StoriesMarch 03, 2025

Kips Bay Decorator Show House, Palm Beach

Step Inside the Gilded Age 2.0 by Marisa Marcantonio

Designer:: Oxford Design Studio
Photographer:: Nick Sargent

Palm Beach is heating up. The spotlight on the manicured resort town long favored by the Jet Set has never been brighter, and is experiencing a white hot renaissance of sorts. Glamour, high style and design have always been synonymous with this idyllic South Florida barrier island, but recently, the design destination has turned up the dial. The sizzling hot spot is the epicenter of taste and style.

Why Palm Beach now? There is an amazing energy here, and we are ushering in an exciting new era of growth - what I like to refer to as the Gilded Age 2.0. Many people now call Palm Beach home year-round and have relocated here for the terrific quality of life - including myself! Drawn to the balmy weather, natural, manicured beauty, world class culture, vibrant social scene, rich history, architectural heritage and preservation, it's easy to see why all eyes are on Palm Beach.

It's been a packed season of design events and, one of my favorite annual events, the venerable Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach just opened its doors. Twenty three distinguished interior designers were selected to participate, and they transformed the stately 1930s Monterey-style house. The show house is held in West Palm Beach and is now in its eighth year. This year, the house is centrally located and easy to get to, at 1125 North Flagler Drive in the Providencia Park section, right near the Royal Poinciana Bridge.

Meet Me at the Casbah - Interior Design by Amal Kapen Interiors

How did you approach the lighting design for Meet Me at the Casbah?

"The lighting actually helped create three separate spaces and definitely had to make a statement. I've admired Vaughan's Alhambra Lantern for years and was waiting for the perfect space to use it- the brass finish and style compliments the Mediterranean style of the balcony which mimics an Islamic style terrace overlooking a courtyard. The lanterns are a perfect tribute to this style and they add an exotic element to the balcony." - Amal Kapen

Palm Beach meets Morocco on the balcony designed by Amal Kapen. Inspired by architect Addison Mizner's Arabesque flourishes and the architecture of Morocco, she has created a sorbet-hued, pastel haven filled with retro Old Florida nostalgia and a dash of polished neo traditional prep.

Amal Kapen is based in Cold Spring Harbor, New York, and specializes in new traditional interiors. With views of the pool below, and she mixes textures, materials and patterns, including rattan and decorative, painted surfaces.

The main seating area features punchy tropical hues, from the bold wide aqua and white awning stripes, to coral and white pillows. Inlaid Vaughan Octagonal Star Tables flank the seating, adding an exotic, hand-crafted element, along with a whimsical vintage camel garden stool. Overhead, three of Vaughan's pierced Alhambra Lanterns give Casbah vibes, casting a dappled reflection. A mint green bar with shell-backed chairs is at the ready, making cocktail hour a breeze, and who wouldn't want to enjoy a Palm Beach appropriate Southside cocktail while looking out at the pool, icy cold drink in hand?

A Gentleman's Retreat - Interior Design by Mally Skok Design

What can you tell us about your choices in Vaughan lighting and furniture and how they inform the design?

"I was immediately drawn to the architectural nature of the table lamps I chose. Very manly, and the bedside tables echoed the lamps with the clear lines and brass detail." - Mally Skok

Interior designer Mally Skok of Palm Beach, Boston, and Cape Cod is known for charming, colorful spaces that exude comfort and always have a sense of fun. She designed a gentleman's bedroom in an expressive print and pattern filled haven with striking hues of red and teal.

Grounded by darker wood tones, glints of gold and brass reflected through table lamps and sconces add sparkle. Antique and vintage pieces are paired with sleek, streamlined pieces, creating a varied mix. Used as nightstands, the contemporary Eccleston Tables made of brass topped with oak add a handsome air with clean lines. Angular brass Monmouth Table Lamps made using the lost wax casting technique provide ample light for reading, while the glamorous modernist Chetham Library Wall Lights (with a functional swivel) inspired by a French design from the 1950s illuminate from above.

Mixing graphic geometric prints and patterns from her namesake collection, Mally sets the stage with a dose of joyful flair. To ground the space, she has used a brown and beige striped Vaughan Kilim Rug, that adds a linear pattern underfoot. Decorative objects gathered from travels add character revealing the interests and personality of the gentleman who resides here. A tray complete with a fully stocked bar is illuminated by Vaughan's sculptural white earthenware Crossley Table Lamp, topped with the Jasmine Tribal Lampshade, made of a richly colored Indian block print fabric. Spaces to relax, including a window seat and a reading chair are an invitation to unwind, sip a cocktail, or enjoy a quiet moment of respite.

The Ladies Club of Palm Beach - Interior Design by Caroline Gidiere Design

What inspired the theme of your room and did that inform the Vaughan lighting you selected?

"I asked to use the Lotus Leaf Table Lamps as a nod to Lee Radziwill. She made these famous by using them in her Paris apartment and then again in New York. Tory Burch also used these Vaughan lamps in her bedroom at Waverly in the Hampton's - which itself is a nod to Lee's decor. My room was inspired in part by Lee's bedroom in Turville Grange, designed by Billy Baldwin, in 1960. Long story short - they were perfect." - Caroline Gidiere

With a prime view of the Intercoastal Waterway, Caroline Gidiere creates an inviting sitting room for a Palm Beach lady in salmon pink, lemon yellow, and palm green hues. Inspired by the rooms of legendary interior designers Frances Elkins, Billy Baldwin, and others, the design is part Apple TV's Palm Royale and part Slim Aarons iconic photographs. Channeling a refined bygone era with a dash of nostalgia the room is current and fresh. Caroline Gidiere Interiors is based in Birmingham, Alabama, and she creates classic American interiors with a modern sensibility, pairing antiques with joyful prints and prioritizing comfort and livability.

