Coastal-Modern Design in Serene Palm Beach Home

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Sometimes, opportunity knocks twice.  

A recent project involving a townhouse complex in Palm Beach played out as a dual endeavor for interior designer Caitlin Kah. First, she was directed by the Frisbie Group’s development team to decorate all four townhomes in the community in a coastal-modern style that would entice potential buyers. A month later, a new owner commissioned her to redecorate one of them to his specifications and style tastes.

“It was cool to look at it with fresh eyes,” says Kah. “I had envisioned it one way for the developers, and then, I immediately had to put the new owner’s stamp on it and make it special. It was interesting to tackle the same space twice for two different situations.” 

To achieve the client’s desired new look, the townhome’s overall feel needed to be elevated. “We removed the coastal look, and then took it further with sleek lines and curvatures,” says Kah. “We also layered it to make it cozy and warm, and to work for his lifestyle.” 

To accentuate the framework established by the dwelling’s serene architecture by Roger Janssen, the palette chosen was inspired by the ocean blues of the Mediterranean and the white patina that’s so ubiquitous on seaside villas in Greece. The colors complement Janssen’s work in all areas of the home, but particularly in the living room, where a staircase in a floor-to-ceiling grid of metal-framed glass creates a dramatic focal point. “The idea was to keep the views open,” says Kah. “When you stand on the stairs you can see the ocean and beyond.”  

To satisfy her client’s penchant for Italian brands and high-gloss finishes, the living room is wrapped in a rich Armani/Casa faux-bois wallpaper and topped with a glossy veneer on the ceiling.  

As one moves throughout the residence, variations of blue slowly make their presence known. In the living room, it’s in the form of the light velvet that covers two Holly Hunt side chairs (an ideal counterpoint to all the white in this space). In the dining room, shades of navy and cerulean alert the eye to various ceramics on the dining table and a striking artwork of a resting leopard by Helmut Koller. Upstairs, in the primary suite, the hue (with hints of turquoise and green) takes over the walls, the ceiling, the window treatments, a seating nook, the bed frame, and even the art.  “We just went for saturation,” says Kah, “and it worked.” 

It worked, all right. In more ways than one. 

Story Credits: 

Interior Design by Caitlin Kah, Caitlin Kah Interiors, Palm Beach, FL

Architecture Roger Janssen, Dailey Janssen Architects, West Palm Beach, FL

Text by Christine Davis

Photography by Carmel Brantley, Delray Beach, FL

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