Aerin Lauder's Palm Beach

My girl crush Aerin Lauder is having a Tastemaker Tag Sale over at One Kings Lane, and let me tell you... I want every single item she has curated! Aerin has been coming to Palm Beach since she was a little girl (click here to tour the Lauder's oceanfront Palm Beach manse), and she knows all the best spots for amazing vintage furniture and jewelry shopping. Below is a small sampling of items available through Aerin's sale...

Click here for availability, and hurry... everything is one of a kind is moving at lightening speed! 

Aerin is also sharing her Insider's Guide to Palm Beach with One Kings Lane, and it is not to be missed! Here are a few highlights... 

A sandy stroll along the beach... 

Shop and people-watch on Worth Avenue!

Check out the cool tilework, a hallmark of Palm Beach style. 

Get starry-eyed over the display of blue and white porcelain at F.S. Henemader. 

Purchase colorful handkerchiefs at Groovy Palm Beach Vintage, a favorite stop for iconic style-setters including Iris Apfel and Betsey Johnson.  

Stop by House of Lavande, a gem of a jewelry shop not to be missed!

EAT…

… at Bistro Chez Jean-Pierre for a little bit of Paris in Palm Beach. This always-lively, art-covered bistro is a locals’ fave and one of the spots Aerin was most excited to bring our team to. Everyone had a blast swapping stories over the eatery’s mouthwatering French fare.

…at The Breakers’ Beach Club restaurant for ocean views and can’t-miss conch fritters (one of Aerin’s must-orders).

…at Sprinkles for what might just be the best ice cream cone you’ve ever had. Aerin always gets coconut with rainbow sprinkles, the same sweet treat she used to order as a little girl.

 SHOP…

…at the House of Lavande for incredible vintage pieces sourced everywhere from Parisian flea markets to Beverly Hills estate sales. Our team morphed into giddy little kids when they started opening its color-coded drawers!

…at Circa Who, a quirky-cool vintage shop full of Palm Beach-style pieces—think vibrantly colored accents, seashell and coral motifs, and plenty of rattan, bamboo, and chinoiserie. It reminds Aerin of her grandmother Estee’s aesthetic.

…at Lilly Pulitzer for their signature beyond-bright clothing. To Aerin, this shop embodies Palm Beach style with its vibrant florals and wildly contrasting colors.

…at the Church Mouse, the thrift store of your dreams, where locals flock to score big-name brands at prices that won’t break the bank.

…at Cashmere Buffalo for vintage everything from mid-century furniture to gorgeous old linens.

Click above to see Palm Beach through Aerin’s eyes and get the scoop on her can’t-miss shops.

Check out One Kings Lane for more of Aerin's tips, and hurry over to her Tastemakers Tag Sale, because everything is selling like hotcakes! Also, click here to learn more Aerin's book, Beauty at Home. It is one of my absolute favorites! 

The Brazilian Court Hotel in Palm Beach

Last month, my husband and I took a mini vacation to Palm Beach.  Off season (May through October) is my favorite time to visit Palm Beach, as the island turns into a quiet, sleepy little getaway with the year-round population dwindling to roughly 10,000 from its seasonal high of 30,000 (according to Wikipedia). In addition, hotels slash their rates 40 percent or more in order to attract visitors, and there are some fabulous deals and sales that allow you to take advantage of all Palm Beach has to offer at a fraction of the seasonal cost.

The Brazilian Court Hotel

Our favorite place to stay in Palm Beach is The Brazilian Court Hotel, which was ranked the #1 hotel in the state of Florida by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine's Readers' Choice Awards in 2013. Built in 1926, the Brazilian is part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Historic Homes of America.

One of the many reasons we love The Brazilian is because it is pet friendly, offering a $100 non refundable fee per stay. Our pet sitter was unavailable for this trip, which meant the girls - Marilyn Monroe, our Labradoodle, and Phoebe, our Chihuahua - came with, and they had a fantastic time! The staff at the Brazilian offers such impeccable service... they really know how to make you feel pampered. When we arrived at our room, we were met with this delicious plate full of macaroons, chocolates, and treats...

I forgot to take a picture of our room before we unpacked, but it looked a lot like this... Staying on the first floor allows easy access to the courtyards and side streets, where we walked our doggies. It truly felt like home! 

Phoebe and Marilyn Monroe relaxing in the courtyard.

