Even Martha Stewart Is Watching: Inside Palm Beach’s Elite Homes & Bars

From stylish waterfront residences in the east to refined horse country living in the west, the gates are being opened to some of Palm Beach County’s most luxurious homes, driven by top-tier design, creativity, historical conservation, and charitable efforts.

Quench your curiosity by exploring decorator showhouses and other beautiful locations in Wellington and West Palm Beach — with tours that provide a unique glimpse into luxurious homes created by renowned designers, multimillion-dollar barns where horses enjoy a high-end lifestyle, and gardens filled with classic Florida charm.

These excursions are exceptional enough that even lifestyle icon Martha Stewart visited one this week.

Above all, besides discovering ideas for your own living spaces, you’ll be helping initiatives that support children, military families, breast cancer research, and a local community group.

Here are information about four tours to satisfy your interior design (and gardening) aspirations.

Kips Bay Designer Show House Palm Beach

Feb. 25-March 24

Guests attending the ninth annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach will discover an additional interactive design showcase located in the Northwood Shores area of West Palm Beach.

For the first time in history, the Palm Beach Show House has grown to feature two properties, providing an exciting chance for us to explore something new and rethink the visitor experience,” said Nazira Handal, director of special events and corporate partnerships at Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club in The Bronx, which benefits from the fundraiser alongside the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. “Displaying two homes enables us to demonstrate a wider creative vision and give guests a more extensive and immersive design experience.

A group of 23 designers and architects collaborated on The Intracoastal House, which has 15 interior spaces, and also worked on The Palm Cottage, located across the street, which features six interior rooms. Both structures include front yard landscaping.

On Monday, while in town, home and lifestyle expert Martha Stewart was observed on a tour prior to the venue’s public opening on Wednesday.

Intracoastal House provides wide waterfront vistas and large areas for entertaining, perfect for striking, big-scale design elements,” Handal stated. “Palm Cottage has a smaller, more cozy size and traditional home charm, enabling designers to develop rich, deeply personal interiors.

Displaying the two homes next to each other enables visitors to engage with two distinct stories and a broader array of design viewpoints during a single visit.

Who was selected to take part in the design process?

We choose a combination of well-known industry experts and new artists from throughout the nation,” she stated. “Designers are invited according to the quality of their portfolio, uniqueness of perspective, skill, and their capacity to develop an engaging atmosphere that enhances the architecture of the given space.

Among the listed participants are South Florida-based companies like Firefinish Interiors, Bell Design Inc., Lisa Erdmann Interiors, Justin P. Moreland Interiors, BAMO Inc., LTA Interiors, Lopez Group Inc., Sherrill Canet Interiors, and Yarn Design Associates, as well as others from different parts of the country.

Guests can look forward to “innovative ideas and heartfelt narratives in each area,” Handal stated. “Every room showcases the designer’s unique style while enhancing the overall feel of the house.”

Over $34 million has been collected to assist the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club in its goal of offering crucial educational and growth-focused programs for children since the main event started in New York City fifty years ago, she mentioned.

From February 25 through March 24, stop by 3410 N. Flagler Drive between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day. Tickets are available for $50 when purchased ahead of time, or $60 at the gate if still available. Go to kipsbaydecoratorshowhouse.org.

Holiday House Wellington

March 4-May 3

The Christmas Cottage, a charitable design showcase, is launching its South Florida appearance this year.

Two contemporary homes in Farrell Estates Wellington, part of a new project within the Palm Beach Polo Golf & Country Club, will be reimagined by over 20 designers, combining the equestrian tradition with the laid-back elegance of Palm Beach.

“Wellington emerged because the developer behind this new project, Joe Farrell, who was responsible for much of the Hamptons, attended our White Gala last summer and was greatly impressed by our work on the model home. He then inquired if we could handle the transformation of two of his new Wellington model homes,” said Iris Dankner, founder of Holiday House and a breast cancer survivor.

Following three years of tabletop events in Palm Beach, this was a logical progression for us, and we are thrilled for the Wellington/Palm Beach community to enjoy one of our designer showhouses.

Although there isn’t a single design style, she intends to present two narratives within one home, featuring a neutral color scheme and a more vibrant style for the other.

The architects have ample room to showcase their design flair — every home features six bedrooms, a second-floor balcony that runs the entire length of the property, and pool areas on the ground level.

The floor-to-ceiling windows emit stunning light and vistas,” Danker remarked. “They are genuine modern masterpieces.

Holiday House has collaborated with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation since 2008, raising over $2 million through its exhibitions in New York City, the Hamptons, and London.

At each Holiday House gathering, I connect with numerous individuals who share sometimes heartbreaking but frequently uplifting tales about how their lives or those of their loved ones have been affected by the burden of breast cancer,” stated Dankner, who is also a survivor. “These narratives add significant value to all that I do and make every challenge and effort rewarding and meaningful.

Check out the showhouses at the Opening Night Gala on March 3, with general admission and VIP tickets ranging from $300 to $500. The tour is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays through Sundays, from March 4 to April 3, and by appointment only from April 6 to May 3. Admission is $40 and must be bought online at least one day ahead. No tickets will be available on-site. Go to holidayhousenyc.com.

