56 DIGS.NET
| 2.11.2022
P R O F I L E | S U M M E R T H O R N T O N
It may seem counterintuitive, but for Summer, combining multiple
elements is actually key to achieving balance. "For this project
everything is tactile and textured and builds to create something
that feels harmonious because of its depth," she explains. "I mix
metals, I mix patterns, I mix textures. The more I mix the more
curated it feels." And looks. Here, quite like a million bucks, with
hand-painted wallpaper, raffia walls, and stone floors together
with Loro Piana fabric and a more masculine leather to showcase
the home's antique pieces and floorcoverings, along with some
dazzling statement lighting to highlight it all.
These elements give each space definition and dimension, from
the barefoot elegant breezeway, which is anchored with an antique
table and features a whimsical de Gournay wallpaper; to the
lovely, well-dressed lanai; to the suite of beautifully embellished
bedrooms. Summer calls special attention to the kitchen, which
prior to the overhaul was overwhelmingly white with transitional
horizontal upper cabinets and mostly typical finishes. Perfectly
fine and functional, just aesthetically flat. Her reimagination of the
space—spruced up with a de Gournay wallpapered backsplash,
a French range, rich cognac leather barstools, lattice-inspired
millwork panelling and unlacquered brass legs on the island—
took it from typical to totally unique. The guest quarters above
the garage, with its cabana-style vibe, is another transformational
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triumph. Appointing it with three trundle beds and a lime-striped
wallpaper by Farrow & Ball, this previously wasted storage space
is now a "magical striped cocoon" that "went from the worst room
in the house to the one that everyone has a tremendous 'wow'
reaction to when they walk in," says Summer.
In devising a design of such astonishing confidence, but more
warm and inviting than gauche, the designer breathed new life
into a maligned style. "I think the tropical look has been done so
poorly for so long that many people are afraid of it," says Summer.
"But done right, with taste and nuance, it can be fun and life-giving.
When you walk into this home you can't help but smile and feel
joyful. Yes, we've got palms and citrus and even parrots—all could
have been horribly executed, but in the right hands they give a
nod to the tropical paradise without feeling suffocating or cheesy."
There is no "right" formula. Intuitively, it's "the designer knowing
where the line of good taste is, and how to step right up to it," she
adds. "I love to walk the line." summerthorntondesign.com
