An expertly curated, luxuriously produced compendium of all things Palm Beach, Palm Beach Illustrated brings to life personalities and takes you inside the exclusive homes, parties and interests of the world’s most affluent and influential people.
After such a roller-coaster year, settling into the holidays with your tribe feels like wrapping yourself in cashmere on a blustery day: warm, comforting, familiar. This year more than any other in recent memory, celebrating the holidays is all about tradition, time-honored and new. In our house, we’re incorporating a little of both. We’ve always upheld the Greek custom of feasting with extended family on Christmas Eve, then exchanging presents on New Year’s Eve, which is the night Santa Claus (Saint Basil for us) visits. But since Florida is home and our 11-year-old twins were born here, we embrace American traditions equally. This, of course, means an entire month’s worth of gatherings and gift exchanges, movies and hot chocolate by the fireplace (yes, even in 80 degrees), and multiculti cookie…
I arrived in Florida back in 1992, just in time for Hurricane Andrew. I endured that storm in Miami under a sturdy dining room table with my future wife, mother-in-law, and grandmother-in-law. The storm and its aftermath quickly taught me the value of preparation and the need for both a plan and the support of those around you. 2020 brought a storm unlike any I have experienced. COVID-19 has reshaped the way we conduct business, attend events, and interact with one another. I have hosted and been a part of dozens of video meetings since March and they appear to be a permanent fixture on my calendar. Many rote daily activities are indeed very different, but some things remain the same. Our reliance on and support for one another is…
WHO: Palm Beach Illustrated WHAT: 2020 Education Awards WHERE: Hilton West Palm Beach HIGHLIGHTS: At this second annual event, PBI hosted a panel on diversity, equity, and inclusion in education, and also honored the finali ts and winners for Outstanding Academic Program, Institutional Excellence, and Educator of the Year.…
In refreshing the lobby of the storied Colony Hotel, owners Andrew and Sarah Wetenhall wanted to fashion a gathering place for the whole island to enjoy rather than a transactional lobby suited mainly to hotel guests. As guardians of a Palm Beach icon, the Wetenhalls strive to honor The Colony’s legacy while ensuring continued relevance. And given the property’s landmark status, they approached the renovations with the utmost thought and care. Sarah enlisted longtime design partner Kemble Interiors to resurrect the black terrazzo floors and pods of conversational furniture from the original 1947 lobby design, converting the space into “the Living Room,” a glamorous two-story jungle furnished with touches of pink, lacquered peacock chairs, Jansen-inspired brass palm tables, and a soaring, hand-carved, chinoiserie mantel. She also teamed up with renowned…
Much to local fashionistas’ delight, Mark Badgley and James Mischka’s recent relocation to Palm Beach ushered the arrival of a new Badgley Mischka store at The Royal Poinciana Plaza. The design duo have been part-time residents for 30 years, and Palm Beach has long inspired their line’s wearable-luxury aesthetic. “James and I have always had a huge affinity for Palm Beach,” says Badgley. They once kept an apartment near the Brazilian Court Hotel and a store on Worth Avenue but, as horse lovers, mostly gravitated toward Wellington. Upon deciding to make Palm Beach their full-time home, they wanted to reopen a local store and discovered that the Royal is their customers’ preferred place to shop. “It’s so fresh there,” Badgley says. “James and I ride our bikes over almost every…
Delray Beacher Katrina Stoneking grew up around fashion—her mom worked for Saks Fifth Avenue and, along with Katrina’s grandmother, taught her how to sew—but it wasn’t until tragedy struck in 2017 that Stoneking discovered how fashion intertwined with her calling. At the age of 32, Stoneking suffered three heart attacks. She was eventually diagnosed with Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) and emerged from the nightmare with a new lease on life. In 2019, together with her husband, Matt, she opened Bitsy Stoneking, a boutique and online store featuring slow fashion from around the globe. For Stoneking, the new business has become both a creative outlet and a way to express her gratitude for the gift of life. “When I opened my boutique, I felt it was important to give back…
