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It’s a folly fantasy land,’ says Jonathan Adler of the two-storey, two-bedroom home in Palm Beach, Florida, he shares with his husband of 17 years, former Barneys New York creative director turned author Simon Doonan, and their rescue dog, Foxylady. With palm trees, a Slim Aarons-style pool and a sandy beach close by, it’s a far cry from the former city pad in New York they shared before moving to Florida in 2021.
The pool area was added by Jonathan and Simon, taking its cue from the iconic 1946 Kaufmann House in Palm Springs. For a range of vibrant parasols try businessandpleasureco.com.
The pair came upon the property – which was designed by Swiss architect Maurice Fatio in 1940 – while visiting a friend on holiday, and were magnetically drawn to it. ‘It was like a doll’s house from the outside,’ recalls Adler. ‘Theatrical and petite at the same time, with sash windows and white pilasters.’
The ‘doll’s house’ façade of Jonathan’s home was designed by renowned Swiss architect Maurice Fatio. The stepping stones add a fun 60s touch.
The place went on the market soon after and the pair bought it the same day. ‘It was serendipitous,’ Adler recalls. It had also been recently restored, which allowed the duo to focus on their favourite part: the decorating. ‘There were white walls everywhere,’ says Adler. ‘It needed to be perked up.’
Jonathan (right) and Simon in the dining room. The words on the artworks behind them are Yiddish for clothing and decorative items – fields that the couple are known for.
They painted the walls and woodwork in a kaleidoscope of colours, from lemon sorbet to ‘toothpaste’ mint, Parma violet and cobalt. ‘Pure Palm Beach,’ says Adler. The vibrancy was tempered by white-painted floorboards and tongue-and-groove cypress-wood ceilings original to the space.
The eye-catching chrome bed in the guest room is a collectible by the innovative mid-century designer Paul Evans. Beside it, on the floor, is a papier-mâché bust of Prince from a window display at Barneys. The bed linen is by Jonathan Adler.
Many know Adler as a potter – he has been making pots since the age of 12. But chances are you’ll have also come across the statement sofas, lamps and rugs, designs from his eponymous interiors label, which has ten stores across the US and UK including a London flagship in Pelham Street, South Kensington. Peppered with Adler’s creations, the Palm Beach residence is a melting pot of genres and pop-culture references from the 1950s to the 80s: a brass chair in the shape of a hand, starburst mirrors and a large purple decorative snail.
Walls painted Tiffany blue in the den evoke the Floridian Atlantic. The ‘Hand’ chair was designed by Pedro Friedeberg, the Mexican painter and sculptor, and it has travelled with the couple over the years.
‘My philosophy is that one’s décor should always imply that they are far more interesting and glamorous than they actually are,’ he says with a smile.
But don’t let the slogan cushions and trippy artwork fool you. Every item in the household carries meaning and has a story to tell, from the Hermès crest hung above the doorway in the main bedroom, and the bust of musician Prince (both former Barneys display props), to the large 70s ceramic statue in the bathroom, which evokes Adler’s love of pottery. ‘I like to surround myself with items that trigger an emotion or reaction,’ he says.
A work by Canadian graphic artist Geoff McFetridge is one of Jonathan’s favourites: ‘You have no idea what she is actually revealing.’
Vintage tea towels, reflective of Doonan’s time in London in the 60s, hang on the kitchen wall in a show of red, white and blue (‘we dubbed it Carnaby Corner’). In the sun room are glam rock-inspired beaded portraits of the couple as well as lampshades custom-splattered with paint by Doonan. The vibe is sentimental, not serious. ‘If our home were a character, it would be Fran Fine from US sitcom The Nanny,’ says Adler. ‘Colourful, ebullient, over-the-top, yet refined.’
Despite the grand façade, the inside isn’t cavernous; the ground floor contains the living room, dining room-cum-library and sun room, with open-plan kitchen and breakfast area; upstairs are the main bedroom, guest bedroom and en suite.
Vintage rattan stools create a bar area in the kitchen and dining room, below pendant lights designed by Jonathan. The cypress-wood ceiling is original to the space.
Adler landscaped the grounds (large structured plants, a pool) flooding them with yellow: sun loungers, dining chairs, banana trees and a statement parasol. The nickname for the space? Lemon Alley. ‘It is like sorbet for the soul,’ he says.
You can shop the new collection pieces at uk.jonathanadler.com
JUST LIKE JONATHAN
The one thing I will never apologise for
Excess.
My favourite design era
The future.
If I were a piece of furniture, I’d be
A dinky fireside chair.
If I had to live with just one colour it would be
Blue. There are so many hues to choose from.
Every home needs
A fluffy dog. Or a ceramic one.
