Palm Beach Panache

A quintessential beach retreat à la Lee Robinson

Written by Bridget Williams / Photography by Eric Williams

Rife with vibrant, tropical-inspired colors and patterns, Lee Robinson of the Lee W. Robinson Company has created a quintessential beach retreat for the Louisville owners of an oceanfront condominium in Palm Beach. The Lilly Pulitzer-esque theme is introduced at the point of entry, vis-à-vis a lively treillage bamboo wallpaper from Thibaut installed above the chair rail. Near the front door, a powder room has been turned into a jewel box with a furniture-style vanity faux-painted to resemble green embossed leather and metallic tropical-inspired wallpaper from Clarence House.

Situated at the midpoint of the hallway and just outside the arched entryway to the living room is a built-in wet bar with a Lee Robinson signature design element: wire mesh grates with fabric backing in the upper cabinet doors.

The gentle sound of running water emanates from a wall-mounted fountain with an aged patina located at the start of a long hallway that nearly spans the entire length of the unit and culminates in a picturesque view of the pool and the breaking waves of the Atlantic. Overhead, mirrored insets in the coffered ceiling amp up the drama. Situated at the midpoint of the hallway and just outside the arched entryway to the living room is a built-in wet bar with a Lee Robinson signature design element: wire mesh grates with fabric backing in the upper cabinet doors.

A fitting color palette of coral and sunny yellow can be found in the spacious living room. Healthy bromeliads fill a pair of large stone planters on pedestals that reside in opposite corners of the room. The room displays fine attention to detail: a diamond pattern in the wall paneling under the window casement, which is repeated in the lower cabinet doors of the built-ins; upholstered window cornices and exquisitely tassel-trimmed drapery (“Neptune’s Treasure” from Scalamandré); subtle strié wallpaper; and thick brush fringe trim on the matellise-style upholstered armchairs. Construction of the built-in entertainment bookshelves mimics the wet bar and serves as a repository for charming family photographs and other treasured mementos. Asian influence of varying degrees is expressed in nearly every room, evidenced by a pair of vase lamps in the living room.

The diamond pattern in the wall paneling under the window casement in the living room is repeated in the lower cabinet doors of the built-ins.

Chinoiserie-style wallpaper with a predominantly yellow background in the dining room perpetuates the home’s sunny disposition. Underfoot is a green and white needlepoint rug with a diamond pattern that is repeated in the basket-weave caning on the backs of the dining chairs.

Chinoiserie-style wallpaper with a predominantly yellow background in the dining room perpetuates the home’s sunny disposition. Underfoot is a green and white needlepoint rug with a diamond pattern that is repeated in the basketweave caning on the backs of the dining chairs.

Separating the galley-style kitchen from the dining room is a cozy breakfast room with coral-colored strié walls. Silver palm tree door pulls are found on the arched doors that lead to the kitchen. Playful touches include a white faux coral chandelier and a pair of artisan lobster sculptures scaling the wall together. Campaign-style chairs surround a glass-topped pedestal table. A large mirror mounted above the wainscoting reflects the enviable view of the landscaped grounds at the other end of the unit while making the room feel much larger.

Hues of coral and aqua can be found in the drapery and upholstery of the sun porch, which serves as a fitting transition to the cool blue water of the swimming pool just outside the walls of windows. A sitting room across the hallway features faux bois wall covering and a zebra-pattern needlepoint rug with a coral-colored giraffe-print border. A touch of “My Old Kentucky Home” is represented in a pair of paintings hanging above the sofa depicting historic scenes from Churchill Downs.

Robinson’s myriad interpretations of a coastal color palette layered with carefully selected texture and pattern produce a tropical twist on his venerable design aesthetic.