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.
It me!
Enjoy Hanna’s tour of Maison Majorelle on YouTube:
Jamie Davis was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, the product of two 80s spring breakers who came down to party and never left — she calls herself a “spring break baby.”
Her presence lives up to that title in the best way. Jamie is energetic, laughs easily, and loves to entertain.
When traffic started getting bad in the big city, she moved to North Palm Beach.
Her then-husband found her current house, and when they visited for a walk-through, she immediately burst into tears and offered full price.
The house was built in 1952 — a concrete building that used to be a radio station (major South Florida perk: it’s hurricane-proof).
After an unpleasant divorce, Jamie remained in the home with her daughter and itched for a fresh start. Her plans were to sell.
But in the meantime, her daughter wanted to redo her bedroom, so Jamie figured she could give her that after all they’d been through.
She hired Renee Pollack of House of Zen and was blown away by the room transformation she created on a budget.
Before Renee, Jamie had no idea stunning home design could be so accessible and affordable.
Renee convinced Jamie to hold onto the house and promised they could make incremental changes — on a budget! — to transform the entire space into a safe place for her and her daughter.
Room by room, they are getting rid of the bad energy and bringing in immaculate vibes.
A major inspiration for Jamie’s home design is her summers spent as a teen with her uncle in Hawaii.
When she thinks back to those times, she remembers the lush landscaping, bright plumeria flowers, fresh fruit, sunshine, and peace.
She and Renee have brought that feel into her spaces, illustrating that home design is about much more than aesthetics. It’s about creating a feeling.
A curated and well-designed space can be the difference between holding onto the regrets and bad energy of the past and creating a home where you feel safe and able to build toward the future.
Now, Jamie and her daughter are thriving and sharing a home that feels exactly right for them.
I met Alacia at an event I attended for work. She complimented my necklace, I loved her dress, and the rest is thrift sister history.
We instantly bonded over our mutual love for secondhand treasures, and when I mentioned my home tour channel, she loved the idea and said I could come to her house.
I’ll admit that walking up to her home on filming day I didn’t expect to be as blown away as I was when she opened the door.
I hadn’t asked for any photos in advance (wild move, I know) so I truly didn’t know what to expect.
But Alacia was so stylish when I met her, and her overall aura was giving chic, so I just went with my gut.
I was confident she had great, if not fabulous, taste.
Luckily for both of us I was right — can you imagine the awkwardness of me trying to navigate the exit if not?! 😉
I walked into a home full of pure whimsy. Moody whimsy — can I coin that?
Alacia’s Boca Raton home is layered in dark woods, warm oranges, cozy patterns, and vintage collections.
When she initially remodeled her space, she thought she’d go with a modern, clean aesthetic and used light, bright paint and materials.
But as she started to collect decor she quickly realized that the place needed to be drenched in old things.
She jokes that a friend of hers comes to the house and truly doesn’t get it — it’s giving grandma.
Grandma or not, it’s her, from the layered tchotchkes to the woodland creatures depicted in paintings and perched on shelves.
When we first met, Alacia was nearing completion of her clinical social work program.
She pursued this career because she’s passionate about helping people, specifically those in recovery. She loves seeing the transformation and healing that happens in the recovery process.
Helping people thrive is her passion in life, far above her passion for thrifting and vintage collecting (she curates and sells clothing and accessories on the side, btw).
Her interest in the power of transformation, though, seems to show up in her home, too — a personal sanctuary that feels like an outward reflection of who she is.
She transformed everything about her home, from the flooring to the paint to the configuration of the rooms.
Watch Alacia’s home tour to take a journey into the moody whimsy I fell in love with.
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?
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 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.
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. I found this bucket at Goodwill.Cabbage serving tray also from Goodwill. We tried the curry chicken salad and bacon ranch chicken dip — both delish. A nosh was had.
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:
Bag from Goodwill West Palm BeachT-shirt, sunnies, and bag from Goodwill West Palm BeachDress from Goodwill West Palm Beach
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.
I re-styled my guest room and in a word it’s giving: vibes.
My mom stays in this room several months out of the year, so she has collected most of these pieces.
I don’t know where this came from — is it Gen Z terminology? My algorithm? — but now I just say, “vibes” in response to most things.
I say it so often that Vince asked me to stop.
Rude.
Sadly for Vince, this verbal tick is here to stay and now a core part of my personality *shrug*.
So, as I was saying — the room is v, v vibey and (naturally) full of thrifted finds. Here’s how it’s laid out:
My mom lives in this room several months out of the year, and there’s only one small closet, so coming up with storage solutions for her stuff has been tricky.
She found this gorgeous dresser at The Cozy Cottage in Lake Worth Beach last month which has been a total game changer. It’s just missing a handle on the top drawer, so she’s on the hunt!
My mom was worried this piece would crowd the space, but placing it against the wall near the head of the bed has actually made the room feel less crowded to me.
We have more than 60 house plants at this point, so we’re in a phase of coming up with creative ways to place them and make sure they’re getting enough light.
This little macrame hanging shelf does the trick in this room.
I love styling with books and stack them everywhere, much like our house plants. Mom’s old yearbooks and a few others are leaning against the chair in the corner here.
Mom found this chair and pillow at separate thrift shops. The chair previously lived at The Breakers Palm Beach.
Baskets are utilized as clothing hampers and extra storage.
The artwork was gifted to my mom from our neighbor in Columbia, Missouri. We have lots of this artist’s pieces throughout our home.
The tassel pillow is from a local thrift market and the crochet throw is from The Cozy Cottage in Lake Worth Beach.
My mom almost got rid of this little dresser because she thought it would be too heavy in the space across from the other larger dresser she found.
I convinced her to keep it for more storage (it now holds her purses) and also because I’m obsessed with it. The stud detailing and color is perfection — we found this piece at Quantum House Thrift in Jupiter.
The basket tray keeps tabletop items tidy and is sourced from Goodwill, the mirror is from Stone Button Studio in Northwood, and the matching pair of lamps is from The Nearly New Thrift Shop in West Palm Beach. They originally came with old fashioned lampshades so I replaced them with these modern gray ones I found at Home Goods years ago.
My favorite thing in this room is the macrame hat organizer I gifted to my mom for her birthday last year. It’s so practical but also feels like art.
I love the use of trays to organize surfaces. Mom found this tray at a local garage sale and I styled various thrifted and gifted items inside. The gorgeous shell box next to it is from Stone Button Studio.
This room is the only one in the house with so much gray. I tend to stay away from “millennial gray” but the cool tones in this room feel refreshing rather than bland.
Let me know if you want to come visit, the room is ready for ya. 😉
In other news, I wore a $15.99 Goodwill gown to a Gala over the weekend and truly felt like a million bucks.
I felt like a princess!My super comfy shoes are also from Goodwill.
I fear this is the type of dress you can only wear once, which kills me because it’s perfection.
I forgot to snag a photo of the back — it’s sheer!!
The only good full length photo I got of the dress. Here we are with our handsome cousins!
I found this gown a few weeks ago while shopping with my mom and remember telling her, “When am I ever going to wear something like this?!” I debated over it and decided the price was too good not to take it.
Who would have thought a last minute gala would plop onto my calendar?!
Goodwill comes through in all life’s moments, friends. Have I turned you into a thrifter yet??
Last week’s thrfited ‘fits:
Button up from Goodwill West Palm BeachDress and Bag from Goodwill West Palm Beach
This is my hobby. 