Meredith Stern Interiors

sells seashells by the seashore

Deco details: proof that restraint can still be undeniably glamorous

Old Florida style developed between the 1920s and 1960s, characterized by single story cottages and ranch homes built to respond to the coastal climate. Pecky cypress paneling, beadboard walls, painted wood floors and an understated nautical influence defined the interiors. The aesthetic was practical but never plain. Rattan, cane and wicker furniture, collected art and ceramics, open shelving and a palette pulled from the landscape, soft greens, blues, whites and weathered wood. Spaces felt comfortable and lived in, not decorated. What makes Old Florida interiors so compelling is their sense of ease. They prioritize light, texture and a connection to the outdoors without ever feeling forced.

.design .archite

Jazz Age design, roughly the 1920s and early 1930s, gave us the skyscraper aesthetic. Art Deco towers like the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building defined the era with their geometric setbacks, metallic details and vertical emphasis. Everything reached upward, bold, modern and unapologetically optimistic. Interiors followed suit with polished metals, lacquered surfaces, geometric patterns and rich materials like marble and exotic woods. It was glamour tied to speed and progress. A moment when design believed the future would be better and wanted to look the part.