Behind the scenes at Miami Beach’s adults-only Julia Tuttle hotel, opening Thursday

The Julia, a 29-room hotel named after Miami founder Julia Tuttle, will join Miami Beach’s collection of art-inspired accommodations when it opens its doors Thursday.

The hotel, in Miami’s up-and-coming South of Fifth neighborhood, incorporates the modern vibe of the neighborhood with the Art Deco building’s history: The Julia is built on the foundations of a former hotel built in 1932. And it’s adults-only, but that doesn’t mean anything R-rated — the hotel is just 18 and up.

Located at 336 Collins Ave., The Julia’s common areas prominently feature modern artwork and portraits, Cuban tile flooring, a commissioned shell-encrusted female bust and Turkish pillows and throws that allude to the wealth of the 1930s. The design, by Seattle-based architect and interior designer Stephen Busto, plays homage to the old Miami — a nod to the city its namesake built.

Busto plays off a color scheme of coral and gray that incorporates eclectic decor and rocking chairs in a lobby styled after what Tuttle’s living room might have looked like. The lobby’s main art detail is a portrait wall with the paintings half obscured by a large gray stripe that bisects the walls.

Five two-story “Ibis” bedrooms feature paper-cut butterfly art installations by Japanese artist Yumiko Mizutani that hang from the vaulted ceilings in shades of blue, green and pink.

Room rates start at $129 a night. The hotel is offering 15 percent off bookings made in August for stays through Dec. 15.

This story was originally published August 9, 2017 at 5:03 PM with the headline "Behind the scenes at Miami Beach’s adults-only Julia Tuttle hotel, opening Thursday."