Discover 4 New Showrooms Entering The South Florida Scene
South Florida’s design scene is blooming with new shops and showrooms.
Faustina Pace Antiques
Photo: Chloe Wurster
Nearly 20 years ago, Faustina Pace showed the world her affection for European design with the opening of her shop on West Palm Beach’s Antique Row. Since then, her footprint has expanded to a second gorgeous location. “I’ve always been drawn to the charm of French sensibility, specifically the 1960s and ’70s rattan furniture and accessories from Saint-Tropez and the Riviera,” she muses. “I also adore all things Swedish and Scandinavian, as they are so easy to incorporate into all design themes.” The original property still exhibits Pace’s lovely finds, while the newer locale—opened just down the street last summer—is a distinctly larger space that encourages meandering. The store is divided into six themed sections, including a garden area and a textile room with 125-year-old linens. “In spite of the shop’s large scale, there is a sense of soulfulness,” Pace observes.
West | Out East
Photo: Jeanne Canto
A historic residence in Coconut Grove has been given a second life as a home for West | Out East’s contemporary products. For its fourth showroom—and only location outside the New York tristate area—the company has occupied a 1900s property that was originally a grapefruit warehouse and later renovated by notable architect Alfred Browning Parker. While touring rooms outfitted with the brand’s offerings, including living arrangements and storage systems, patrons visiting the two-story structure—now called Casa Palma—will still witness original elements like limestone walls, cottage shingles and intimate courtyards. “We aimed to highlight these qualities while presenting our take on warm, modern interiors in a livable environment,” owner West Chin says. “The quaint rooms frame our products and the vision we have for them.”
Aqualille
Photo: Carmel Brantley
Tucked inside Palm Beach’s historic Paramount Building, Gwendolyn Rayner and Talia Oringer have established a home for their New York-founded wallpaper company, Aqualille. “Palm Beach is a dream location when it comes to clients who appreciate all of the craftsmanship that goes into our products,” Rayner says. “We work with the most skilled artisans around the globe who specialize in techniques dating back to the 18th century but design with a fresh and contemporary flair.” Befitting of the locale, patterns include bold, tropical prints as well as softer, classic abstractions, all hand-painted or embroidered on materials like silk and tea and gilded paper. Adorned with arched windows, the outpost shares studio space with other designers—and naturally, each wall is dressed in an Aqualille covering.
Pratesi
Photo: Barry Grossman Photography
After leaving Worth Avenue in 2018, luxury Italian linens producer Pratesi has returned to Palm Beach to open its flagship location—the sole standalone store of the 118-year-old business. Studio Monteleone & Associates designed the bright and airy outpost on Hibiscus Avenue with materials such as travertine floors, copper accents and tufted wool carpets inspired by the company’s butterfly motif. “It is a space that encapsulates Pratesi’s enchanting world and the perfect setting for the brand’s iconic collections,” says president and CEO Michelle Klein. These include iconic bedding, dining and bath products as well as the Farfallino scarf, a limited-edition piece exclusive to Palm Beach.