Palm Beach County – This is my hobby.

Maison Majorelle: A 1923 West Palm Beach Home Filled With History

Hanna Marks has lived in big cities like New York, but has always been drawn to the Sunshine State, where she was born and raised.

She resides in West Palm Beach, is the founder of a nonprofit school, and is the mother of three young girls.

Back when she started having kids, she worked in construction and design, and that’s what brought her to Maison Majorelle, a gorgeous 1923 home near Antique Row in West Palm Beach.

Hanna designed a pool lined in hand painted moroccan tile and Caroline oversaw the installation of the lush, tropical landscaping.

When she came onto the project, she instantly clicked with homeowner Caroline, a successful florist based in New York who entrusted Hanna to renovate the property and steward it as a vacation rental.

Hanna designed the home to suit modern living, but both she and Caroline were intentional about preserving its original charm.

Each room is designed around Caroline and her family’s collection of vintage and heirloom pieces, collected over time and from around the world.

Styling pieces like these feels second nature to Hanna — her father was an architect, owned an interior design business on Worth Avenue, and collected antiques.

Hanna was born later in her father’s life, and he loved to teach her about all he knew. So, she gained an appreciation for home aesthetics as a child.

Hanna lost her father when she was nine, and she has carried his wisdom and her inherited talent into the spaces she now creates.

Designing Maison Majorelle made her feel close to him.

The home now has history woven into every room and has become a sanctuary for Caroline’s family and every guest who is lucky enough to stay there.

Enjoy Hanna’s tour of Maison Majorelle on YouTube:

This Palm Beach Gardens Home is a Collage of Life Well Lived

I’ve known Cheryl, a lifelong creative and brand designer, through our professional networks over many years in Palm Beach County.

We recently reconnected through a local women’s organization, and would see each other at events and on Zoom meetings here and there.

During Zooms, I always noticed the background in Cheryl’s little onscreen box.

Over her shoulder, I could see a gallery wall of artwork set against a deep blue wall and a bamboo window shade, and I wondered — what does Cheryl’s house look like?

This very type of curiosity, of course, was a large part of why I launched Styled in South Florida Home Tours.

When I meet stylish and creative people, I always wonder what their homes look like.

Lucky for me, when I launched the channel and then asked Cheryl if she’d be interested in sharing her space, she said yes.

So, I got to see that gallery wall large and in living color. Plus a lot of other stuff.

Unsurprisingly, I found Cheryl’s home to be just as stylish as she is. What struck me most was how varied her collection of treasures is.

Nothing matches in the traditional sense — there’s no one design aesthetic she adheres to or color palette, even.

Her home is the antithesis of the beige “blandemic” that modern home design is often accused of being.

Her design philosophy is simply to grab the item that calls to her and bring it home.

This, combined with family heirlooms and artwork collected over generations, has created a space that is uniquely hers and deeply meaningful.

In the laundry room, you’ll find artwork her husband made as a child hanging near the sink.

Her daughters’ childhood self portraits are proudly displayed on a wall near the kitchen, and her father-in-law’s beautifully drawn, realistic portraits of those same girls are displayed in the living room.

A funky drawing picked up during travel hangs next to dog portraits Cheryl and her husband created themselves near the piano.

Whimsical clay vases from France on the dining room table hold paper flowers Cheryl created at a local workshop.

Cheryl’s collection of trinkets and treasures — some feeling more serious, some silly, some full of whimsy — has created a space with no regard for trends or idealized aesthetics.

Instead, the home is a collage of love passed through generations, across continents of travel, and in the everyday moments she shares with her husband and in her South Florida community.

Watch Cheryl’s home tour to catch a glimpse of her design magic — you’ll be inspired.

Carmen’s Colorful Home is a Celebration of Belonging

Carmen is married to my husband’s cousin and, though we live only about an hour apart, that distance is far enough to keep us from seeing each other often.

You know — jobs, kids, life.

We visited Carmen and her husband Scott several years ago, when our boys were elementary aged, and even though it was my first time meeting them, I felt welcomed and loved on in a way that stuck with me.

I also felt very impressed by their gorgeous home, which is naturally why I reached out to Carmen all these years later to be featured on Styled in South Florida Home Tours.

In her usual warm way, she invited me back to her home and generously allowed me to showcase every inch of her stunning space.

I loved seeing the house again, but more than that, I loved learning about Carmen.

I learned that she and her family came to this country as Cuban refugees with only the suitcases they could carry and moved into a small apartment in Massachusetts.

Her home design is inspired by her father, who was so careful in the items he selected for their tiny home.

Though they had left everything they owned behind and come to an unknown — and cold! — place, they were able to reinvent themselves and create a new space of belonging.

