de Gournay at the Colony Hotel, Palm Beach
The latest addition to de Gournay’s collection of hand painted Chinoiserie wallpapers, ‘The Colony’ is a large scale scenic motif designed exclusively for the lobby of the newly renovated Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. Working directly with owner Sarah Wetenhall, the design was inspired by the original mid-century mural that adorned hotel lobby when it first opened in 1947.
Vividly depicted on a Pink edo xuan paper, the scene references the hotel’s rich heritage and flora and fauna indigenous to South Florida. Installed within ‘The Living Room’, the interior is composed of small vignettes of soft seating, cocktail tables and conversational furniture in the manner of a private home.
Hand painted characters including flamingos, alligators, cougars and the Colony’s own monkey mascot, ‘Johnny Brown,’ embody the spirit and humour of the beloved hotel.
“I discovered an old postcard image of the mural titled ‘The Early Days in Palm Beach,” comments Sarah Wetenhall. “We worked hand in hand with de Gournay to create this unique ‘love letter’ to The Colony and its environs. It was our mission to embody the whimsy and humor of our beloved hotel, brought to life through the meticulous artistry of de Gournay.”
“I have long adored the Colony and can’t think of it without smiling,” says Hannah Cecil Gurney, daughter of de Gournay’s founder Claud. “The combined passion The Wetenhalls and I have for our family brands and creating something that will be a part of both of our histories is enormous. The process of creating something completely personalised for The Colony was such fun!”
As guardians of a treasured icon, The Colony Palm Beach faithfully preserves its legacy of gracious hospitality while ensuring continued relevance to a new generation of modern, well-traveled and discerning guests. The 89-room property provides unique, curated offerings for guests of all ages delivered with best-in-class ultra boutique service. Much more than a hotel, The Colony is a state of mind – a place to connect meaningfully and authentically with one of the world’s most storied destinations, steps from both Worth Avenue and the Atlantic Ocean. Aware of The Colony’s singular place in the hearts of long-time Palm Beachers, the hotel is dedicated to maintaining a rich tradition of culinary excellence and sophisticated entertainment in a vibrant social setting that is both welcoming and refreshingly unpretentious.
Kemble Interiors, Inc. was founded in 1982 by Palm Beach native Mimi Maddock McMakin. McMakin has been recognized for her distinctive fusion of whimsy with respectful restoration in many a storied Mizner, Volk, and Urban designed estate or club. She has over 40 years of experience consulting and working under the direction of licensed architects and contractors to ultimately bring comfort and beauty to the homes of her clients across America. The firm’s signature style is a reflection of both Mimi and her daughter Celerie’s quirky decorating ethos, which balances the aesthetic integrity of the project with the needs/personality of the client.
