There was so much to see and enjoy. It will take more than one post to explore it all. So let's begin with The Loggia.
From the Loggia we entered the serene elegant Living Room. It invited us to sit and stay awhile.
The sideboard was overscaled but right at home in this room. The ornate antique gold leaf mirror gave a formal feeling and the pretty round ottoman found the perfect hiding place tucked underneath.
One delightful surprise was the pair of lavender velvet tufted chairs. Lavender has been popping up in design showrooms here and there. It breaks up the simple soft blue and white scheme so subtley.
The addition of a band of trim on the skirt of the sofa is a lovely detail. That's something you could do yourself. Once I hot-glued boullion fringe to the skirt of a sofa just to dress it up for a model home.
Off the formal living room is an area called The Cigar Room. It is decidedly masculine. The walls are navy blue creating an intimate but dramatic space.
Peering through the French doors we could see the patio and garden with the waterway beyond.
Off The Loggia is another welcoming room, The Study, with it's eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary. Is that lucite cocktail table a mid-century find or new?
On one side of the sitting area is a comfy traditional tufted club chair and antique table, resting on a more trendy geometric sisal rug.
On the opposite side are a pair of contemporary chairs with chrome arms and a sled base.
If you look back at the first image of this room you might spot a sculpture of 3 tall sticks, an interesting mix of classic and modern.
Continuing on our downstairs tour we entered the spectacular Kitchen. Why spectacular? First because of the height of the ceiling and exposed beams. And then there is that walk-in wine room! This end of the house was remodeled and included an addition, which we understand was only finished the day before the designers moved in!
Using three light fixtures hung at different levels can be more interesting than all in a row or one big fixture. This unexpected touch also gave reference to the tall ceiling.
The simple white cabinetry and marble countertops were classic but an intricate marble mosaic was a stand out on the backsplash.
The Formal Dining Room also blended old and new. Old were the antique oak dining table and well worn leather chairs. New were the chandelier, and the sisal carpet.
Again navy walls lent a warm cozy feeling but the beautiful classic Mizner style windows welcomed lots of sunlight.
Down a few steps from The Kitchen is The Family Room. What was different here was the more tailored, simple style. For someone who appreciates a more understated interior, this would be a great look. Still the walls were covered in grass cloth, the draperies had pretty banding and a scalloped cocktail table broke up the straight lines of the sitting group very nicely.
One of my favorite places in The Family Room is the wall with a writing desk. How unexpected to find it in front of a very overscaled floor mirror! The result was fabulous along with the pop of color in the red chair.
Wood floors are continuing to gain popularity and wood-like porcelain or ceramic tile is getting more realistic every day. Below are photos of both a real wood floor and a tile that looks like wood. Can you tell the difference?
Below is the photo that reveals which is which. Do you know how to tell? It's the grout. The grout on this floor is dark and blends nicely with the tile which is set very close together. Its a great look and is sometimes a more practical solution to a natural wood floor. (The first picture is also tile.)
The natural wood floor appeared when we entered what was called The New Master Bedroom. The seating area was so large you could entertain there. It was a beautiful blend of old and new. The new was the area itself having been the recent addition to the house. The "attitude" was old because there were touches of old Palm Beach design.
The color scheme was taken from the fabric which is a leafy pattern in many shades of green. Combining citron and tuquoise is very "Florida". The whole room had a vintage feeling.
Walking through the sitting area a spacious bedroom appeared. The chaise in the corner and piles of pillows on a elegantly dressed bed gave a very relaxed ambiance to this retreat. The morrocan lanterns over the night chests reminded me of the architecture of the house.
Looking up were two large tray ceilings with a hand painted leaf motif relating to the pattern on the drapery fabric. The design in the metal grid fabricated as cornices is repeated in the border of the ceiling as well. Details like this are what makes all the difference in a well designed space.
This close up reveals the color sheme. Because the shades, tints and tones of the many colors are used in such variation nothing seems to be to matchy matchy or contrived.
The painted glass bedside chests could be modern, but they could also be mid-century. Which do you think? A peak inside the drawer reveals they are new.
On a wall adjacent to the chest above is a striking vignette with an large antique desk, and a gorgeous vintage mirror and lamps with black string shades. This unexpected grouping could have been used as a desk or dressing table.
Being in The New Master bedroom hardly felt like it was a new addition at all because of the talent of it's interior designer.
Part of the allure of this home were not just the unexpected things that the designers did to add interest to their areas, but the interior architecture as well. There were four staircases....three real and one was a fabulous fake. Is the one below real or an impostor?
It's the fabulous fake! What an incredible effect this wallpaper mural had in The Playroom off The Family Room. It is such a tease and a fantastic way to add architectural interest. This is definitely an idea worth remembering.
But there are three real staircases that do beg you to venture up and explore, like the one below. It leads to a turret! When was the last time you were in a turret? Do you even know what a turret is?
According to Wikipedia:
"In architecture, a turret (from Italian: torretta, little tower; Latin: turris, tower) is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle."
That is as intriguing as this tiny winding staircase, literally only wide enough for one person at a time to pass through. Does it lead to the turret? What's up there?
There is so much more to be revealed but you will have to read my next post to find out what lies up those narrow steps.
Do you enjoy going to Designer Show Houses to get decorating inspiration? How do you feel about mixing old styles with more trendy ones? Can you think of a spot to add something unexpected to your decorating?
For more information on this Show House and a list of the participating Interior Designers go to
http://www.redcross.org/news/event/2015-Designers-Show-House or visit http://palmbeachlink.com/2015-american-red-cross-designers-show-house-a-wish-come-true/
As always I invite you to share your experiences and ideas in the comment box below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Happy Decorating!
If you would like assistance with a interior decorating project please email me at
pictureprettyint@aol.com
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