagined for a bachelor client who then became a repeat client. In addition to creating a space that suited his lifestyle at the time, dealing with the logistics of a historic building taught me how to respectfully rework the layout for contemporary life.

Every new project since then—whether in the Bahamas, the US, or beyond—brings exciting challenges as we create highly bespoke interiors for each of our clients.

7. How do you stay current with emerging design trends, and what informs your creative process?

Carola Pimentel: We don’t really follow trends as such; instead, we design interiors with longevity in mind. However, my team and I stay up to date with new collections and ideas through our relationships with favorite brands, as well as shopping and research trips across the US, Europe, and Latin America.

8. In what ways have you continued to grow as a designer?

Carola Pimentel: Our projects have not only grown in size but also in complexity. We’re usually involved from the early stages, working alongside the architects and developing the spaces until the client moves in. We often work with collectors or clients relocating to Florida, designing main homes and vacation homes. Each project allows me to grow as a professional. I enjoy drawing out a client’s dreams, understanding their personality and lifestyle, and then creating spaces that offer beautiful, functional solutions.

9. How do you balance your clients’ needs with your personal style? Has this approach evolved over time?

Carola Pimentel: Every project starts with the client’s needs and the functionality of the space. Clients who come to us typically already know and like our studio’s sensibility, as many find us through word of mouth or editorial coverage. Our relationships are built on trust, so once we begin, they trust us to deliver what’s best for their project.

Over time, both I and the studio have evolved because we’re fortunate to work with amazing clients who travel, are curious, and have varied interests. It’s a mutual process: we listen and provide our expertise, and they share their dreams, aspirations, and knowledge.

10. How do you feel about receiving an INT Interior Design Award for Coconut Grove Villa?

Carola Pimentel: My team and I are greatly honored to be recognized by peers in our industry and to be in the company of such great professionals.

The Impact of Carola Pimentel in Design

Through Coconut Grove Villa, Carola Pimentel showcases her talent for blending comfort, style, and practical ingenuity in a quintessential Miami setting. Her approach—rooted in the use of warm materials, thoughtful layouts, and a curated art selection—has positioned Assure Interiors as a leading force in creating interiors that bring clients’ visions to life while honoring architectural contexts. Carola’s dedication to exploring global influences and forging strong client relationships ensures that each new project is a fresh, exciting journey, pushing the boundaries of design in ways that stand the test of time.

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Check out other inspiring projects:
INT Interior Design Awards Winners
Assure Interiors: Official Website

Winner interviews