Palm Beach Chic: By Jennifer Ash Rudick
When a new book titled Palm Beach Chic is released, you know I am going to get excited… Written by long-time Palm Beach resident Jennifer Ash Ruddick, this book has me positively giddy! Palm Beach Chic takes you on an insider’s tour of 25 extraordinary homes and gardens in and around Palm Beach including landmarks by legendary Palm Beach architects Addison Mizner, Maurice Fatio, and Marion Sims Wyeth. There are also cozy cottages nestled amid tropical foliage, an exotic Moorish casbah, postmodern villas, a sprawling ranch, and Mad Men-era vintage condos.
Jennifer’s lifelong fascination with houses of all kinds began with her first trip to Palm Beach when she was 12 years old. Her family was house hunting, as her mother was soon to become the publisher of the Palm Beach Daily News (aka “The Shiny Sheet”) and her father an editorial writer for the Palm Beach Post. “From my adult perspective today, I realize that Palm Beach was basically what it had always been – the land of dreams come true…” she said. I couldn’t agree more! Palm Beach Chic truly captures the mythic setting of this American paradise.
Let’s step behind the hedges and take a peek inside the homes of notables including Laura and Harry Slatkin, Leonard Lauder, Meg Braff, Liza Pulitzer Calhoun, Mimi McMakin, Pauline Pitt, Lars Bolander, Josie Natori, Lisa Perry, Terry Allen Kramer, Beth Rudin DeWoody, and Jorge Sanchez. Photography by Jessica Klewicki Glynn.
This pool cabana is pure perfection, swathed in The Original Martinique Banana Leaf wallpaper.
I spy Dodie Thayer’s lettuce ware… A Palm Beach essential!
Step inside Villa Artemis, built in 1916 for the Guest family, and backdrop for the iconic Slim Aarons photograph featuring the legendary C.Z. Guest.
Palm Beach Chic features over 400 glorious color photographs and is available for purchase through Amazon. Jennifer Ash Rudick is also the author Private Palm Beach: Tropical Style, which I highly recommend as well. You will definitely want to add these exquisite books to your library!
A Luxe Report Designs Home for Sale
Last week, I featured the nursery Lauren Kukkamaa of Luxe Report Designs decorated for her baby girl. It was inspired by Beverly Hills Hotel and Vintage Miami Beach, and it is nothing less than amazing! I think it is safe to say that I am obsessed with the work of Luxe Report Designs. I love featuring them on my blog, and today I am thrilled to present the West Palm Beach home of Lauren’s business partner, Christin Carron, which just happens to be for sale!
This charming 1930’s Mediterranean is located on one of the best streets of West Palm’s popular “SoSo” neighborhood. From the custom iron entry door to the original pecky cypress ceilings and carved fireplace, this home is loaded with historic charm, and every single inch is decorated to pure perfection. Here are the pictures from the MLS listing…
Click here to tour this incredible Chinoiserie meets Palm Beach Regency nursery!
This dreamy backyard has served as the backdrop to many fabulous parties, which you can read about here, here, and here.
This 2,136 square foot Mediterranean masterpiece has three bedrooms, two and a half baths, and a guest cottage with one bedroom, a full bathroom, kitchen, and living room. Click here for the listing and here for more pictures of this beautiful home. It would be a perfect primary residence, or second home retreat. And for the right price, Christin might… just might… agree to sell it furnished! Yes, please!
A Glamorous Pink and Green Nursery Inspired by the Beverly Hills hotel and Vintage Miami Beach
As a new Mom, I have been a little obsessed with nurseries lately… On Tuesday, I wrote about a sophisticated jungle safari nursery, perfect for a baby boy or girl. Today I’m featuring a nursery by Palm Beach-based Luxe Report Designs that is pure girly girl glam! I have written about the work of this dynamic duo – Christin Carron and Lauren Kukkamaa – numerous times, and you may recall the chic coral Chinoiserie meets Palm Beach Regency nursery Christin decorated last year for her daughter. Well, today we will visit the nursery Lauren decorated for her baby girl, born in July. The inspiration was Beverly Hills Hotel meets vintage Miami Beach, and it is so gorgeous it will make you gasp!
Pink and white cabana stripes, a subtle green and pink fig leaf fabric from Spoonflower, faux bamboo and tons of flamingos! Lauren wanted to create an overall cabana feel, so she created custom draperies with scalloped valances and used paint to create a stripe on stripe effect.
This room had an awkward space in between the two closets so she draped it off, creating the ultimate cabana space!
Crib was big brother’s and bedding is by Serena & Lilly.
A vintage rocker and ottoman was reupholstered with palm leaf print fabric from Spoonflower. The vintage palm tree lamp is from Palm Beach Regency.
