For the first time ever, you can stay in a Chairish world. Chinoiserie. Chippendale. Mid-century mixed with exclusive art. Inspired by classic Palm Beach motifs, the Chairish Villa was created by our team in collaboration with the Colony Hotel and local design partner Catharine Willmer Interiors. Can’t come in person? Shop the look on Chairish.
SHOP THE CHAIRISH VILLA AT THE COLONY HOTEL
The Chairish Villa at The Colony is a celebration of authentic Palm Beach style, reimagined for today’s tastemaking and affluent guests. As America’s premier emporium for vintage and antique furnishings, Chairish is known for serving up historical design expertise with heaping sides of high/low chic and playful irreverence. Likewise, the Colony is celebrated the world over as a vintage mecca with a 100-year history of tastemaking residents.
DESIGN INSPIRATION
This spirit of play guided our design approach, and the Chairish Villa fearlessly mixes historically significant, Palm Beach specific design themes with modern additions like contemporary art, mid-century furnishings and sophisticated layering to delight The Colony’s fashionable clientele. Chinoiserie motifs, animalia details, wicker, rattan, and breezy hues abound.
LOCAL SOURCING
Palm Beach is a famed treasure trove of vintage and antique furnishings, offered by an extensive community of expert local purveyors. Almost all the furnishings selected by Chairish for the project were locally sourced from Chairish dealers within 5 miles from the hotel, making The Chairish Villa at The Colony both a fashionable and sustainable destination.
FABRICS, WALLPAPERS & TRIMS
We used matching archival wallpaper and fabric pairings. This approach was specifically inspired by the Yellow Roses Room at the Flagler Mansion, and we sourced our textile, wallpaper, and trim pairings exclusively from our partner Schumacher Hospitality. Schumacher’s Del Tesoro pattern, based on a 19th-century French document, served as the project’s overall jumping off point. We also used Hydrangea Drape, which was inspired by a design of Hobe Erwin.
FURNISHINGS & DECOR
Designer Carleton Varney’s original Regency rooms inspired pieces for the villa. Renowned interior designer and a protege and collaborator of Dorothy Draper, Carleton Varney designed this same villa years ago. Chairish revitalized and incorporated the remaining original Varney pieces, in keeping with our effort to retain the historic authenticity of the space. Specifically the plaster hallway mirror, console table and the bedrooms’ upholstered chairs were repurposed.
With these historical underpinnings, Chairish added our signature chic eclecticism, including layers of contemporary art from a global roster of emerging talent. Mixed in are unexpected mid-century pieces from coveted vintage makers Bielecky Brothers, Paul Frankl and Gabriella Crespi, as well as custom rush lighting by celebrated contemporary maker Mario Lopez Torres, who is exclusively sold through local Palm Beach dealer, Circa Who. Notably, Lopez Torres’ features Johnnie Brown, the iconic Palm Beach monkey, and The Colony’s mascot. Vibrant brushed modern brass fixtures and lighting from Kohler’s Occasion Collection are featured in the bathrooms. Other furnishings and decor were provided by Chairish’s Palm Beach-based vintage dealers, including:
- Show Pony
- Circa Who
- Florida Regency
- Meg Braff
- Palm Beach Regency
- Patricia’s Gallery
- Todd Hase
- Dolphin and Flamingo
ORIGINAL ART
The villa features over 40 pieces of art: largely comprised of contemporary works from 20 artists from around the world, half of which were tapped to create original works specific to the space. This impressive showing is complemented by a small selection of vintage artwork as well. Noteworthy Artists include: Liz Marsh, Hope Olson, Brock DeBoer, Lia Burke Libaire, Venetia Syms, Ron Giusti, and Virginia Chamlee, among others.
LOCAL RESOURCES
Special thanks to our local partners for their incredible work on this project, particularly:
- Catharine Willmer Interiors (Interior Design)
- David’s Drapery Workroom (Window Treatments)
- Associated Interior Designer Service (Upholstery)
- Wallpaper by Wendy (Wallpaper Hanger/Installer)
- Illume (Custom Lampshades)
Time to pack your bags for Palm Beach!
Lead image: Photographer: Carmel Brantley, Stylist: Benjamin Reynaert, Interior Designer: Catharine Willmer.