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| In the clubhouse at Playa Grande Beach Club: Designer Celerie Kemble, husband Boykin Curry and their children Rascal, Wick and Zinnia |
As you know from my last few posts I am craving spring: spring gardens, spring dishes, and now a spring vacation, anywhere warm and relaxing. Within an hour of posting the beautiful Palm Beach Dodi Thayer lettuce ware dishes for Tory Burch, I saw this beachfront getaway designed by Celerie Kemble. It was a breath of fresh air... So grab a Coke-Zero or an Evian, kick your shoes off and join me in designer Celerie Kemble's Dominican Republic getaway, with a laid back tropical atmosphere and Caribbean colors ... along with curated items to inspire a little island life into your home. Enjoy!
Paradise knocked, and interior designer Celerie Kemble and husband Boykin Curry persuaded investor friends to answer yes to purchase 2,000 jungled acres along the Domincan Republic's northern shore bordered by a huge beach with lapis blue Caribbean waters called Playa Grand. Kemble then designed a resort complete with a clubhouse, cabanas, and bungalows.
"It was like we'd been dropped down into paradise."
-Celerie Kemble
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| Clubhouse great room |
In the compound's clubhouse Kemble painted the 22 foot ceiling pale aqua, and paved the floors with handmade tiles in a pink, navy-blue, and yellow pattern. The room is a mix of softly colored fabrics, vintage Indonesian ikats and shell-encrusted chairs.
"I think interiors that are well designed tell people how to behave."
"Here, I want them to know they're supposed to be barefoot..."
- Celerie Kemble
- Celerie Kemble
GET THE LOOK
It's all in the mix of fabrics, and Bailey & Griffin's Scène Chinoise fabric for Duralee makes it easy. duralee.com
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| The Kemble-Curry residence named Casa Guava |
Ten years later, her own oceanfront home at the Playa Grande Beach Club named Casa Guava, a delicate "French Colonial" topped by a pale-green metal roof, gingerbread trimmings and porches. All of the fanciful fretwork was cut by an artisans hand.
"I wanted something that felt romantic yet wild."
-Celerie Kemble
GET THE LOOK
In hues forget-me-not and lime stone-and-enamel clasps Bulgaris limited-edition Icona 10 crocodile handbags will keep you in the island mood while shopping. bulgari.com
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| In the Living Room: Kemble's slipper chairs are from her line for Henredon |
"Celerie throws together a crazy combination of new and old and high and low,"
says her husband Boykin
"but rather than looking like a cluttered mess,
it all feels right, as if the objects had been looking for each other."
GET THE LOOK
New for Spring 2015 and perfect for adding in a mix of soft colors Aileurs bedding by Yves Delorme is a pretty, winsome garden design. yvesdelorme.com
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| Cabanas by the New Jersey Barn Co. flank the resorts swimming pool. |
GET THE LOOK
Janus et Cie's Quadrati outdoor 3 seat love seat is latticed and modern and perfect beside your pool, in the garden or on a patio. janusetcie.com
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| Dinning Room: Old cabana painting frame the folding doors, vintage garden chairs surround the dining table; and D. Porthault linens dress the four-poster bed in the master bedroom beyond. |
GET THE LOOK
For a playful paradise feel mix and match Voyage en Ikat Limoges by Hermès's hermes.com
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| Guest Room |
Latticework details play with the tropical light, splintering it into dappled patterns in the guest room. A fresh beautiful guest room to relax and dream in.
"I wanted the whole place to feel saturated with sun and salty air."
Celerie Kemble
GET THE LOOK
Add pop of color or keep it white with Pier One's Peacock Armchair pier1.com
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| Celerie and her daughter Zinnia |
I hope it's lovely (and getting warm) where you are...
xx Rié
Photo credit: Douglas Friedman AD April 2015