Mythbusters! The Real Truth About Florida Design : Interior Design Blog

When you tune into the national media do you ever feel like Florida is a misunderstood state? You may have your own particular gripes, but as someone who orbits in the world of interior design, mine concern Florida decorating style. Florida design is so often misunderstood and misrepresented. It’s time to shatter some myths and set the record straight.



Shall we start with color? The Florida state colors are not diluted pastel pinks and greens, reminiscent of the 1980s Golden Girls set – not to mention flamingo lawn ornaments. But you will find water in the equation. What I call the “Life Aquatic” is a genuine trend in Florida design today – and one you’ll want to dive into. As Floridians, we all feel called to the ocean and we love to express it in our home decor. Deeply saturated aquas and teals satisfy, and team beautifully with everglade green, another Florida favorite.

Let’s turn next to the topic of wood furniture. Once again Golden Girl myths die hard. The foursome’s house was decked out in rattan and wishy-washy light painted wood tones abounded. Today, Floridians’ romance with wood is so much more diverse (just as we Floridians are!).

Dark luminous woods like zebrano do trend in Florida, but the state’s heartthrob wood tone – especially here in Fort Myers – is gray all the way. As an example, Bernhardt Interiors’ Stockholm collection is a particular favorite. Yes, cool, icy Scandinavia wows Southwest Florida! The collection’s pub table is truly a silvery jewel with crisscross-trestle legs and a shiny stainless steel tabletop.

My next mythbuster seeks to set the record straight on leather upholstery. As a natural material, leather actually breathes in warmer climates like ours. It’s the perfect upholstery choice. What’s more, leather experts like Hancock & Moore have taken a cue from the runway with wonderful palettes of new leather flavors, from cool neutrals to highly saturated hues. Remember “Rich Corinthian Leather”? Forget it. Leather’s had an extreme makeover, Florida style.

Let’s take it outside for my fourth and final mythbuster. Here in Florida we live in nature. More and more, the line between indoor and outdoor furniture is beautifully blurred. “Patio Furniture” as a category no longer exists – at least in its former state of plastic poolside chairs, vinyl-strap chaises or wrought-iron antiquities.

Here in Fort Myers, anything you can do indoors, you can do outdoors as well. As it relates to decorating. There’s a new breed of designers fashioning all-weather fabrics, woods and even concrete for outdoor furniture. Today, what I’ll call “interior grade” lighting, rugs, artwork and accessories are available in outdoor collections.

People living in the upper 49 don’t fully appreciate the indoor-outdoor harmony that’s second nature to us in Florida. It’s a pity, but we have to call them out!

Times change. Today, Florida doesn’t follow trends. We set trends and wait for the rest of the country to catch up. Just imagine Blanche, Dorothy, Sophia and Rose feathering their nest today. I envision an inside-out environment in a palette of blue, green and gray that amplifies nature. That’s Florida design today!

ABOUT MARK STUART: People impressed and inspired by the Robb & Stucky showroom often wonder where we get our ideas. Meet our creative mastermind (and color forecaster), Mark Stuart. As Robb & Stucky creative director, Mark is responsible for the floor plan and visual display of all Robb & Stucky stores. In his spare time, he also shops the world for accessories and engages with our amazing buying team on wood and upholstery selections so our stores enchant as a unified, beautiful experience.