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The annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Palm Beach always begins with a big blank canvas, and this year’s space is no exception. The six-bedroom home at 3240 North Flagler Drive spans 7,524 square feet and has an elevator, two separate staircases, and five sets of French doors leading to a pool. So we were surprised to find that when we stepped inside for a tour, many of the 21 interior designers who were invited to transform an area or room brought their best small-space tricks to the table.
Specifically, room dividers and clever uses of curtains as camouflage rule the house, which is open to the public today (Friday, February 24) through March 19. (Psst: You can snag tickets here.) While we already feel good about the fact that all the proceeds benefit the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club and Boys & Girls Club of Palm Beach County, we are extra-happy about stealing these smart ideas for our tiny apartments.
On the Right Track
While the LED-lit marble bed frame in interior architect Megan Grehl’s bedroom is one of the best magic tricks we’ve seen, an even better illusion comes courtesy of the sheer linen drapes that envelop the space. Set on a curved track that’s hidden within the ceiling, the curtains can be drawn so they completely hide the sleeping area. File this moment under easy ways to turn a studio into an airy one-bedroom.
When One Door Closes…
When designer Danielle Rollins was given this space to make her own, the area was originally designated as a dining room. But given how far away it is from the kitchen, she decided to turn it into a cozy cocktail lounge. The transformation hinged on covering up one of the three large thresholds leading to the area, that way Rollins could redirect attention away from the powder room and instead spotlight the nearby water views. No drywall was necessary: She simply propped a massive folding screen up against the opening and anchored it with a rush and mahogany armoire-turned-bar cabinet.
Chores, Who?
Dividers don’t just have to look like faux walls. In the laundry room, New York–based pro David Frazier tucked the washer and dryer underneath a soapstone countertop and behind a skirt of blue and white acanthus fabric. By using the same print on the drapery and wallpaper, you barely notice that it’s a utilitarian room at heart—it’s just as welcoming and chic as any of the other living spaces.
Harry Potter Would Approve
Eneia White opted for a more permanent divider (really it’s more of a box). The mattress is situated in a custom-built “cabana bed” inspired by Palm Beach’s coastal environment and painted in Benjamin Moore’s Prescott Green. Claustrophobic? Fear not: The doors don’t shut completely—just enough to lend some privacy and a fairy-tale–like ambience.