For the third year in a row, the Kips Bay Decorator Show House has presented a second property in Palm Beach in addition to its long-running event in New York City that benefits the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club. The 2020 Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach debuted Bamboo Hill, a sprawling home less than a block from the water, complete with a magnificent backyard oasis hidden behind the more modest facade of the home. This showhouse raises funds for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County and offers the public and design fans a chance to see a spectacularly decorated home with some very stylish trends, ideal for a more tropical climate.
Inspired by South African and Dutch architecture, the home is located at 260 Palmetto Lane in West Palm Beach’s South End. The two-story 8,751-square-foot residence has four bedrooms, five bathrooms, two casitas by the garden and a large pool house, in addition to a grand covered loggia and more outdoor relaxation space than you can imagine. All the spaces were transformed by 19 designers from across the country.
From the moment you enter the house, the entryway creates a natural and relaxed feeling, with its green hues and soft lighting. Called Le Jardin, it was created by Alizee Brion from studio Light on White in Miami. The marble console and chairs are from Light on White’s new Objets marble furniture collection. The amazing white porcelain floral sculptures on the wall were made by Valeria Nascimento and the side walls are covered with a leaf design that was painted by Austin Kerr.
The stunning great room, with soaring ceilings and balcony rooms at each end, is the central hub of the home and offers lovely views of the backyard out the French doors along the back. Designed by Suzanne Kasler of Atlanta, it includes some of the classic rattan furnishings that you would expect to find in Palm Beach, mixed with eclectic pieces and accented by salmon-colored walls and accents. The sprawling space is divided into a variety of seating areas to encourage coziness and intimacy. The two magnificent lighting fixtures are Water Lilies Chandeliers from Paul Ferrante.
This end of the great room is actually a foyer, designed by Brian and Alexandra Brady a father-daughter duo from Southampton, New York. Their light and airy space features backlit shelving underneath the stairs and a fun palm tree in the other corner behind another seating area.
Between the great room and the kitchen is a very stylish hallway/transitional area designed by Javier Fernandez of Transitional Designs, Inc. It features dark wood trim around framed wall panels of 3D suede tiles paired with a striking piece of black and white art. The five stools from V Rugs and Home along the wall offer function, but also a great deal of artful style because of the varied designs. Fernandez also designed the powder room and vestibule area.
Connecticut-based designer Sarah Blank pulled her inspiration from the Mediterranean for the comfortable kitchen. Rich blue cabinetry topped with Dekton countertops from Cosentino gives a pop to the space that features a massively long antique tailor’s table from Provence, accented with vintage urns. The rustic centerpiece is highlighted with a suspension fixture from designer Rosie Li. The latest Thermador appliances make the kitchen a cook’s dream from the functional side as well
Opposite the long countertop is an open storage closet that is super chic and more than handy. Whether storing wine, cookware or extra tableware, the walk-in space is a dream for those who want to be organized int the most stylish way.
At the top of the stairs overlooking the great room at one end is the Tropical Study that was designed by Leta Austin Foster of Palm Beach. This is a jungle-inspired oasis that has an eclectic mix of African and Asian accents — and teal zebra wallpaper. Hawaiian mission style chairs and a sofa feature an open arm design that is comfortable as well as more open and airier. The different throw pillows also add some whimsy to the space.
Nest door to the tropical study is a bedroom the designers entitled “It’s a Jungle Out There.” Robin Gannon Interiors artfully arranged the space to make the most of a smaller area by placing the headboard of the bed against the window. The opening in the headboard makes this possible because it allows plenty of natural light into the room. The art in the room is very light-hearted, ranging from a Batgirl piece to more classic vintage landscape the “Rebel” graffiti across it from Patina. The other dominant feature of the room is the large chandelier from Currey and Company, installed on a ceiling covered in wallpaper from Carlisle & Co.
On the other side of the great room, the staircase leading upstairs features a fabulous tiger motif on the rug. It’s a fitting nod to the Asian-inspired “Mindfulness Retreat” at the top of the stairs. New York designer Sarah Magness of Sarah Magness turned what used to the master study into a serene space that seems to float atop the great room. “Symphony Blue” by Benjamin Moore highlights the interior of the wall of shelving. At the center of the space is a meditation bed covered in Japanese style textiles with a natural feel and a bubbling water feature adds an extra dose of calm to the room.