One of the best things about the Brazilian is it's convenient in town location. You can walk just about everywhere, including Worth Avenue, which is just a few blocks away.

Marilyn Monroe at the Dog Bar on Worth Avenue

Here are more pictures we took of the hotel and grounds...

This quiet lounge was located just outside our room.

Love the original Pecky Cyprus on the ceilings, a Palm Beach classic!

While in Palm Beach, one simply must partake in the Happy Hour specials, and Happy Hour in The Lounge of Café Boulud at the Brazilian is one of my favorites. They offer half price drinks and yummy $8 small plates daily from 4 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. While not on the Happy Hour menu, I am also a big fan of the White Cosmopolitan... I'm kind of obsessed with the orchid ice ball.

The Brazilian is also a very popular wedding destination. While we were there, we saw two adorable brides-to-be touring the grounds.  It reminded me of this Lilly Pulitzer inspired wedding photo shoot from Southern Weddings last year...

The Brazilian is also a fantastic location for a ladies' luncheon or shower. Palm Beach Lately recently featured this adorable luncheon at Café Boulud they hosted for Three Jane, a company that specializes in unique map necklaces.

The fabulous Palm Beach Lately sisters... You can read more about them here!

On my wish list is the Palm Beach map necklace with the Brazilian Court, available through Palm Beach Lately! 

We cannot wait to go back to Palm Beach! Next time we will take advantage of the Brazilian's "Wine, Dine & Stay" package, which starts at $259 a night and offers a four course menu for two at Boulud Sud, a pop-up restaurant based on Chef Daniel Boulud's Manhattan-based location of the same name, and a glass of rosé per person. This package is available now through October 1, 2014.

Please stay tuned for more on my favorite things to do in Palm Beach! 

Palm Beach Chic on the Cheap

How adorable are these banana leaf shorts?! Can you believe they are on sale at JCPenney for just $17.99? And Penney's is currently having an additional sale... use code SAVEHERE to take 20% off all online purchases over $100, or 15% online or in stores. I bought a pair, and I absolutely LOVE them! I wear mine with a white tunic like this one from Lilly Pulitzer, and my gold Jack Rogers Navajos.  The scarf is only $11.99 with the SAVEHERE code! I'm stocking up for Christmas gifts, shhh...

banana leaf shorts ($14.39), scarf (11.99)  

prices include 20% SAVEHERE discount

And speaking of JCPenney, did you know that Kenneth Jay Lane has partnered with the retailer to create a line of reasonably priced jewelry? "The king of costume jewelry" was a mainstay of 1960s high society, and his designs adorned the world's most stylish women including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Diana Vreeland. Many of his vintage pieces have been sold at auction by Christie's and Sotheby's.  Here are a few of my favorite pieces from his KJL line for Pennney's.  

coral earrings ($39.99), starfish ring ($54.99), turquoise bracelet ($74.99), tassel earrings ($19.99), elephant ring ($49.99), turtle ring ($49.99), white cabochon earrings ($29.99), octopus ring ($54.99),  owl necklace ($64.99), turquoise ring ($44.99) tiger ring ($49.99)

Prices reflect 20% SAVEHERE discount

Target also has some adorable Preppy/Palm Beach Chic bargains, and they are having a huge buy one get one half off sale through tomorrow! Here are a few of the goodies on my list... The green cardigan and blue and pink scarf have adorable whales on them that look like Vineyard Vines, and I'm dying over the Scalamandre inspired zebra scarf (also available in green)... I have seen this exact scarf for twice the price at other websites!  

whale cardigan ($22.99), chunky link gold bracelet ($16.99) and necklace ($24.99), zebra scarf  ($19.99 also available in green), flamingo bracelet ($12.99), frog bracelet  ($12.99), bumble bee bracelet ($12.99), nautical short sleeve sweater ($19.99), pom pom straw tote bag ($29.99), pineapple print button down ($22.99), sailboat cardigan ($22.99, whale scarf (clearance - $11.88), elephant scarf ($19.99 - also available in blue) 

Buy one get one half off through July 12! 

Here's a closeup of some of the Target patterns...

See anything you like? Have you found any other Palm Beach Chic bargains lately? I'd love to know!

