Tour A Clean-Lined Palm Beach Abode With A Vibrant Aesthetic

Interior designer Helen Bergin remembers the inspiration photo Jessica La Marche shared for her new house: a charming outdoor space that embodied the area’s style. “It was pink, green and preppy,” Bergin recalls. “It was beautiful.” But when the interior designer saw the architectural plans for her client’s residence, she detected a disconnect between the two. “I’m all for using color,” the Luxe Next In Design 99 honoree acknowledges, “but I felt we could turn it up a dose with cleaner lines and a more modern approach.” It was the first step toward realizing Jessica’s unique vision for a warm, welcoming and feminine dwelling. “She was striving for an exuberant energy that’s peaceful and calming at the same time,” Bergin describes.

A New Yorker who relocated with her daughter to West Palm Beach, Jessica acquired a midcentury minimal property not far from her mother’s house. She and architect Kristen Kellogg were struck by the structure’s abundance of natural light, but when they realized the size of the spaces wouldn’t serve Jessica’s lifestyle, the project expanded. “What originally started as manipulating some rooms and adding a second story ended up being even more substantial,” Kellogg reflects. “We wanted to not only enhance the light quality but also perforate the home in every manner possible.” To maximize the layout, the team raised the ceilings on the ground floor, allowing for generous windows. Then there was the challenge of constructing the staircase, an oak-and-brass form with glass rails that took tremendous planning. “That was the hardest, most complicated detail to get right,” builder Jeremy Sloane emphasizes. “There was no room for error.”

The modernity of the staircase contributes to the varied architectural palette, which blends contemporary lines with midcentury moments, such as stucco detailing and, on the loggia, a coffered cypress ceiling. “It’s a classic element made modern,” Bergin says. Complementing the façade’s linear qualities, landscape architect Dustin M. Mizell executed what he calls “modern garden minimalism” with plantings like Adonidia palms lining the pool.

Inside, white oak flooring served as Bergin’s starting point. The living area’s woven chairs, for instance, play off the wood tones underfoot. The space’s seating is set low to retain clear sight lines to the dining area and kitchen, rooms Jessica wanted to flow into each other for large family gatherings. “My fondest memories growing up were having people over,” she remembers. “Our house revolved around cooking and entertaining, and I wanted the same thing here.” To that end, the interior designer customized an oak-topped dining table that stretches 10 feet, accommodating an abundance of guests.

Another item on the owner’s wish list: brass everywhere. Finishes and fixtures in the material appear throughout and play a starring role in the kitchen, where Bergin devised a hood crafted in Mexico. “Even the Roman shades have a gold thread, and the counter and backsplash porcelain has gold tones running through it,” she points out. “It’s warm and clean.”

When it came to selecting other hues, Bergin typically forms a palette from artwork, but in this case, she inspected her client’s wardrobe. “If you look at Jessica’s closet, all she wears is color,” the interior designer observes. “She is bright and vibrant.” A pair of aqua chairs in the entry introduces pops of bold tones, which include a nearby green runner, chartreuse pillows in the living area, and peach and blush textiles in the primary suite. Color also comes from jewelry-like lighting, particularly the striking teal Murano-glass pieces in the living and dining areas. “We wanted the spaces to feel collected,” Bergin says, “so we mixed in vintage and patinated items to give character.” Curved forms inject an Art Deco vibe, like the living area’s rounded tables and the primary bathroom’s 1960s-inspired mirrors. As for art, that came last—and quite serendipitously: When Bergin visited a gallery pop-up, she discovered pieces that perfectly complement the home.

The final look is a departure from Jessica’s initial pink-and-green muse, the interior designer concedes. “I like to take clients out of their comfort zones,” she admits. But despite shifting from her original idea, the owner says her house exudes her personality. “My vision came to fruition,” Jessica says. “And I love seeing it all through my daughter’s eyes.”