Interior Design Inspiration From Mar-A-Lago

As most of you know I visi Palm Beach every January for a car event.  Yeah I like cars but the real reason we started going to the event, trade-off or bribe, was so I could see Mar-A-Lago, the infamous Mediterranean estate built for Marjorie Merriweather Post.  I love historic homes.  I get goosebumps over the architecture and salivate over the interiors.  Plus, I truly believe there is a lot one can learn from observing these great homes.  Take a look.  Notice the use of balance and repetition in the details and decor.Some of today’s lower hanging architects involved in the design of some of these ridiculous “McMansions” for the stylishly obsessed and taste challenged could really benefit by studying fabulous homes from the past.  Oops, a soapbox moment snuck in.

Mar-A-Lago was created by architect Marion Wyeth and Viennese architect and set designer Joseph Urban.  The 115 room estate was competed in 1927 after two years of amazing collecting and construction.  Recycle, re-purpose and reuse were not the tag lines they are today however, many of the items in the home came from others around the world.  Wyeth acquired a rare collection of 36,000 Spanish and Moorish tiles, many dating back to the 15th century which were used throughout the interior and exterior.

Main entrance under portico.

The exterior details are wonderful but the interiors are spectacular.  Donald Trump acquired the Historic Landmark property from the Post Foundation in the mid 1980’s and after a few go-rounds with the town of Palm Beach he maintains the estate as a private club.  In doing so Mr. Trump has taken great care to restore, refurbish and maintain much of the integrity of the property and its original furnishings which were left with the property.  I don’t know if anyone else says it but I will, thank you Mr. Trump.

Mrs. Post last lived there in the winter of 1973 before passing away the following September.  Mar-A-Lago today still maintains the opulent splendor and items selected by its original benefactor.  Notice the silk tapestries in the following pictures which once were hung in a Venetian Palace.  There are seven arches surrounding the room topped with armorial insignia from Venetian doges.

Drawing room towards fireplace.

Drawing room with 34′ high ceiling.

Look to the top of this last picture to see three small arches.  This is where as a small child, Marjorie’s daughter, Dina Merrill is said to have crept from her bedroom to peer down below at her mother’s infamous parties.  The Italian ceiling was hand-gilded.  It is a modified version of the “thousand-winged ceiling” from the Accademia in Venice.Today, as a private club, many of the rooms are re-purposed to suit the demands of an incredibly busy venue for charity events.  Some of the furnishings have been changed to accommodate today’s patrons, the historic details remain in all their glory.Although the pool has been rebuilt, the double staircase and its surrounding details still reign where guests once descended during their first visit at the very first event held on March 1, 1927.  It has been said, Marjorie and her then husband E.F. Hutton had a blue light installed in the Moorish tower which beamed down on their guests.  Blue?  I knew I felt a connection. 🙂

Overlooking the pool, staircase extends beneath on either side.

What really captures my interest is the craftsmanship and attention to detail.  Yes, it might be a little more “goopy” or embellished than what one would (should) find in today’s homes, however the appreciation is not lost on many of these items being made entirely by hand.   I find these homes very inspiring.  I can apply lessons from the past on anything I’m working on today.  What comes to mind now is, take the time to ensure the appropriate details are attended to… in the big picture all of it matters.

I must credit the book American Empress: The Life and Times of Marjorie Merriweather Post by Nancy Rubin for providing further information on some of the details in the pictures.  It’s a great read.