Inside Liza Pulitzer Calhoun's Palm Beach Home

Last year, House Beautiful featured the eclectic, tropical home of Liza Pulitzer Calhoun, the daughter of the late Lilly Pulitzer. The colorful, casual, kick-off-your-shoes decor was inspired by her mother's style, and I'd bet it has seen its fair share of many fun and fabulous Lilly-esque parties! With an outdoor living room, breezeways, and covered outdoor paths, the house embraces tropical splendor and open-air living. Let's take a peek!

Calhoun covered the seat of this swinging daybed on the back porch with a favorite tablecloth. The pillows are from Anthropologie and Roberta Roller Rabbit. The swordfish was found in an antiques shop.

A vaulted ceiling of cypress treated with a lime-acid wash creates a loftlike look, while rattan furniture from Palecek's Presidents Collection imparts a natural tone. "The room has a relaxed island feel — less Palm Beach, more Bahamas or Jamaica," she said. Pillows in Roberta Roller Rabbit fabrics.

The living room fireplace is made of concrete embedded with stones, shells, and barnacles. "I've collected them from all over the world," Calhoun said.

The living room sports upholstery in a rich grape color and eye-catching patterns. Perennials' indoor-outdoor Canvas Weave on the furniture is durable enough to hold up to Calhoun's three dogs and wet swimsuits.

The bar is original; Calhoun had it faux painted to resemble pecky cypress. Stools are from Fran's Wicker.

Mac Fabrics' Hip print on the family room sofas "hides a multitude of sins," Calhoun said. The coffee table is vintage, and the lamps are repurposed baskets.

The master bedroom looks out onto the pool, and when the pocket doors are pulled back, "we feel like we're sleeping in a tent," Calhoun said. The four-poster bed, with its gauzy panels, plays up a Caribbean vibe. "I didn't want a fussy canopy, so I just added Pottery Barn sheers." A painting by Roberto Juarez echoes the tropical garden.

A guest room is filled with antique furniture. Checks wallpaper by Kent-Bragaline adds color and texture to a small room.

In the powder room, an antique sideboard became a vanity. Walls are covered in Phillip Jeffries's Seagrass grass cloth.

A 1960s photo of Calhoun's mother, Lilly Pulitzer.

Please visit House Beautiful to see more of Liza Pulitzer Calhoun's fabulous Boho-meets-Palm-Beach-Chic home. Photography is by Francesco Lagnese. And click here  and here to tour the home of the late Lilly Pulitzer!

Happy Fourth of July!

I simply adore this vintage Lilly Pulitzer print via Ladybug Vintage, so appropriate for today...

Vintage Lilly Pulitzer, via Ladybug Vintage

The print was made to commemorate our Bicentennial in 1976. You can read more about vintage Lilly Pulitzer prints over at Ladybug Vintage. A fascinating read! 

Happy birthday, America!

Palm Beach Chic in Raleigh

There are some who think that Palm Beach Chic decor can only be pulled off in Florida, but this charming ranch-style home located in Raleigh, North Carolina, proves otherwise.  Homeowner Avery Roberts, a stationery designer, has always had a passion for coastal living and all things pink and green, and she was not about to let her location affect her design mission! 

"I've been drawn to sunny, happy colors and that old Florida charm for as long as I can remember," said Avery, who began collecting and refinishing secondhand Palm Beach Chic furniture as a hobby 10 years ago. Let's take a look inside her tropical inspired paradise! Photos are by Max Kim-Bee via HGTV. 

The roll-arm sofa once belonged to Avery's mother-in-law. Avery had it reupholstered in a kelly green cotton blend and added pink and green pillows. The big, cushy club chairs from a consignment shop got recovered in floral fabric from P. Kaufmann. Both the faux bamboo coffee and side tables were yard sale finds that Avery had painted White by Benjamin Moore in a high-gloss finish. 

White walls and curtain rods help make the colorful window panels (in Scalamandre's China Rose) the star of the room. The wood dining table, covered in a custom poplin cloth with hot pink trim, is paired with chairs from Williams-Sonoma Home. Avery found the 1950s Porter-style chair on eBay for $500 and had upholstered in a turquoise and white fabric. 

The foyer is one of the only areas with bright walls. "It's a small space, so I knew it could handle a loud orange," said Avery. A faux bamboo mirror, spray-painted gold, hangs above a $50 buffet from Craigslist. Avery wanted to lacquer it white, but instead had it stripped and stained to preserve the beautiful mahogany. A pair of robin's-egg blue lamps from Robert Abbey sit on top. 

