After 30-odd years designing the interiors of properties like the Greenbrier, the Breakers, and Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel, you’d think hospitality veteran Carleton Varney might be growing tired of big, bold colors. You’d be wrong. For his latest project, a whimsical reimagining of the historic Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, Floridian shades of salmon-pink, yellow, and emerald-green dominate. Precisely 285 fabrics were selected for the curtains, throw pillows, and various upholstery—one striking print depicts a tropical seashore framed by fanning palm fronds and grape clusters—that adorn the hotel’s 91 rooms and suites.
Of course, these physical aspects are a seamless fit for the hotel’s colorful history. Situated right on Hammon Avenue, with an elegant three-story-high portico and a newly pink exterior, the Colony has been a symbol of glamour practically since it opened in 1947 (former guests include the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Frank Sinatra). Varney’s task, then, was to find a way to add something new while preserving the fantasy of the hotel’s rich past.
Aqua-blue walls and an original set of watercolor paintings by Palm Beach resident Edwina Sandys add new intensity to the 67-year-old rooms. Partly a reaction to the all-white spaces of modern boutique hotels, Varney’s vibe seeks to make an impact. “I’m not that person,” he says, referring to designers who favor stark simplicity over textures and tones. “I’m for everything that’s beautiful. I only like pretty.”
From $275/night; thecolonypalmbeach.com
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