A grand space of enduring, historic beauty, the 200-foot-long lobby of The Breakers Palm Beach has embraced visitors worldwide for over a century, serving as the breathtaking first impression of this legendary oceanfront resort. Recently refreshed by celebrated designer Adam D. Tihany, it is as if the Italian Renaissance has seamlessly been ushered into the 21st century.
Meticulously preserving the lobby’s aesthetic and heritage — vaulted ceiling with intricately hand-painted details (circa 1926, the hotel’s last rebuild) — the allure is now infused with a contemporary appeal. The centerpiece is a new, custom-designed, hand-tufted carpet inspired by the vivid paintings of French Symbolist, Odilon Redon. Conceived by Tihany Design (working as design consultant to Peacock + Lewis Architects), the carpet’s botanical motif evokes an enchanting garden, it is as if bouquets of lilies, amaranths, irises and other florals native to South Florida are blooming underfoot. Produced by Sacco Carpet, this bespoke creation was a remarkably intricate process; the carpet was woven in one piece by 35 weavers on the loom, using the finest available New Zealand yarn in 70 unique colors. It measures 161-feet in length, is 25-feet wide and weighs 1,500 lbs.
The new lobby furniture, an elegant collection of sofas, lounge chairs and tables, reflects a modern design scheme, with vibrant hues drawn from the carpet, as well as dark wood and brass detailing. A mix of signature pieces include bronze consoles with polished African St. Laurant marble situated behind each sofa, bronze and glass coffee and cocktail tables, upholstered lounge chairs echoing the carpet’s shades of blue and green; and a dark burl wood and marble credenza with hammered bronze. In addition, the resort’s iconic floral display, an eye-catching lobby staple, is re-created weekly by The Breakers in-house Design Studio and complements the blossoming burst of carpet below.
“The lobby showcases our history as an evolving, one-of-a-kind destination, and reflects the dedication of our family ownership to invest in the property for the long term,” said Tricia Taylor, Executive Vice President & General Manager of The Breakers. “We turned to Adam and his team for inspiration to elevate our lobby to its most captivating potential. As our design partner over the last eight years, Tihany Design has reimaged numerous signature spaces throughout the property including: HMF, Flagler Steakhouse and Seafood Bar (restaurants within the resort’s dining collection); our Imperial and Royal Poinciana Suites, our Atlantic guests rooms, and the Lounge and Terrace of our ultra-luxury boutique hotel, Flagler Club, situated atop the resort. Adam is extremely mindful of the architectural significance of venues like our lobby, yet skillfully uses design elements like carpet to enliven the space and give it a modern spirit,” she continued.
“Through my years of working with The Breakers and observing guests coming and going around the property, one of the most memorable feelings is a distinct, almost contagious energy of celebration,” said Tihany. In imagining the lobby redesign, I wanted to capture and complement that feeling within the first steps into the hotel. Elevated by thoughtful, contemporary furniture, the captivating new carpet transforms the space into a beautiful, charming garden – an eternal spring in peak bloom. It is a ‘wow’ statement piece that will quickly become a signature element of the hotel.”