Step Inside the Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach

Design aficionados attending the third annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach will not be disappointed.  This year, the magnificent plantation-style estate, owned by famed interior designer Lars Bolander, located in the quaint South End neighborhood of West Palm Beach, set the stage for the highly anticipated event.  Nineteen talented designers from around the country, including several from South Florida, transformed the home’s bedrooms, bathrooms, living areas, terraces, kitchen and guest and pool houses with their unique and sophisticated styles.  Designing South Florida toured the 8,751-square-foot home inspired by South African and Dutch architecture and met with some of the designers.

Upon entry, the first room we encountered was the Le Jardin entryway designed by Alizee Brion of Miami-based studio Light on White.  The tropical-style room was full of natural elements, including Light on White’s new Objets marble furniture collection, a hand-painted leaf mural by Austin Kerr, and a stunning wall decorated with white porcelain florals crafted by Valeria Nascimento.

The first guest suite designed by West Hollywood-based Lucas Studio was a favorite.  The Palmetto Snug suite was converted into an intimate sitting room with custom fireplace, vintage style furnishings and a bar complete with copper-lined ice drawers designed by Joe Lucas himself. We fell in love with the ceramic shells by Cape Town artist found on the outside terrace.

Designer Kevin Isbell of Los Angeles​ transformed the second guest suite into a Writer’s Retreat, inspired by Ernest Hemingway and his travels.  It’s a colorful room with a stunning pagoda-shaped daybed, hand-painted tropical walls and vintage desk and chair accessorized with an antique typewriter and writing pad that reads “write drunk, edit sober.”

The Suzanne Kasler-designed Great Room with views of the outdoor loggia, pool, and gardens was a nod to quintessential Palm Beach with classic rattan white sofas and chairs set against pink and salmon-colored walls and bookcases and wallcovering with intricate flower details.

From the modern vestibule and hallway featuring contemporary art pieces and pouf ottomans by Boca Raton-based designer Javier Fernandez of Transitional Designs, Inc., we segue into the spacious kitchen designed by Sarah Blank Design Studio.  Inspired by classical architecture, the kitchen is anchored by bright blue cabinets and white marble countertops.  A light pendant made of brass drapes over an antique wooden island accented with old terracotta olive oil containers.

A tiger embellished staircase runner representing strength and protection, according to designer Sarah Magness, led us to the upstairs Master Study. Boasting Japanese furnishings and decorative items, the study features a meditation bed and a Koi pond-inspired wallcovering on the ceiling resulting in a peaceful, zen retreat.

Also upstairs is the Tropical Study by Palm Beach-based Leta Austin Foster, who turned the room into a jungle-inspired den featuring African and Asian-style accents including a teal China-Seas-custom Nairobi wallpaper. We particularly loved the Hawaiian mission open arm wooden chairs for their style, comfort, and decorative leaf pattern, which are available for sale at her Palm Beach boutique.

As we entered the second-floor jungle-themed guest bedroom, the first thing we noticed was the captivating chandelier with wrought iron spokes and draping crystal beads. Designed by Massachusetts-based Robin Gannon, the room has a playful vibe featuring a dramatic bed with a plaid tufted headboard that’s set against the window with red and white canopy curtain. The playfulness continues with an eye-popping “Batgirl” art piece that hangs above a wooden colonial desk with bright red drawers. The bathroom stood out with a white vintage mirror hanging above the clawfoot bathtub. French doors connect the bedroom to a private terrace overlooking the pool and the home’s lush gardens.

Our grand tour ended with designer Keith Baltimore’s impressive Guest Casita where he transformed the guest house into a sophisticated sanctuary with shades of peach, grey, and aqua throughout including the massage tables, rug, draperies, and wall coverings.

Other designers showcasing their work that are not to be missed include Brady Design, Sherrill Canet Interiors, Colette van den Thillart, Savage Interior Design, Branca, Inc., Kirchhoff & Associates and Betsy Wentz.  Landscape Architect, Lopez Group, Inc. designed the home’s front gardens, and the rear patio and pool gardens were designed by Nievera Williams Design, Inc.

Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach is located at 260 Palmetto Lane in West Palm and is open daily until March 1^st.  All proceeds from the show benefit the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club and Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.  Visit ​www.kipsbaydecoratorshowhouse.org​ for more information on the show and the designers.