Distinguished Speaker Series – Juan Montoya

On Thursday of last week, I was so grateful to be in the presence of Juan Montoya at the Miromar Design Center in Estero, Florida. I sat front row and center so I would not miss a thing (and hoping through telepathy I may pick up a thing or two).

Juan Montoya is a member of the Interior Design Hall of Fame, Architectural Digest magazine’s TOP 100, and one of the most acclaimed designers in the world today. He came to share with us his view on the relationship between the client and the project and how chemistry must exist between the client and the project in order for it to be a success.

As the artistic design director for the Miromar Design Center (formerly known as the International Design Center) and the Miromar Lakes Beach Club, voted #1 Clubhouse in the United States by the National Association of Home Builders, I was especially excited to be in the same vicinity as Juan Montoya considering these venues are right in my back yard.

One of the noted gifts Juan Montoya has is being a truly creative designer and coming up with fresh ideas for each new client. “I don’t have any stamp on my work,” says Juan Montoya, stated in Architectural Digest. “I don’t repeat myself. Every client has different needs and expectations. I tailor my design to each.” He laughed when he said he may use the same trash can in two different homes but that is about it.

During Juan’s slide show presentation, he elaborated on his key tricks of the trade. First, when he is asked to look at a residence, he is primarily concerned with the natural light from the outside, the views, and the climate. Second, scale is the essence of design. Juan stated, “You must relay the piece of furniture to the space.” Last but not least his kean sense for elegantly incorporating pieces and art from a variety of cultures into a home as focal points.

I am always interested to learn how someone of Juan’s caliber started in this field and how his journey brought him to where he is now. Architectural Digest published an article titled “From Bogotá to New York with Creativity and Drive” which describes his path through life, his detours, and his destiny…Definitely worth reading.

Juan graced the Baker Showroom with a cocktail party and book signing after his presentation. Unfortunately, with sick children, I was not able to stay to enjoy the event or thank him for inspiring me with his talent and success. Juan…Thank you for all you have done for the interior design industry, especially for being a part of my world last week.

***All photos courtesy of Architectural Digest (These are some of my favorites). To see more photos from Juan Montoya’s portfolio, please visit his website.