The apartment wasn’t much, but Carmen remembers walking into it and feeling like it was everything.

She also remembers that her father built her a swing inside, since they didn’t have any outdoor space. Carmen has carried that feeling of whimsy and joy into her own home design through art and color.

She and Scott have lived in their house for 32 years, and it has evolved as their family has grown and changed.

When their son moved out, they had to decide whether to stay put or start somewhere new. They decided to stay, and began shaping the house to suit their new, empty-nester life.

This included converting a guest bedroom into a dream closet for Carmen.

Carmen’s style is “just about happy,” as she puts it. She surrounds herself with color, artwork and photographs that bring joy, and collections from travel — all a reflection of her and her family’s life.

Just like her parents did in that tiny Massachusetts apartment, Carmen and Scott worked together to build a space of belonging, for them and anyone who walks through their doors.

I certainly felt the love during my visit.

I hope you’ll enjoy getting to know Carmen as I have.

Trader Joe’s is Now a Core Part of My Personality

A Trader Joe’s opened up by my house and…I’m in danger.

It has actually been both a bad and good thing (but mostly good).

We’ve now reduced our Costco trips. For us, Costco shopping can often lead to overspending and food waste.

Now, instead of one massive haul every couple of weeks, we are popping into Trader Joe’s several times a week.

I would normally hate going to a grocery store that often, but it is genuinely a joy to shop there.

Elaine is obsessed with the little kid carts and the staff treat us with loving kindness — the opposite of most South Florida shopping experiences (or experiences in general), tbh.

There are also so many delightful treats.

This week, I discovered the vanilla bean mini sheet cake and, once again…I’m in danger.

I’m venturing into the body products too, and I fear I might be a Goodwill + Trader Joe’s girlie head to toe these days.

My favorite thing about having TJ’s next door though is that it greatly enhances my hosting offerings.

I had friends over last weekend and supplied quite a spread of TJ goodies in various thrifted serving plates scattered amid thrifted table decor.

We tried a couple of their flatbreads from the frozen section and, naturally, I had to throw in a few sweet treats. The cookies aren’t as good as oreos but they were still pretty delish!

I’ve been waiting to use these adorable napkins I found at Bealls. The woven mats are from Goodwill, along with most of the serving dishes.

Cabbage serving tray also from Goodwill. We tried the curry chicken salad and bacon ranch chicken dip — both delish.

I love that I can throw together a spread without making a huge production of it with TJ’s help.

So, yes, I might be spending too much money there, but I’m spending it on friends and vanilla bean sheet cake.

The math works for me.

Styled in South Florida Season 2 launches on Sunday, August 16th!

I can’t wait to introduce you to this season’s tour hosts and their gorgeous homes.

Keep your eyes peeled for five more home tour episodes!

Last week’s thrifted ‘fits:

T-shirt, sunnies, and bag from Goodwill West Palm Beach

Sneak Peek: Styled in South Florida Home Tours Season 2

Season 1 of Styled in South Florida Home Tours has wrapped with five episodes featuring some of the most creative people I’ve ever met and their super stylish homes.

It has felt surreal to share this project with you after so many months of preparation.

I thought it would take at least a year of consistent posting on YouTube before gaining any traction.

I’m so proud to share that after one month of publishing weekly home tour episodes, I’m a YouTube Partner!

*Pinch me.*

This is just the beginning. I’m cooking up a fab Season 2 featuring homes beyond my Palm Beach County community.

Season 3 might take us to the Florida Keys — stay tuned!

>> If you have a stylish friend you’d like to pitch for the show, just shoot me a message or email, ThisisMyHobbyBlog@gmail.com.

I so appreciate every ounce of support. Keep watching, liking, commenting, and sharing with fellow home design lovers.

xoxo

Vanessa

A Pink House to Match the Color of Her Nails

I met Renee, the owner of this week’s Styled in South Florida home, in a Goodwill aisle — how perfect is that?!

I believe we met in the shoe aisle to be exact, because I usually have my daughter with me when I’m thrifting and she always wants to try on the sparkly stilettos during our shopping trips.

We can unpack Elaine’s life as a showgirl in a future post.

I’m sure Renee paused to smile and laugh at my silly girl, and we struck up conversation, as thrift sisters often do in the wild.

There’s a camaraderie in thrifting — any fellow thrifter knows exactly what I’m talking about.

Renee had a lot of pink in her shopping cart, which prompted her to share that she was collecting more decor items for her pink-themed home, which she lists on Airbnb.

So, of course, I was intrigued.

How pink is this pink themed home, I wondered.

