Is it still Spring Break if you’re traveling for business? I was lucky enough to be in Palm Beach, Florida this month for the Design Social Pop-up. As a first-time visitor, I was curious about the history of the famous resort town, and how it became an unlikely design capital, with a thriving decorator scene. Here I’ll share a “scrapbook” of my search for classic Palm Beach style.
Pink paradise
Palm Beach architecture has its own aesthetic sensibility: a mix of Mediterranean, Renaissance, and Deco that is a delight to explore.
Many of its iconic structures were built by architect Addison Mizner, a colorful character whose pet monkey is immortalized as the mascot for The Colony hotel, a bubblegum pink mid-century icon.
Fun fact: Mizner’s life was so eventful, it became the basis for the Stephen Sondheim musical, “Road Show.”
Gilded glamour
I can’t resist a house tour. “Whitehall” is the Gilded Age estate of Florida developer Henry Flagler. His presence on the island helped establish Palm Beach as a winter destination for the era’s wealthy. The interior did not disappoint. My favorite moment is the palatial yellow bathroom. Even the bored teenager in my tour group gasped at the sight of it!
If you go…
There is much to see- I found the design community there to be thriving! Here are a few of my recommendations:
- Antique Row is a mostly walk-able strip of over 50 antique stores! My favorite shops are Galeré for mid-century, and The Elephant’s Foot for a bit of everything.
- The Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum has a fun fashion exhibition on Palm Beach’s influence on resortwear. The docents will give a charming walk-through upon request.
- Kips Bay Showhouse just closed, but there’s a great recap in Veranda here.
- @Class of Palm Beach I love this Instagram account that interviews stylish locals about what they’re wearing.