Color, texture, and interesting shapes can transform even the most awkwardly shaped corner. With towering pillars and a limestone fireplace, the breakfast room in Dee and Tommy Hilfiger's Palm Beach home was a doosie; they needed a solution that created living space without covering up the home's unique bones. A jewelbox breakfast nook was the perfect answer.
Working with the iconically bold interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, the couple transformed 'Coral House' into the elegant home you see today. The home was built in 1972 by John Volk, one of the Big Five architects credited with creating the Palm Beach style, endowing it with its bright, Mediterranean charm.
Though the South Florida city is known for its excesses, Tommy and Dee's home shows just the right amount of restraint - embodied by the pared-back, yet striking aesthetic of the breakfast room. It features a statement black table nestled among white and wicker armchairs.
A jute rug (similar to this one from Walmart) and surfboard above the fireplace fill the space with coastal charm, while a collection of Warhol prints and zebra-print cushions (like these from Wayfair) add modern whimsy. It's full of lessons on designing a dining nook, so we interviewed interior design experts to get to the bottom of it.
First, the arrangement of the tables and chairs in the Hilfigers' home is a masterclass in how to zone a space. Lena Gierasinska, interior design expert at Barker and Stonehouse, explains: 'For those who have multifunctional living spaces that include a dining area, I’d suggest creating distinct zones within this.'
You can try using a carpet and furnishings like Tommy has done, or opt for a more distinct barrier to accomplish a similar effect with a more 'closed' layout. Lena advises: 'Open shelving can function as a divider or screen, clearly separating living and dining areas and providing an opportunity to display your favourite pieces, creating visual interest too.'
Recreate Tommy and Dee's Look at Home
Replicating the style of Dee and Tommy's home comes down to establishing a balance between bold and understated elements. Bright art prints like these Andy Warhol posters from Etsy paired with white walls and neutrally toned furnishings is the perfect place to start. Here are our editors' picks.
This pink, yellow, green, and red flower pop art could fit well in any room's design or color scheme. With a built-in frame, it looks elevated at an affordable price point.
This gorgeous pedestal tabel resembles the iconic Knoll Saarinen piece in a dark moody design. Like the black dining table in Tommy's living room, it's the perfect choice for drawing the eye in.
From its diamond trellis pattern to its hi-low design and its tasteful beige jute fabrication, this rug is a subtle show-stopper. It can invite textural elegance into any space, and since it's made from jute, it promises durability in high-traffic areas.
Dee and Tommy's star-shaped black lacquer dining table contains another lesson in using furnishings to anchor the eating space. Lena advises: 'The dining table will be the focal point, so I recommend that you choose a statement piece – whether it’s a unique reclaimed wooden dining table, or a piece with a sculptural silhouette.
Furthermore, the couple uses a statement rug to unify the different elements of the room. To recreate the look, Lena suggests: 'Ground the space with a boldly patterned rug to add texture and warmth underfoot and to inject color into the room.'
Finally, Tommy and Dee Hilfiger's dining space works so well because of their clever, restrained approach to color. They use art and textiles to warm what would otherwise be a very neutral space.
Lena says: 'It’s important to add color to any room, but especially one in where you host guests as you’ll want this space to feel welcoming and inviting. Experiment with your color palette, introducing contrasting colors to your walls and layering individual pieces in different hues and textures to find your own signature style.'
Ultimately, this beautiful Palm Beach space demonstrates that with clever zoning and careful use of color, any space is a useable, beautifully designed element of the home. Now, all you need is stunning maximalist tableware to complete the look.
