Although its satirical sendup of 1969 Palm Beach high society is cleverly on point, Palm Royale attracts a large chunk of its viewership thanks to the striking backdrops against which the show’s action takes place. Ironically, the Apple TV+ comedy’s Slim Aarons-inspired Palm Beach aesthetic takes place thousands of miles away from the town that inspired it. While the series features exterior shots of landmarks such as The Breakers and the Bath & Tennis Club, its Technicolor interiors of gilded mansions and exclusive country clubs are all Hollywood magic, brought to life in sound stages in and around Los Angeles.
Palm Royale’s version of Palm Beach is the work of production designer Jon Carlos and set decorator Ellen Reede, two seasoned industry pros who went to extreme lengths to ensure the look of the production was as genuine as it could be. Their Palm Beach is a glorious, layered mix of Art Deco, Hollywood Regency, and Lilly Pulitzer—with some tropical chintz thrown in for good measure.
“At the very start of this, we went on a 36-hour scouting trip to Palm Beach just to get the architectural and topographical vibe correct before we dove into our research,” said Carlos in a GoldDerby interview. “We created a fantasy world that became the language of the show, and I’m really proud of that.”
In their commitment to authenticity, Carlos and Reede met with the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach to learn all they could about the history and cultural changes on The Island from the 1800s to the late 1960s. They assigned color palettes to each of the show’s characters. They worked with costume designer Alix Friedberg to ensure the performers’ wardrobes and set décor would complement each other. They sourced estate sales all over California for just the right tchotchkes and home accessories. They even went as far as wrapping a tent in 7,000 yards of fabric when the script called for a Moroccan structure for a party scene.
It’s difficult to imagine how Carlos and Reede (who were nominated for a 2025 Emmy for their efforts) will up the ante on the décor overtures going forward. Fans will just have to tune in on November 12 to find out.
Story Credits:
Text by Luis R. Rigual
Photos courtesy of Apple TV+
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