This is the first of two master bedroom closets (his and hers!) that flank the bathroom and were designed by Betsy Wentz of Studio B Interior Design and Tom Kirchoff of Kirchoff & Associates Architects. This closet features plenty of wardrobe space and a mix of textiles that give it a gender-neutral flair ideal for a Florida home. Modern, bulbous chandeliers from Remains Lighting add just enough of a modern touch and tie together the plethora of textile patterns in the space.
Between the two closets is a bright and cheerful bathroom that also features a variety of patterns on the walls and ceiling, accented by the apple green vanity from Porath Fine Cabinetry. Brass hardware completes the vanity, which also has a gray undermounted rectangular sink from Kohler. Across the room is a large window next to the stand-along bathtub and behind it, a spectacular tile accent panel from Marble Crafters that features a lily pad tile design is a range of soft gray tones.
The lush and comfortable master bedroom designed by Alessandra Branca of New York is inspired by the colors and sights of Portugal, particularly its iconic tile designs. The bedroom touts blue-and-white wallpaper resembling Portuguese tile. The centerpiece of the room is a vintage bed that is combined with pieces from her own furniture line called Casa Branca. The walls are adorned with an absolutely stunning handpainted wallpaper that Branca designed for DeGournay, depicting Portuguese tile designs and other adornments.
The corner terrace just outside the master has seating and a breakfast area on one side, and this second side has a lounge area that is shaded by the roof and the floor-length striped curtains that surround it. Easy care sisal rugs anchor the space while the blue and white pattern ties in with the bedroom itself.
On the ground floor underneath the master bedroom is a separate guest suite or sitting room, called the “The Palmetto Snug.” Lucas Studios of West Hollywood pulled together a neutral palette warm tones for this relaxing space, added plenty of texture and populated it with some very interesting furnishings. Just outside is the terrace, done in the same colors but in deeper values. The wall of hand-painted ceramic shells is marvelous and the space calls you in to linger.
The final bedroom is a guest suite by Kevin Isbell Interiors of Los Angeles. Isbell calls it a “Writer’s Retreat,” centered around a pagoda-shaped daybed and a vibrant range of colors from eggplant, to lime green. Hand-painted scenic wallpaper by Gracie Studio adds a tropical motif to the room, fun lamps add to the whimsy and there’s even a big ceramic tiger from Eleish Van Breems Home to complete the space, said to be inspired a bit by Ernest Hemingway.
The outdoor spaces on this property are so incredibly inviting it would be hard to decide where to relax first. It’s impossible not to be taken by the main loggia along the back of the house, with its black and white palette punctuated by vibrant greens. Designed by Sherrill Canet Interiors, it features carpeting by Stark and a good deal of furniture from her own line for Richardson Allen. The loggia looks out over the back yard, gardens and inviting swimming pool.
Across the way is the Cabana Hideaway, created by Savage Interior Design. Inside, the furniture is contemporary, casual and unfussy. Featuring a black and white photograph by Nathan Coe, the space is ideal for escaping from the sun lounging in the evening. Inspired by trips to the West Indies, the textural elements and draped wall make this a breezy, yet luxurious and relaxing space.
The property includes two other casitas, one of which is “the Sanctuary” by Keith Baltimore of New York. A duo of massage tables is ideal for couples or guests to indulge in a massage and the surroundings are eminently relaxing. Shades of silver, gray and blush pink create a glamorous, serene room filled with fresh air and lots of natural materials.
A second outbuilding, created by Nieverra Williams Design, was crafted to create a space to showcase and appreciate an art collection. A bohemian mix of furnishings and rugs makes the room a very comfortable space for lingering and looking.
Attached to the house by the kitchen is a dining pavilion that was decorated by Colette van den Thillart Interior Design. Surrounded by vine-covered plaster palm tree columns and decorative trellises, the space is grounded with a black and white palette that is accented with warm colors that lend it a hint of the exotic. The pavilion, covered by an arbor, includes plenty of furniture for relaxing and is lined with long rectangular Turkish style cushions for extra seating.
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