From peachy pinks to pineapple prints, you don’t have to travel all the way to Florida to enjoy the fruits of the Palm Beach interior design style…
What is Palm Beach Style?
Palm Beach, Florida, sometime during the late 1950s: juice stand owner Lilly Pulitzer commissions her dressmaker to create a uniform that disguises citrus splashes. The result? A comfortable, colourful printed shift dress that rocks the fashion world. A piece that took all the glitz and glamour of an affluent coastal town and combined it with vibrant and playful design. Of course, it soon made its way into every wardrobe, before taking over entire homes and eventually becoming the interior design style we know and love today.
Let’s take a look at some of key elements of Palm Beach style and how to incorporate them into your own home…
Colour Combinations
Since the 1960s, Palm Beach style has served as inspiration for artists ranging from interior designers to directors–like Wes Anderson, famous for using Palm Beach colour palettes to create a unique aesthetic. These include tropical tones–such as sunshine yellows, sea blues, and leaf greens–as well as more subtle shades like dusky pinks and sandy beiges. Which provides a lot of choice when it comes to decorating your home. For example, you might opt for varied hues of blue, or a more neutral scheme with blue accents, or maybe even experiment with complementary colours. The possibilities are endless!
Textures and Materials
Natural materials such as rattan, bamboo and wood–as well as cottons and linens–are synonymous with Palm Beach style. And that’s because coastal living means closeness to nature. As we’ve previously learned from looking at biophilic design principles, decorating with organic elements allows us to feel more connected with the great outdoors. As a result, we are likely to feel less stressed and at ease within a space. Choosing furniture that would work in both home and garden is an ideal way to blur the line between interior and exterior environments to create a more relaxed, light and breezy atmosphere.
Themes and Motifs
The first things that come to mind when you think ‘tropical’ can be powerful tools when trying to emulate this particular vibe. Seashells, pineapples, exotic birds: motifs are the perfect way to add a touch of whimsy to your interior. Though you should always consider both quality and quantity in doing so, aiming for sophistication rather than kitsch. Palm Beach style may be all about eclecticism, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work for minimalists, too. Selecting one or two stand-out designs, or making a series of more subtle gestures will also help to achieve the look.
The fabulous nautical-inspired Oval Veneer 3 Door Buffet features handcrafted artistic detail of a ships’ hull and wheel, ropes, and knots.
Prints and Patterns
But it’s not all boating and botanicals. True Palm Beach style is about being playful, and that means experimenting with a wide range of designs–from geometric patterns to animal prints. If you love this look, but don’t have the time or confidence to go it alone, get in touch to discuss our luxury interior design service. Everything available is also fully customisable, allowing you to choose the perfect shape, size and colour for your home.
Pure Luxury
Commonly associated with both Hollywood Glamour and Regency style, Palm Beach is built on luxury. Therefore, opulent materials including silks, velvets, marble and veneer are a must when attempting this look. Combining elements such as gold accents and lacquered surfaces with softer, more textured pieces can balance out overly rustic settings and help create an atmosphere that is both wand and elegant. Alternatively, you can make a statement with a stunning chandelier or exquisite mirror, adding instant grandeur to any space.
In essence, Palm Beach style combines natural beauty, playful design and pure luxury in an all-out celebration of coastal living. By embracing its vivid colours, organic textures, whimsical motifs and lavish materials, you too can invite the sunshine and sophistication of Florida’s finest into your home–wherever in the world that may be!
We’re Here to Help
Get in touch to find out more about our award winning luxury interior design service.
If you need help choosing your luxury furniture, our design team is always on hand. For advice on sizes, colours, fabrics and finishes, or to design the perfect space for you, contact us.
