Miami HEAT

A new mood is emerging, as seen at this Florida party pad, courtesy of designer Tiffany Howell of Night Palm

- Tiffany Howell

It started with a playlist. Not a colour palette or a design movement but rather the sounds of Lana Del Rey, Madonna in her Music era, and that smooth operator Sade. Because for A-list interior designer Tiffany Howell, vibes are best communicated in music and lyrics. "People know how they want to feel within their home, but don't know how to express it," she explains. "Music is a universal language ... it helps [people] understand the mood." And if Madonna is to be believed "it makes the people come together." Even across countries with only video calls to help decide on furniture.

And so it was with electronic, sophisti-pop thoughts that Howell went to work on this Miami condo for Jena Covello, founder of organic beauty brand Agent Nateur. Howell designed the project remotely from Los Angeles, while Covello was on the ground in Miami as European shipments of furniture arrived. Still, they had no trouble getting on the same wavelength. With just three words from Covello - "Miami sex den" - Howell knew she had found the perfect co-conspirator. "Jena and I made a good team," she says. "We were able to pull it off."