Villa Miami Penthouse | Inside the Three-Story Sky Estate Designed by Vicky Charles

At the top of Villa Miami, a 56-story tower rising along Biscayne Bay, a three-level residence challenges conventional ideas of vertical living. Spanning more than 15,000 square feet, the penthouse was conceived as a true house in the sky, offering the scale, privacy, and flow of an estate home distributed across three floors. 

Designed by Vicky Charles of Charles & Co., the residence marks her first condominium project in Miami. Rather than leaning into the city’s typical high-gloss aesthetic, Charles drew inspiration from mid-century Italian villas and the shifting light of the bay. Her focus was on materiality, proportion, and livability, creating spaces meant to be lived in, not just admired.

A sculptural spiral staircase anchors the home, rising through its center and framed by expansive water views. Diamond-patterned stone floors, hand-applied plaster walls, and soft, indirect lighting establish a calm, cohesive language that carries throughout the three levels. The palette favors natural stone, warm metals, and layered textures, lending the residence a sense of permanence.

The entrance level is dedicated to private living. The primary suite is positioned to capture uninterrupted bay views, joined by two additional bedrooms, an office, and a family room. Secondary spaces are treated with the same attention as the main rooms: a corner study includes a built-in bar, while a recreation room is finished with a marble bar accented in copper, a subtle nod to the tower’s exterior exoskeleton. 

The second level centers on gathering and entertaining. A chef’s kitchen, developed in collaboration with Major Food Group co-founder Mario Carbone, brings restaurant-level function into a residential setting. Outfitted with CornuFé ranges by La Cornue, Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, professional-grade pasta cookers, and Italian cabinetry, the kitchen is designed for real use. A concealed prep kitchen and wine cellar sit just beyond, allowing the primary space to remain visually calm while supporting larger gatherings.

From the kitchen, the plan flows into a great room and formal dining area, all opening onto a waterfront terrace. Rather than compartmentalizing functions, the layout encourages movement and connection, accommodating both everyday living and entertaining at scale.

The top level is conceived as a private wellness and leisure floor. A bayfront infinity pool anchors the space, joined by a gym, sauna, steam room, massage suite, lounge, billiards room, and bar. Covered outdoor areas extend the living space into the open air, blurring the boundary between indoors and out. 

The penthouse crowns Villa Miami, a low-density condominium in Edgewater developed by Terra, One Thousand Group, and Major Food Group. Designed by ODP Architects, the 650-foot tower is defined by its copper-toned exoskeleton and waterfront setting, with just 70 residences in total. Hospitality elements curated by Major Food Group are integrated throughout the building, reinforcing the idea that lifestyle and architecture are inseparable.