Kips bay take away’s - Palm beach 2025
We were inspired by the beautiful design we saw at the 2025 Kips Bay in Palm Beach this year. Stacey and Alessandra reported on their favorite take aways…
Stacey’s Take Aways
I’ve never liked the word trend or trendy, but as history has proven itself, it’s inevitable. But how do we know if something will be simply trendy or perhaps timeless?
There’s a reason we learn about art history and design history when it comes to our line of work. Are we seeing shaggy wall to wall carpet today like designers did in the 70s? No, but it was the trend of the time. I think we’re all thankful that one went away. But then you think about the famous Eames chair that was first introduced in the mid-1950s and has been a classic staple of the architecture and design industry for decades.
It’s always our goal as designers to create a space for our clients that feels timeless, but also current. That’s why going to events like the Palm Beach Kips Bay Designer Showhouse is not only fun, but interesting to see what commonalities and differences each designer highlights in their space.
If you’re not familiar, the Kips Bay Designer Showhouse happens once a year and a group of designers are selected by application and assigned a certain area of a house to design. The house changes each year as well as the designers. Designers are given free rein to be as creative as possible. “For 50 years, Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club has celebrated the best of interior design by transforming a luxury Manhattan home into an elegant exhibition of fine furnishings, art, and technology. In 2017, Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club expanded the brand to Palm Beach, with the seventh iteration of the Kips Bay Palm Beach Decorator Show House in the Winter of 2024.” www.kipsbaydecoratorshowhouse.org
So, what did we see this year in Palm Beach? Upon arrival you’re taken back by the beauty of the historic home before you even go inside. “Originally built in 1937, the exquisite single-family home boasts 7,706 square feet of living space with five spacious bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and an expansive outdoor area featuring an inground pool”. www.kipsbaydecoratorshowhouse.org/pbplanyourvisit
When walking inside the sunroom entrance you can already see so many colors, layers and details. The spaces are designed well into the existing historic elements of the home, giving it that old Florida feel. Greens, blues and whites are a given and blended nicely with textural elements from the hand painted grass cloth ceiling to the bamboo piping around the valance of the window treatments.
After moving away from the sunroom and Florida style living space, we walked into the kitchen and dining area. To our surprise there was a drastic shift in the design with a lot more moody colors, including the ombre painted walls, floral stair runner, horsehair wallpaper, and dark stone details. Not only were things a bit darker than you typically see in a Florida home, but they were also consistent in the pink, plum, and maroon color family. We saw them in the kitchen, the dining spaces, the game entertainment room and bathrooms.
Funnily enough, we unknowingly selected paint colors for an upcoming project and started pulling different shades of Bordeaux and darker plums for an office built-in before we even went to Kips Bay. Once we saw all the similar color shades, we quickly realized our unique color selection was starting to fall into a trend we didn’t realize we were in. A lot of designers, including us, don’t like to admit they’re following a trend. I believe it’s not only acceptable, but normal to lean into a trend at times. It can also be a fun and challenging way to embrace the trend but try to still make it your own. I’ll also get behind any design that embraces more vibrant colors than playing it safe.
Though we saw a moodier showhouse than you typically see, especially in Florida, it was still very vibrant with lots of different characteristics throughout. Will it be a trend or will it be timeless? Only time will tell. Overall, the spring 2025 Palm Beach showhouse was a success and I can’t wait to see what’s to come.
Ale’s Take Aways
Originally built in 1937, this home was filled with magnetic design that I couldn’t stop thinking about. A mixture of different styles and designs filled this home to the brim. I didn’t know what to expect at first, but I was not disappointed.
Kip’s Bay is a fun way for designers to express themselves without client constraints. Color is always a hard sell, and this home did just that. You never know how you’ll feel in a room especially with mint walls and periwinkle trim, but surprisingly it felt refreshing! Indigo Pruitt did a stellar job designing the wellness lounge. Huge chain décor hanging from the wall seems like a marvel idea in a space meant for relaxing. However, the acrylic material and soft color tones fit just right.
Floral motifs surrounded the entire home, not only in beautiful bouquets but in the main stair runner, wallpaper and fabric covered plants as well. I’ve always loved the whole process of floral arrangements. The house reminded me of summers spent with my grandma creating arrangements and gardening together. She always gave me advice such as adding a little sugar in a vase can help keep the flowers alive for longer or that the best time to water your garden is in the evening, so the water doesn’t evaporate in the sun.
The plants outside were very well kept and while often forgotten, can really be what makes a home stand out. Not only does it boost property value, but a home looks unfinished without proper landscape.
I was in awe when I walked through a hallway covered in fur! Right off the kitchen, this space was designed by Moniomi Design, and they elevated fabric wallpaper to another level. It felt cozy while maintaining sophistication with its warm terracotta colors and triangular shapes. They bordered it with a checkered pattern, which I am always a fan of.
I felt refreshed after leaving Kip’s Bay this year. It was fascinating meeting new designers and experiencing their spaces through their eyes. The rooms sparked ideas and inspirations for future projects. An unforgettable home to say the least!
