Lured by her colorful past, interior designer Carla Fonts Hrncir is returning to her roots in Palm Beach, opening a second location for her firm Dunbar Road Design to complement its Dallas counterpart. Here, she chats all things Florida.
Why return to Palm Beach? My firm takes its name from Palm Beach’s Dunbar Road, where my great-grandmother and grandmother rented a glamorous 1920s-era home overlooking the ocean for my mother and her siblings during the Cuban exile in 1959. Since birth, I have spent every summer in Miami and Palm Beach visiting family, which informed my eye for design. Today, the resort-chic aesthetic made famous by the area is a key design inspiration for our firm. We typically create colorful and timeless interiors that mix traditional pieces with modern, bohemian styles.
What can Palm Beach expect to see design-wise? I admire all approaches to design, dabbling in a myriad of techniques and periods. A return to our roots will allow us to further soak up the surroundings, which have shaped our distinctive flair. Having a Dallas office allows us to see the latest new designs and bring them to Palm Beach.
Share your latest inspirations. My grandmother and mother are perennial hostesses who love to entertain. Every detail, such as the china, crystal, flowers and linens, had to be perfect at all times. That eye for detail is ingrained in me as well. My Cuban heritage continues to be another key source of inspiration. I love the naturally bold aesthetic derived straight from Havana’s heyday, especially when paired with the style of midcentury Palm Beach.