I soon learned that she painted the entire house to match her favorite nail polish color.

Obsessed with that. What a diva.

She invited me to come film her space for my new show (I had, of course, immediately pitched her) — a generous diva!

When I pulled up to her house to film, I was greeted by Renee in a pink Lilly Pulitzer outfit and her three dogs, all of whom accompanied us on the entire tour — one in her arms as she shared about her life as the owner of an interior design firm, shop owner in Northwood, world traveler, mother, and more.

My uncontrollable thrift habit has really dropped unexpected blessings into my life.

The kitchen pendants came with the house and aren’t Renee’s preference — she will eventually replace them with something more aligned with the tropical theme established throughout the house.

Renee found this gorgeous piece on the side of the road and rehabbed it.

The brown leather couch came with the house — it wasn’t Renee’s first choice for the space, but she has made it work by tying in the lighter colors she prefers and balancing it all with more dark, statement pieces.

Renee thrifts her pillow collections from Goodwill.

The bedroom upstairs has a French West Indies influence.

The back yard is the crown jewel of the property — a true tropical oasis.

What a treat it was to get to know Renee, to share about her home that she’s poured so much heart into and now shares with guests from around the world, and to meet her poodle Winston, the calmest and most distinguished boy I’ve ever seen in a lei.

One unexpected conversation in a Goodwill aisle turned into a fabulous home tour. I hope you’ll enjoy getting to know Renee — and her unforgettable pink paradise—as much as I did. Watch the full tour below or on YouTube.

>> Renee’s Interior Design Site: https://houseofzenpalmbeach.com/

A Dreamy Pool Cabana with a Functional, Multipurpose Design

Blaire Davidson, professional organizer and owner of Neat Method in Jupiter, Florida, knew when she purchased her family home that eventually she’d build something in the back yard.

That patch of grass stared back at her over the years as her family grew, and she plotted and planned.

The children got older, bigger, and their social lives expanded, prompting Blaire to finally convert that patch of grass into something, but not just any old thing.

Her dream pool cabana.

And by dream cabana, I mean truly dreamy: a multipurpose, highly functional space that serves each member of the family differently, and even welcomes guests.

Sounds like something a professional organizer would do, right?

Blaire designed a space where her kids could host sleepovers and gaming sessions, her husband could watch a football game on an oversized screen, quiet homework sessions could take place, guests could crash, and even business meetings could be conducted.

She accomplished this by outfitting a tiny space with all the essentials needed for each of these activities.

Pretty impressive.

You’ll have to watch her cabana tour to get all the tips on how she’s accomplished this using a combination of convertible, modern pieces and family heirlooms that bring in the cozy feels.

After touring this space, I almost asked for a staycation to get the full Davidson cabana experience.

The cabana is a master class in intentional living — a space designed not just to look beautiful, but to support the everyday needs of the people who use it.

Tour Heidi Ferguson’s Colorful, Completely Thrifted Lantana Apartment

I’ve known Heidi Ferguson, thrift maven and Lake Worth Beach vintage boutique owner, for about seven years.

Our boys were elementary school friends, and her son was one of the few kids my kid was allowed to have sleepovers with.

A clear indication that she’s always had high marks in my book.

I stumbled over her cozy little shop back when it was called Stitches and Rust and was located on North Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach.

I was instantly drawn to her sense of style and impeccable eye for curation — every corner of her shop was filled with the most unique secondhand and vintage treasures I’d seen.

Her prices were were fantastic and the atmosphere a total vibe, so I came back over the years to purchase items here and there for my home.

Her shop location has changed several times, and her style has evolved, but the constant has always been the way she’s able to source and layer patterns, texture, and color masterfully.

When I filmed her home tour, I wasn’t surprised to learn that every item in her Lantana apartment is secondhand — no exaggeration!

Heidi’s passion for thrifting started young. She stole away to thrift stores as often as she could, rearranging her room and bringing in new pieces to revamp and style.

She was never the cool kid in school — that was her brother. When he would throw parties while their parents were out of town, Heidi had to make herself scarce; she wasn’t invited.

But, she’d come home to find that all the cool girls liked hanging out in her room.

Like I said, she has an impeccable eye for curation.

In a world that often feels chaotic, having a beautiful, collected space has always brought Heidi peace.

Her ability to style feels innate — not necessarily informed by a specific moment, but rather the seasons of her life.

Where she’s living and how she’s feeling bring out different angles in her design eye, and it always naturally flows. A true gift.

This home tour highlighted a sense of style that is fearless, unconcerned with trends, and deeply personal.

After you watch her episode, you’ll understand why people have always gravitated toward the spaces she creates, whether it was her childhood bedroom or an iteration of her vintage shop.

