Mixing Moxie in Palm Beach

A designer enlivens a superior art collection with a stylish blend of patterns and textures

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About three years ago, designer David Mitchell Brown was redesigning the lobby and hallways at the exclusive Dunster House residential building in Palm Beach when a resident took an interest in the work he was doing. The woman had an apartment full of art and furniture she had collected over the years, but felt it lacked a sense of energy and excitement. She invited Brown to look at her residence, and after a long conversation, hired him to overhaul it.

“We had the art, which we wanted to enhance, not fight,” says Brown. “The style was more architectural than decorative, but also appreciative of beautiful fabrics and beautiful quality furniture. This was a dream client because she gave me free rein to use the things I loved most in her home.”

After some days of shopping, Brown began rearranging and rethinking the rooms in his client’s apartment into what would eventually yield an end result as dazzling and pattern-forward as the owner’s art collection.

“A lot of [mixing] is about instinct,” says the designer. “There’s a certain sense of excitement when I put two patterns together and feel the energy behind that. Sometimes the mixing is about certain colors or styles, but other times it’s about things being in opposition to each other.”

In Brown’s hands, florals and plaids dance among bold black-and-white stripes. Shimmering ombré walls envelop guests in an Old World-inspired dining room full of modern twists. Geometric lamps repeat shapes and colors found in the collected art, while structural benches covered in pony hair or silk stand on their own as masterpieces in their own right. Fusing these seemingly disparate elements together, Brown says, “adds harmony to a room like a musical score.”

All in all, working with superior art and a willing client was a cherished treat for Brown. “The homeowner really stepped up to the plate and I was blessed to work with someone I became friends with,” says the designer. “I can’t look at this project without smiling.”

Story Credits:

Interior Design by David Mitchell Brown, Palm Beach, FL

Text by Paige Bowers

Photography by Carmel Brantley, Ocean Ridge, FL

Open to see Interior Design Sources:

Sources

Den

Sofa – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Pillow fabric – Missoni, missoni.com

Armchair – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Cocktail table – Owner’s collection

Side table – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Lamps – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Ottoman – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Decorative stools – J Nelson Inc., SFDP, Hollywood, FL

Area rug – Owner’s collection

Dining Area

Table and chairs – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Chandelier – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Wall covering – Phillip Jeffries South Florida, SFDP, Hollywood, FL

Sculptures – Corbin Bronze, corbinbronze.com

Entry

Console – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Mirror – Pierce-Archer, Palm Beach, FL

Round sculpture on console – J Nelson Inc., SFDP, Hollywood, FL

Lighting – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Living Room

Sofa – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Pillow fabric – Missoni, missoni.com

Club chairs – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Accent chair – Hellman-Chang, Dawsonville, GA

Cocktail table – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Side tables – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Lamps – Donghia, Kravet, DCOTA, Dania Beach, FL

Drink tables – J Nelson Inc., SFDP, Hollywood, FL

Area rug – Owner’s collection

Guest Bedroom

Bed and headboard designed by David Mitchell Brown, Palm Beach, FL

Bedside table – Gregorius Pineo, Inglewood, CA

Bedding, bench, and bench fabric – Quadrille Wallpaper & Fabrics, DCOTA, Dania Beach, FL

Wall upholstery – Quadrille Wallpaper & Fabrics, DCOTA, Dania Beach, FL

Primary Bedroom

Bed and headboard designed by David Mitchell Brown, Palm Beach, FL

Bedside table, dresser, side table – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

Floor lamp – Ron Dier, Santa Ana, CA

Bench – Nancy Corizine, Carson, CA

Club chair – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL

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