“Hidden Venue Offers Fun and Mystery Across Generations”
“Partnerships between Hearst Magazines and Yahoo could result in earnings from various products featured in this article.” Palm Beach has seen numerous prosperous eras, with the present moment appearing to be no exception. Drawing inspiration from the glamour of the 1920s, the New York City-based design team at Marshall Watson & Reid Deane Ganes transformed a living room in the 2025 Kips Bay Decorator Show House into a vibrant, entertainment-ready space. Enthralled by an Art Deco-inspired wallcovering by Iskel, boasting richer, more intense hues than the traditional Palm Beach style, the firm envisioned a lively and welcoming atmosphere perfect for gatherings of all ages.
“We always begin with a floor plan, and the elongated dimensions of the room immediately caught our attention, prompting us to create multiple focal points,” explains principal Mercedes Ganes. “Our goal was to design various seating arrangements with distinct purposes, always keeping the client in mind, even for this Show House, and aiming to ensure they feel a genuine connection to the space.” The designated areas for games, cocktails, and conversations seamlessly blend together, establishing a fluid layout that guarantees the room will be a hub for family and friends, tailored to suit any occasion.
Despite the room’s evident homage to Palm Beach’s bold aesthetic, the design team incorporated clever details such as a hand-stenciled pattern on the Patterson Flynn sisal rug (a nod to the renowned local architect Addison Mizner), bamboo accents on the moldings and valances, an aqua grasscloth ceiling by Phillip Jeffries, and custom basketweave curtains by The Shade Store. These touches combine to create a sophisticated yet playful ambiance suitable for all age groups. Moreover, a harmonious mix of antique and contemporary elements, ranging from an old French oak chest from Casa Gusto and a vintage decoupage games table from Bamboo & Rattan, to Art Deco-inspired storage solutions from Vaughan and an abstract landscape painting by artist Sarah Sense, along with custom faux tortoise emerald and gold mirrors from Fleur Home, completes the room’s eclectic charm.
“There’s always a touch of whimsy and humor in Palm Beach’s design ethos,” notes founder Marshall Watson. “The fusion of modern and traditional elements adds a fun yet elegant dimension, exuding a sense of refinement alongside playfulness.”
