To reposition and redesign the PGA Golf Resort and Spa at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida, designers immersed themselves in research to fully understand the current state of today’s golf clubs in order to create the golf club of tomorrow. Through a deep-dive into current challenges—memberships and competition, how to appeal to the tried-and-true golfer, the non-golfer and what new generations are looking for—the team set out to break the mold of the typical club and showcase what a real-and-relevant golf resort can-and-should look like.
With an overarching understanding established, designers researched additional details—beginning with the resort’s home of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Founded in 1960 by visionary John D. MacArthur, Palm Beach Gardens was a city planned and fashioned to be one with nature. Conceptualized to be a true garden city, a mighty Banyan tree was established as the city’s symbol and center. Leaning into three major pillars revolving around this location—the era of the 1960s, the planning of the “Garden City” and resort life of Southern Florida—designers set their space plan layouts and design vision into motion.
Crisp black, white and poppy striped cabana curtains and a tented arrival awning create a flawless entry sequence to the grand lobby. Here, a traversing path to the left leads to a private check-in area, guest elevators and a sundries juice bar. To the right, guests find their way to the signature restaurant and specialty chocolatier shop. Designers raised the main lobby area up two steps, truly elevating the space and making way for two sunken semi-circular, decidedly 60s conversation pits in two corners of the swanky space.
A central floating bar, the lobby’s focal point, sits against the windowed backdrop of silhouetted palm trees. Underfoot, flooring of exotic marble in shades of purple, pink and green—is full of movement. This unique stone not only sets off the bar footprint but rises to become the bar face and top—a truly monolithic centerpiece. The back bar, made of glass and twisted metal, is a soaring interpretation of a Banyan tree. Set against these architectural elements sit many and varied colorfully modern seating groupings. From blush pink endless leather sofas punctuated with fringed, lush green pillows to bentwood rattan chairs decked in tribal-inspired fabrics, to high-gloss root tables and lanky tubular metal lounge slings, each selection plays up a vibrant social vibe.
Elevator corridors take a decidedly tropical turn as overscale hibiscus flowers and lush fern leaves adorn walls while beachy-pastel corals and pinks stipple the hallway’s custom runner. In guestroom corridors, an amalgam of sunset creams, hot corals and persimmon is set against lime and lush green lead to guestrooms of respite and repose.
Cool tones and clean lines are “de rigueur” for these warm-climate retreats set in perfect counterpoint to public areas. Keeping with the 60s modern-tropical concept, guestrooms are relaxed-yet-posh residential-like escapes. Custom, vintage-inspired wallcoverings, plush area rugs, thickly-upholstered headboards with moody bedside lighting, mid-century style soft seating and lacquered and caned case goods come together to create a collected look within a palette of soft sepias, grays, taupes, greens, corals, pinks, bright white and charcoal brown.
Image credit: Mike Schwartz Photography
Tags: KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group, PGA Golf Resort and Spa
