SPRING IN FULL BLOOM - MARKET EVENT 2026

Sandra Diaz-Velasco
EOLO Architecture + Interiors
Principal Architect & Interior Designer

At the helm of EOLO Designs is the creative virtuoso, Sandra Diaz-Velasco, whose architectural acumen spans more than two decades of stardom in high-end residential and commercial design circles across the Americas. A reservoir of accolades follows Sandra, including a Merit Award from AIA Miami for Interior Architecture and numerous features in coveted publications like Architectural Digest. Her firm’s work transcends boundaries, winning over 60 architecture and design awards, reflecting Sandra’s immutable position as a trailblazer in the field. EOLO Designs pledges a steadfast dedication to innovation and improvement, approaching design with an equal measure of artistic sensibility and engineering acumen. This design philosophy has enabled EOLO Designs to deliver avant-garde solutions that resound with a sense of place, purposefully connect with nature, and evoke a sustainable future.

Matt Ellish
Ellish Builders
President & CEO

Matt Ellish brings to Ellish Builders more than 15 years of real estate experience. After graduating from the University of Michigan Business School and the University of Florida Law School, Matt practiced real estate law in Miami before holding senior leadership positions including general counsel for two prominent South Florida development companies. With a nuanced understanding of development and acute insight into the South Florida real estate market, Matt brings his business acumen, entrepreneurial drive, and real estate passion to Ellish Builders where he is committed to delivering a premium luxury residential experience and product for decades to come.

Adriana Hoyos
Head Designer, AHC Group

Adriana Hoyos co-founded Adriana Hoyos in 1994. An internationally recognized leader in the design space, Adriana has a career that spans over 30 years consisting of thousands of interior design projects and over 13 furniture collections. In addition to acting as principal and creative director for her namesake brand, Adriana is also founder of Adriana Hoyos design studio, which focuses on offering design services to clients around the world ranging from residential to hospitality and commercial spaces. Adriana has been credited as one of the top design minds in Latin America, bringing a warm, timeless sophistication to the industry.

Rayana Schmitz
Firefinish Interiors
Founder, Principal Designer

Firefinish Interiors is a South Florida–based full-service interior design studio led by Brazilian-born founder and principal designer Rayana Schmitz, whose unexpected path from firefighter to designer fuels her bold, solutions-driven approach.

​Known for a signature blend of elevated ease, sculptural form, and richly layered organic textures, our studio creates environments that feel both artful and effortlessly livable. We reimagine comfort through thoughtful craftsmanship, refined materiality, and a modern, quietly confident sensibility.

Lauren Malo
Marketing Manager
AKDO

AKDO is a company literally built on love. So, when we say our motto is “Far Beyond the Surface” we really mean it. A family company, AKDO was founded 25 years ago as a way to create something that could keep two brothers vitally connected across a vast ocean and amid a sea of personal challenges. Our CEO, Hakki Akbulak was looking for a way that he could start a company with his brother, who was far away in Turkey and suffering from a life-threatening illness. Hakki, who is an ace at accounting and a born entrepreneur, asked himself, “What does Turkey have that America needs?” The answer: beautiful, abundant, natural stone. AKDO, and our ‘brother company’ Silkar, a joint enterprise that today comprises multiple quarries, factories, ateliers and a vast distribution network in the luxury tile and stone markets both here and around the world.

Spring in Full Bloom: Materials Matter explores the power of materials to shape the spaces we inhabit and the experiences we create. As the season symbolizes renewal and growth, this panel brings together designers, makers, and industry leaders to discuss how thoughtful material choices drive sustainability, innovation, and beauty. From emerging eco-conscious solutions to timeless natural elements, our speakers will examine how materials influence aesthetics, performance, and environmental impact — and why they matter now more than ever.

Moderator
Luis R. Rigual Editor and Chief Florida Design Magazine