Life-size flamingo by Hansa.
A faux bamboo dresser was accessorized with vintage pink shell lamps and Gray Malin’s Miami Beach Pink Umbrella photography.
As you can see, baby Mimi already has quite the sunnies collection!
A vintage Thomasville serving cart was the perfect fit for the changing table. Changing pad by Serena & Lilly.
Outfits for baby Mimi perfectly match her nursery!
The inspiration board.
Isn’t this room a pink and green dream?! I never tire of featuring the work of Luxe Report Designs! Click here to learn more about their interior design and event styling services. And check back on my blog in a few days… Christin’s home, a Mizner-inspired Old Spanish masterpiece built in 1930, was just listed for sale, and I will be featuring the real estate images!
A Slim Aarons Inspired Photo Shoot By Jules Reid
Last week Jules Reid launched her new Ikat Travel Collection, featuring fashion icon and blogger, Teggy French as her muse and model. Jules and Teggy traveled to their most favorite spot and mine – Palm Beach – to channel their mutual love of chic 60’s style, and the resulting images look like they are straight from the portfolio of Slim Aarons!
The quality of Jules Reid clothing is positively exquisite, and her elegant yet whimsical designs are based on classic styles that stand the test of time. These are pieces that are made to be part of your closet for years. The Ikat Travel Collection, inspired by Jules’ love of travel, is made completely of authentic Ikat fabrics, handmade in Uzbekistan exclusively for Jules Reid.
Teggy wears the Beatle dress belted at the waist with a vintage Gucci belt and gold high heels. This dress can be worn in many ways… as a short dress, with pants or jeans, tied with a low belt, or casually with flats. The Beatle dress comes in four authentic, original JR Ikat fabrics. It’s a feminine 60’s vibe that transitions to many a venue!
Teggy wears the Beatle dress with the Emerald Green Julia Beaded Tassel and a vintage Pierre Cardin necklace from the Jules Reid Vintage Jewelry Collection.
Teggy wears the Beatle dress with the Black Palm Beach Tassel. Handmade in Uzbekistan by artisans, this fabric comes in only 15 inch widths making each piece a work of art as the panels are carefully sewn together to make each style.
Teggy wears the Beatle dress with the Jules Reid snow white Stolero Fur and a vintage 1970’s necklace from the Jules Reid Vintage Jewelry Collection. Long sleeves with a slight flare at the wrist, a four inch V Neck, and a folded, sewn cuff at the hem… this dress is a beauty that will fit all body types.
The Beatle dress looks tres chic with JR Wyatt pants in Green Eyes. Vintage necklace from Jules’ personal collection.
The Montauk top style was first featured in Town & Country magazine in the summer of 2012. Teggy wears it with Wyatt pants in Indian Blue Ikat and a pink Palm Beach tassel, and again below, with flared white jeans.
Side hidden zipper allows the top to easily slip over your head. A thin border of white silk outlines the neck, arm holes and the bottom of the blouse. Easy to wear and pair with dozens of looks.
Teggy wears the Montauk in White and Black Zigzag Ikat with the White Buddha Tassel necklace. Suede pants from Zara, vintage white Chanel clutch, and a pink metallic headscarf complete the look.
Teggy wears the Montauk in Pink Spikey Ikat with her own bell bottom jeans and white turban. The Eugenie Lucite Necklace is available in Jules’ Signature Jewelry collection.
Teggy wears Wyatt pants in Green Eyes with a white JR blouse and the Julia Beaded Tassel necklace in Emerald Green.
Teggys wears Wyatt pants in Purple Spikey with the Lavender Palm Beach Tassel wrapped as a choker around her neck and her own white top. The book, Barbie’s New York Summer, embodies the JR world. What a vintage find!
The word “ikat” (pronounced “ee-KAHT”) comes from the Malaysian word “mengikat,” or “to tie,” because the loose threads are tied into bundles using grasses or wax-treated cotton to specify where the dye is able to sink in and color the thread. Within the cultures that produce them, Ikats are status symbols because of the skill and time their production requires. Authentic hand made, hand dyed Ikat fabric is truly a work of art.
It has been several years since Ikat was offered in the Jules Reid collection… the collection sold out quickly and clients have been asking for it since. Click here to shop the new Ikat Travel Collection, and if you are a fan of vintage jewelry, the the Jules Reid Vintage Jewelry Collection is not to be missed!
“I must say, when you purchase a Jules Reid piece, you are not just buying an item of clothing, you are investing in a lifestyle – a lifestyle that not only has the capability to take you anywhere in the world, but also make you feel just as fabulous when you are in the comfort of your hometown.”
~Teggy French
Read more about Jules Reid and Teggy French – and get a sneak peek into their glamorous homes – here and here!
