A Palm Beach Primer (2 of 2)

By Marni Elyse Katz
March 25, 2010

Palm Beach, a place where preppy colors and patterns meld joyously with touches of Chinoiserie and ceramic frogs that are inarguably jolie-laid, is experiencing a style renaissance. We talked with five designers who are experts at the preppy-with-a-wink look. Hear from two below and from the rest by clicking here.

Amanda Nisbet of Amanda Nisbet Design, New York City

Fabric picks: My new fabric line from Holland and Sherry (above)

Paint color picks: Benjamin Moore “Nacho Cheese,” “New Lime,” and “Summer Blue”

Furnishing and accessories picks: My Anna Leah Lamp from the Amanda Nisbet Designs Collection for The Urban Electric Company; Airdrie Bluebell drapes

Must-have elements: A good antique; fabulous light fixture; sisal rug; reclaimed wood table; linen upholstery; raffia wall covering

Style icons: Oliver Messel, Nicki Haslam

eBay search terms: high gloss, raffia, resin finish, tufted, vibrant

Nisbet's eBay Picks

Chinese Chippendale Faux Bamboo Set 4 Carver Armchairs (sold for approx. $859), Hollywood Regency Faux Bamboo Diamond Coffee Table Base (sold for $70), McGuire Sheaf of Wheat Coffee Table (sold for $99)

Palmer Weiss of Palmer Weiss Interior Design, San Francisco

Photo Credits for interiors images above: yellow dining room and kitchen by Matthew Millma; orange curtains and yellow monogrammed bed by Kirsten Beckerman

Fabric picks: Glazed floral chintzes; needlepoints or silk velvets leopard or zebra; ikats; shiny patent leathers or pleathers in fun colors; oversized toiles

Paint color picks: Since I use so many colors in my furnishings and fabrics, I often use white on walls. One of my favorites is Benjamin Moore “Lancaster Whitewash," especially in rooms that have robin’s egg blues and greens, as it has a very subtle undertone that picks up these colors beautifully. I love Farrow and Ball “Blue Ground” (above) in Full Oil High Gloss. It turns any room into a Tiffany’s box and makes white furniture pop. For a totally preppy look, you can go with bright green like Benjamin Moore’s “Stem Green” or for a funkier acid green, look to colors by Fine Paints of Europe.

Furnishing and accessories picks: Anything with fretwork; faux bamboo; pieces covered in lacquered grass cloth; Chinese Chippendale chairs; ‘60s furniture repainted white; garden furniture used indoors, like ceramic stools, lattice planters, and wire chairs

Must-have elements: something totally irreverent and kitschy (funky pottery, crazy throw pillow, etc.) that shows that you either have too much money to care about being eccentric or you’ve baked your brain for too many years in the sun; crisp, happy color combos, like pear green and bright orange, bright blue and white, or fuchsia with lots of white furniture; ceramics, either on display or hung on walls.

Style icons: Jonathan Adler, Oscar de la Renta

eBay search terms: bamboo, Chinoiserie, fretwork, Hollywood Regency, pagoda