Heidi has a gift for making spaces where people want to linger.

Inside a Lake Worth Beach Jewel Box of Art, Color, and Thrifted Finds

Some of the best pieces in Liz Schoettel’s Lake Worth Beach home were found at Goodwill or on the side of the road.

Liz and her family discovered the cozy, artsy, coastal town of Lake Worth Beach during the pandemic, when they were looking to escape the Chicago suburbs to sunny South Florida and discovered almost everywhere else was booked up.

This town wasn’t their first choice but quickly became one of their favorite places in the world.

They rented a house on M street and completely fell in love with the community — the neighborly feel, proximity to the water, delicious food, and iconic Lake Worth Beach cottages.

Liz was bidding on houses on their flight back home.

She wound up making offers on at least 20 homes, flying back and forth from Chicago only to lose out again and again before finding her current house in a stunning historic neighborhood.

The yard was overgrown, the fences were falling down, the a/c and roof needed replacing, and the property just hadn’t been loved in a long time.

Liz and her friend Alicia, a former coworker from her retail days in New York, collaborated on redesigning and styling the house into the beautiful jewel box it is today.

They drove a truck around to different thrift stores and on Facebook Marketplace runs — sometimes finding pieces on the side of the road.

Liz refurbished and repainted, giving each piece new life and creating high end designs with materials that were anything but.

The house has become so beloved by Liz’s entire family that her daughter chose to get married in Florida and wedding festivities were hosted in the backyard.

Artifacts from that special day can be found throughout the house, many created by Liz (did I mention she’s an artist?) — the watercolor guest list hangs in a bedroom, a massive painted flamingo in the garage, and little pink touches here and there were all part of the celebration.

This Lake Worth Beach house tells several stories: of Liz and Alicia’s friendship, of a daughter’s wedding, and of an escape from daily life in Chicago to a tropical dream.

I love that this home represents Liz’s journey from knowing nothing about my community to becoming a Lake Worth Beach resident. It’s a place where friendships have deepened, family milestones are celebrated, and new roots are planted.

There are many more stories for that house to come.

Diana’s Coastal Chic Home in Hypoluxo, FL

I have incredible admiration for people who can look at a space and, in their mind, knock down walls, lay down floors, paint walls, and see a clear vision for its transformation.

I do not have this skill.

When Vince and I were house hunting, I got the major ick walking into some spaces.

If a place is dated, dark, ugly or — God forbid — smelly, I have a hard time seeing past that to the grand possibilities.

That takes a special skill, and homeowner and interior designer Diana Pierre-Louis has it.

She purchased her home in Hypoluxo, Florida with a vision to transform it into a quietly coastal haven for her family.

When you watch her home tour, you’ll hear all about her design choices, DIY tips, and bargain finds, but what you won’t hear about is what first sparked her interest in home design.

Diana grew up in her father’s carpet shop. She remembers being five years old and playing hide-and-go-seek with her cousins between the carpet rolls in the warehouse.

She observed her father work with interior designers, and realized at a young age what most kids probably don’t notice — there are lots of choices for what goes on a floor.

As she got older, she’d spend her summers helping in the shop and deepening her love for design.

As an adult, Diana always styled her interiors with intention, but she didn’t pursue it professionally until the age of 40 — during the COVID-19 pandemic, with two kids and a husband.

She was able to tell her father that she graduated from her program before he passed away, an accomplishment they could proudly share.

Diana’s kitchen when she and her husband first purchased the house.

Diana’s kitchen post transformation.

I’m amazed by the before and after photos of Diana’s home — seeing the transformation and her incredible talent.

But what felt even more amazing was learning more about her, and understanding that her bond with her family is at the root of who she is as a designer.

That family bond is what cultivated her interests, which developed into a passion.

Now, Diana is creating a beautiful home for her own children, carrying forward her father’s legacy.

When you walk through her home, you see beautiful finishes, creative DIY projects, and a designer’s eye for detail.

But underneath all of that is something even more enduring: a daughter’s love and a father’s influence.

And it all started in a carpet shop.

A photo of Diana and her father at her wedding is displayed on a kitchen shelf.

This cabinet had to be repaired and repainted after one of her boys rode his skateboard into the side, creating a large hole. Diana often repaints pieces to give them new life.

The bar area is Diana’s husband’s pride and joy. The couple repurposed kitchen cabinets to create this space.

The turf and tile was also a DIY project, and the fence covering was ordered on Amazon.

This sign in Diana’s living room reminds her of the dreams she’s accomplished, and of the importance of continuing to dream.

>> Watch Diana’s full home tour on YouTube.