A fresh take on a classic Palampore print with salmon pink, lemon yellow, and palm green hues is used throughout, informing the decor's color scheme, from the charming decorative accessories and barware to the book spines lining the bookcase shelves. The space is organized for different uses, with a desk for letter writing illuminated by Vaughan's white earthenware Melon Vase Table Lamp, a hall table complete with a bar for impromptu cocktails, and a seating area optimized for gatherings large and small.

Feminine, playful touches create a whimsical feeling.The focal point of the room, a long floral print-covered ruffle skirt sofa, is flanked by antique nesting tables with two signature Vaughan pieces - brass Lotus Leaf Column Table Lamps - manufactured with a rare method of lost wax casting. Adding a shimmering golden glow, the brass lamp finishes carry through the room.

Vaughan's articulated brass Buckton Floor Lamps are nestled next to charming, skirted chairs, providing soft, layered light. Overhead, a circular leaf-adorned Vaughan Montferrat Leaf Chandelier painted in a textural, white finish adds a whimsical element. Decorative details and tropical touches include pieces of coral artfully displayed, vintage Palm Beach magazines, and whimsical accessories. There is even a retro pink rotary phone on a telephone table. The impact is a spirited joyful space with pretty details and endless charm that are worth lingering in.

Poolside Perch - Interior Design by Oxford Design

What can you tell us about your choices in Vaughan lighting and furniture and how they inform the design?

"The finishes of both the lighting and furniture reinforces our color palette ensuring a harmonious flow and allowing us to showcase pattern details on lampshades. The furniture sets the stage for a comfortable and functional room, while the lighting ensures the space is livable and easy to navigate." - Tate Casper and Jordan Winston, Oxford Design Studio

Oxford Design designed the covered lanai overlooking the pool and embraced indoor outdoor living.This is far from the traditional lanai of the past. Creating an outdoor living room, the space was influenced by a love of gardening and leisurely pursuits. This varied space is meant to be enjoyed throughout the day. Tampa, Florida's Oxford Design, led by Tate Casper and Jordan Winston, provides a fresh take on traditional classics, with a nod to British style.

As I walked through the space, each vignette stood out with memorable moments. A charming scenic wallpaper mural layered with gold starburst mirrors and a wicker console featuring Vaughan's ceramic Fishtail Vase Table Lamp in duck egg blue is topped with a coordinating embroidered Sophie Lampshade that lends a sophisticated air. Vaughan's lithe Grafton Floor Lamps flank a small sofa to complete the scene.

On the opposite end, a cozy seating arrangement is enhanced by a blue and white Vaughan Yuan Underglaze Jar Table Lamp with an Eva Tribal Lampshade made of a vibrant Indian block print fabric. Nearby, Vaughan's airy, modern glass-topped two-tiered Linwood Coffee Table made from Beechwood looks right at home. The seating areas encourage conversation from morning to cocktail hour and provide the ideal poolside spot to enjoy the palm trees and balmy breezes.

The Guest Suite - Interior Design by B.Berry Interiors

The house was built in the 1930's. Were there limitations with regard to the lighting plan?

"We had to work with a lot of the existing wiring in the home therefore the selection of the fixtures was critical to look of the space. The Vaughan Hudson Table Lamps, used bedside, turned out to be perfect for our aesthetic."

As I stepped into Betsy Berry's serene guest bedroom suite, I was immediately enveloped by a sense of refined elegance and modern sophistication. The Charleston-based designer's signature blend of classical and contemporary elements is immediately apparent. An olive green and cream color palette is used throughout, and a custom scenic Gracie wallpaper reinforces the color scheme and creates a connection with nature that exudes calm.

The star of the show is a custom cream linen-upholstered bed. It serves as a focal point, and is flanked by streamlined nightstands topped with Vaughan's handsome brass Hudson Table Lamps. They introduce a modern, masculine edge with their skyscraper-inspired geometric forms, adding both height and elegance to the bedside. The space is anchored by a large, abaca rug, its natural fibers adding warmth and texture, and along the wall, a cream L-shaped custom upholstered corner sofa enhances the room's comfortable, airy feel.

Positioned between two windows panels, an antique painted chest with classical lines adds visual interest, and the soft glow of the sleek Farnham Desk Lamp, a modernist brass desk light from Vaughan, introduces an architectural, sculptural form. The overall effect is a sophisticated retreat that feels like an exquisite sanctuary that masterfully balances luxurious, yet effortless, sophistication.

The house is open through Sunday, March 16, and if you are heading to South Florida, be sure to add it to your calendar because it is a must-see. Plus, proceeds benefit the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, two organizations that provide educational and developmental programs for children.

Open through March 16th
Monday through Sunday: 10am - 4pm

1125 N Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

For more information visit www.kipsbaydecoratorshowhouse.org/pbplanyourvisit

To learn more about the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club visit www.kipsbay.org/

Marisa Marcantonio Contributor

Design authority Marisa Marcantonio, founder of Stylebeatblog.com, has over 20 years of interior design industry experience, knowledge, and expertise. With prominent roles at shelter publications including House & Garden, House Beautiful and Oprah, Marisa is recognized for her discerning eye and expertise across digital content and e-commerce. She recently relocated to Palm Beach after two decades in New York City and is a creative consultant. She is a contributor to Palm Beach Cottages & Gardens, and serves on the design committee for Rooms with a View, the annual design event started by Albert Hadley in Southport, CT.

You can find her at @stylebeatblog on instagram and stylebeatblog.com

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