Get the look: The Tides Hotel by Kelly Wearstler

The lobby at the Tides Hotel in South Beach
Designed by Kelly Wearstler
Photo: KWID

Have you ever flipped through the pages of a design magazine and been struck by a design that just speaks to you? There’s no specific reason why, you just love it the look. More than that, you respect it. It’s almost intimidating. And in turn, you wonder, “How could I ever pull this off in my place?” No matter how often we look through magazines, or how many presentations we attend showing new product lines, we as designers come across these pages too, and it’s likely we’ve had the same reaction. One recent find was on designer Kelly Wearstler’s website. If you’re not familiar with Kelly’s work, you’re one of the few. She’s a judge on Bravo’s “Top Design” and has designed numerous high end, high profile projects from private residences to swanky hotels. Her work has been featured in magazines such as House Beautiful and House & Garden. Her book Modern Glamour: The Art of Unexpected Style can be found in the library of just about every interior designer, or at least those with an appreciation for fun, lively, and sophisticated design. Look back at her work over the past decade and you’ll see that her style is constantly evolving.

Table linens and accessories from Kelly Wearstler for Sferra
Photo: Sferra

This particular drool-worthy project was stumbled across while perusing Kelly’s website for inspiration. You can see the live version by visiting the Tides Hotel in South Beach. The fascinating thing about this project is the fact that the color palette is completely neutral and the details so simple that at first you skim over them. But at second glance you notice so much depth, texture and materials, you wonder how it can possibly all work together. It’s like design magic happened here.

Here are some tips on achieving this look in your home:

Start with warm cream walls in a flat finish. (Look at Sherwin Williams’ Antique White)
When selecting your carpet or area rug, find something thick and luxurious that you can sink your feet into. Kelly has her own line of rugs with The Rug Company. Also take a look at West Elm’s sheepskin rug.
Mix textures, such as leather, sea grass, chenille, and cottons for your fabrics. Mix warm wood tones and metals, resin pieces and shell details. For some of Kelly’s signature prints, check out her fabric collections offered through F. Schumacher and Groundworks, and her bedding and table linens offered through Sferra.
Don't forget to layer different design elements, like trims (see Kelly’s Groundworks line for some options), art, and even plants.
Look for unique statement pieces such as the hanging light fixture used in the lobby (take a look at Lamps Plus), or stone Buddha statues. Add pieces you’ve collected during your travels. Take a look at Global Views’ sunburst mirror (look for local retailers here).
Another great source for unique furniture pieces is Hudson Furniture. Take a look at The Rock end table in the slideshow!

Neutral geometric prints from House of
KWID for F. Schumacher
Photo: F. Schumacher

Take your time and really think about all of the pieces you're selecting. This project may look eclectic and effortless, but there is no doubt that many hours of careful consideration went into it.

You don't need to have a spacious home to achieve this look. Just remember to consider the scale of your pieces when you are selecting them. And most importantly, don't take it too seriously! Creating eclectic looks like this should be fun!