Avery kept the original kitchen cabinets but painted them White by Benjamin Moore in a high-gloss finish. She also put in a white subway tile backsplash and changed the countertops from laminate to white quartz. Geometric-print wallpaper from Alan Campbell for Quadrille and a pink and green runner from the Stark outlet in Charlotte prep up the room. 

The bed skirt and curtains were made from an old Clarence House fabric that Avery found in a store in Virginia. The bed is dressed with a white matelasse coverlet that was her mother-in-law's. The 1960s-style bamboo headboard, from eBay, is hung on the wall to make it the right height for the bed. In the corner is a rattan fan chair - a $15 Craigslist find.  

The Carleton V wallpaper in "Growing Wild" is a quintessential Palm Beach design. The 1950s sconces are from Ohmega Salvage. The mirror was $100 on eBay, and Avery scored the wicker elephant at Pier 1 Imports.  You can read more about this fabulous wallpaper here!

Floral bedding from Pottery Barn Outlet looks kid-friendly combined with chevron-print bed skirts (made with Premier Prints Zig Zag fabric).

The striped pillow from IKEA plays off the room's rainbow accent wall, which is opposite the beds. A faux bamboo dresser from eBay and white lamps from HomeGoods help offset all the color. 

Not only does this cheery home prove that Palm Beach Chic decor transcends Florida, but it is also an excellent example of how to create the look on a budget. With a little patience, you can find some amazing pieces through eBay, Craigslist, consignment shops, and tag sales. For more, please visit HGTV. 

Palm Beach Chic Decor, Circa 1964

I recently stumbled upon pictures of Genevieve "Bunny" and Nicholas "Nicky" du Pont's Palm Beach home, taken in April 1964 and featured in New York Social Diary's "Resort Life" series. Located at 977 North Ocean Boulevard, "Casuarina" is a bermuda-style, direct oceanfront home, designed by legendary architect John Volk and decorated by Valerian Rybar. At the time, Rybar was known as "the world's most expensive decorator to the world's wealthiest," according to NYSD.

What struck me the most about the decor is how timelessly fresh it remains half a century later. Many of these images could easily be mistaken for the Palm Beach Chic style that is all the rage today. Sunset pinks, leaf and lime greens, sunny lemon yellows and ocean blues are mixed with abandon, while liberal doses of chintz, zebra print, faux bamboo, and blue and white Chinese porcelain complete the look. This quote, describing Rybar's work at the du Pont's new house, captures my favorite aspect of Palm Beach Chic decor...

"Setting an entirely new trend, colors and furniture have been grouped to invite relation amidst tropical splendor." 
~ Suzanne "Suzy" Anderson Gardner, via the  Palm Beach Daily News, March 1964 

A tailored white sofa piped in lime green is paired with green lacquered side chairs upholstered in a zebra-inspired print. Faux bamboo side tables and whimsical sconces complete the look.

An octagonal skirted table with green diamond accents, surrounded by X-benches, complements the sofa.

Note the crisp white walls throughout the home, which serve as a the perfect background for the bold pops of color. 

What a view! 

Blue and white Chinese porcelain combined with coral accents... a look that remains wildly popular today!

Faux bamboo, lime green and white... a combination just as crisp today as it was 50 years ago.

This chintz reminds me of Carlton Varney... does anyone know the name of the pattern?

Bunny du Pont shows Stanton Griffis the courtyard pool. 

Nicky du Pont (center) with Wallis, Duchess of Windsor, and Edward, Duke of Windsor.

Fashion arbiter Eugenia Sheppard called this "The Barefoot House."

The above images are from the Ellen Glendinning Frazer Ordway collection. Ellen Frazer began keeping extensive diaries in the late 1920s, recording and photographing the life around her family and friends, and creating a chronological scrapbook of photographs, invitations, and published newspaper and magazine articles. You can read more about the collection here and here.

Augustus Mayhew, author of Lost in Wonderland: Reflections on Palm Beach, shares regular installments of the archival collection via New York Social Diary. It is one of my favorite reads! To see more of the du Pont home, please visit the New York Social Diary: Chapter XXV: Resort Life, March-April 1964.

"As much as everything changes, nothing is different."

~Ellen Glendinning Ordway

Ellen Glendinning Frazer Ordway's photographs are courtesy of the Lucius Ordway Frazer Collection©, and are reposted with permission via The Classic Preppy.