Flamingo Park Community Association Garden Tour

March 8

If you’ve ever been curious about the flourishing gardens in one of West Palm Beach’s historic neighborhoods, this is your opportunity.

Ten homeowners are offering you a one-day, self-guided tour of their beautifully kept private gardens located in Flamingo Park, a neighborhood situated just south of the city’s downtown area. Also, there will be food available!

We’re fortunate to have so many gardening enthusiasts in our area, which ensures there’s always an abundance of stunning gardens to admire,” said Tanya Lewicki, president of the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association and chair of the garden tour. “Some of this year’s entries are well-known favorites from previous tours, and we’re also thrilled to introduce some new participants who were recommended by their neighbors and friends.

At the 17th annual gathering, guests can explore “serene, Zen-themed areas, Florida-native gardens, vibrant tropical oases with water elements, and modern styles,” she mentioned. “There’s something for every gardening expert.”

What gives the neighborhood its historical significance — and uniqueness?

Flamingo Park started as a pineapple farm and mango orchard before being developed into single-family homes in 1921, around the time West Palm Beach was beginning to flourish,” Lewicki stated. “The area soon became the preferred location for construction. Indeed, the developer of the city’s first downtown skyscraper decided to build his residence here.

The Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association was established in 1987, with the Historic District status granted in 1993.

I believe anyone who resides here, or has previously lived here, would agree there’s something truly unique about this location,” she stated. “The feeling of community that’s difficult to come by these days, where neighbors greet each other by name, and there’s a joint effort to maintain that Old Florida style. There’s a warmth and genuine quality that’s hard to put into words but simple to experience.

Amidst the expanding and rapidly developing downtown area, Flamingo Park stands out as a remarkable piece of historical paradise.

Although you enjoy the beauty of each home’s private paradise, consider trying some small dishes and beverages from local eateries like Grato, Pig Beach BBQ, Rhythm Café, and Souvlaki Grill.

We are very lucky to be surrounded by an amazing local food scene,” Lewicki stated. “It’s a genuine community loop, as our residents consistently support them, and they reciprocate in significant ways for events like this.

Funds raised from the Garden Tour (and the Holiday Historic Home Tour in December) support the neighborhood association’s initiatives to enhance residents’ well-being and protect Flamingo Park.

Check in at 704 Ardmore Drive for the self-directed walking tour happening between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on March 8. Admission costs $70 before March 7 and $90 when purchased on-site. Golf carts will be provided for guests requiring help. Go to flamingopark.org.

Wellington Barn Tour

March 28

It’s similar to ‘The Wizard of Oz’ where guests can see what’s happening behind the curtain.

This is how Randy Russell characterized the upcoming Wellington Barn Tour, organized by his California-based Polo America marketing company.

Three new barns are included in this year’s schedule, making a total of four stops on the tour. Mida Farms, a returning participant, joins new entries Starwyn Farms, ROasis Riding Oasis, and King Terrace Farm.

I make an effort to keep the barn tour exciting by introducing new barns every year. Many of our visitors come back each year,” said Russell, a former polo player who also edits Polo America magazine. “The barns selected need to have an exceptional appearance and atmosphere. Factors such as their meticulous attention to detail, high-quality stall fronts, flooring, ventilation, lighting, workspaces, tack rooms, and lounges are all considered when selecting a barn. All three of our new barns possess these features and more.

Board a high-end bus at the Grand Champions Polo Club, where a tour guide will explain the stables and various equestrian disciplines during your journey to the expensive facilities throughout the village.

All of our barns are exclusive facilities that are secured with locked gates. Getting to view these incredible barns is a rare opportunity,” Russell stated. “Everything you can imagine is available in these barns: luxurious stalls, several tack rooms, feed areas, veterinary facilities, hot walkers, rubber tile flooring, fly spray systems, kitchens, offices, gyms, laundry rooms, an owners’ lounge, asado barbecue pits, farrier sheds, wash racks, grooms’ quarters, quarantine barns, exercise tracks, pastures, and much more.

What do visitors find most astonishing about the barns included in the tour?

What lovely creatures they are,” he remarked. “I don’t recall a single tour where someone didn’t tell me, ‘When I pass away, I hope I return as a horse to live here.’ Additionally, how much focus and dedication is given to the horses. All our stables are active ones. Visitors have the chance to watch the horses being saddled, shod, and cleaned.

The gathering backs the Semper Fi & America’s Fund, an organization that assists service members, veterans, and military families who are seriously injured, sick, or facing hardships across all military branches.

I’m passionate about supporting the individuals who have sacrificed so much for our freedom,” Russell stated. “The fund is remarkable.

The next day, it’s time to see the horses in action. A polo game is scheduled for 3 p.m. on March 29, and entry is free with any barn tour ticket, thanks to Melissa Ganzi, co-owner of Grand Champions Polo Club.

She opened her barn to us on the first tour and invited guests to watch a polo game. And we’ve continued that invitation ever since,” he said. “It’s wonderful for people who have never seen polo before.