MIDWEST ROOTS, COASTAL SOUL
AN INTERPRETATION OF LIFE THROUGH DESIGN, EXPRESSED IN A REFINED NATURAL PALETTE
WWhen interior design becomes a form of biography, the home speaks in the homeowner’s own voice. For Interior Designer Tye Davis, Principal of Tye Interior Design, capturing that voice meant “studying the Book of Megan” and translating it into a design where Palm Beach charm meets Naples ease.
The prologue is set on a Hawaiian shoreline, where a photo session was nearly overtaken by rain — until the skies cleared. What they captured: her daughter, barefoot in a red dress beneath a rainbow — a moment both symbolic and cherished, and the catalyst for a palette of deep blues, grounding neutrals, and subtle red accents.
That story greets visitors in the entry, where nautical hues of navy, aqua, and shoreline tan set the tone for a pair of artworks — visual tributes to mother-daughter beach vacations. For Davis, these scenes ground the home’s emotional resonance, setting the foundation for a design that unfolds as an elevated scrapbook of life.
The design is inspired by the Hawaiian image on the television art display, featuring a composition of blue, ivory, aqua, and cream. Davis carries these inspirational hues to furnishings, finishes, and the watercolor brushstroke wallcovering in the living room. “We wanted to highlight the wallcovering while introducing warmth,” Davis says. “By asking the artist to layer in honeyed tones and earthy browns within the commissioned triptych, we balanced the blue tones,” tying the palette to the kitchen, where caramel warms the onyx backsplash, soft rose glows in the pendants, and golden honey emanates from the wood-clad hood. u
Entry & Powder Room: At the entry, this custom Woodbridge Furniture bench upholstered in navy with crisp white welt introduces the nautical color scheme, anchoring the poignant artwork above. In the adjoining powder room, a saturated Phillip Jeffries wallcovering forms a bold backdrop, while a root-slice lends beachy texture. The vanity’s finish ties seamlessly to the Legno Bastone Wide Plank Flooring — sourced through Naples Flooring Company — creating a cohesive look throughout the space, while the ceiling, painted in Thousand Oceans by Benjamin Moore, shelters the room in a serene, water-inspired atmosphere.
Living Room: The Sea Salt wall color by SherwinWilliams, a soft neutral green, connects this blue and white palette. In the center of the built-in is the photograph that sparked the color story — flanked by meaningful accessories, some collected and some purchased. A Lowcountry Originals palm leaf chandelier crowns a ceiling clad in bamboo-style trim, nickel gap, and raffia, reinforcing the Palm Beach aesthetic. Navy blue adorns the pillows, while the sandy-toned flooring grounds the room with warmth.
Living Room Detail: The central circle of the commissioned triptych by artist Katarina Tifft mirrors the sunburst shape of the honey-onyx kitchen backsplash. The same material reappears in an onyx bowl just below the art — a refined display of Davis’ ability to carry material and color through the design. Behind the Vanguard Furniture console table and the custom built-in, the wallcovering pattern is intentionally aligned so the motif continues seamlessly, carrying color and movement from wall to wall.
Kitchen: Navy blue anchors the island with a substantial, clean white countertop. Pulling up to this island are counter stools with an X-detail on the cane-wrapped backs, drawn from island end caps. Overhead, Capiz shell fixtures — cylindrical and circular — echo the round motif that begins in the starburst backsplash and continues in the counter stools’ accent pillows. The white oak hood is stained to coordinate with the Legno Bastone Wide Plank Flooring from Naples Flooring Company, creating a cohesive look throughout the space.
Dining Room: Nickel gap cladding, detailed with bamboo-style trim, creates a recurring architectural rhythm that Davis carries throughout the home. Extending from the primary vestibule across the window wall, the treatment anchors the dining space while shaping moments of intentional calm within a lively palette. A blue-framed mirror reflects the inspired drapery, while a rustic table, and a Palecek chandelier — beaded with delicate coco beads — anchor the room with a warm coastal charm.
“We wanted to highlight the wallcovering while introducing warmth,” Interior
Designer Tye Davis, Principal of Tye Interior Design says.
“By asking the artist to layer in honeyed tones and earthy browns within the commissioned triptych, we balanced the blue tones.”
Davis’ commitment to livability matches that visual richness. “The argument of form and function is over for me,” Davis explains — a philosophy she considers her specialty. “If my clients are investing in beautiful new items, everything must wear like iron and be comfortable.” For this homeowner, durability reflects her warm and welcoming Midwestern spirit. Having studied her closely, Davis embraces materials and finishes that prioritize comfort and simplicity without any hint of pretense. That same balance carries into the architectural detailing, showcasing bamboo-style trim and nickel-gap cladding — choices that convey strength while nodding to tropical escapes.
Beyond the shared spaces, the design shifts from approachable elegance to bold self-definition. Davis creates a garden effect in the primary bedroom with a sweeping canopy of leaves that stretches from the wallpaper onto the ceiling, framed in sculptural trim. This unapologetic use of pattern becomes more than a backdrop. It is a declaration of presence in Palm Beach style, where scale, saturation, and statement feel theatrical and warm. u
Primary Bedroom Vestibule: Davis commissions this multi-panel bas-relief installation from artist Tommy Mitchell. “We collaborated on the color, texture, and arrangement, choosing the soft champagne background to complement the silver accents in this wing of the home,” Davis details. Mounted on saturated navy grasscloth, the piece creates an anchor in the open vestibule. This deliberate placement — anchored by an animal motif, accented with two delicate butterflies, and set against a deep blue backdrop — marries the two spaces, creating a quiet moment of connection within Davis’ layered palette.
Primary Bedroom: The style evokes Dorothy Draper’s confident glamour with a bold wallcovering from Thibaut that is extended as a mural onto the ceiling. A decorative border from the Treillage Collection by Fuller Architectural Panels frames both the mural and the room. Davis repeats this linear motif on the banding of the rocker chairs and the leading edge of the drapery. The drapery ties into the pillows, which feature trellispatterned fabric from Dorothy Draper Home. Even in areas not shown, custom storage solutions by PLC Closets play a vital role in maximizing function and complementing the room’s design aesthetic.
Primary Bathroom: “This bathroom is calming and monochromatic, elegant without being fussy,” Davis says. To complement the tub sourced through the builder’s design center, Davis selects Constellation by Benjamin Moore, a whisper-soft blue that washes across the walls and ceiling. Adjacent, an ombré marble fan-motif mosaic with stainless steel accents from Artistic Tile, sourced through Ruben Sorhegui Tile, introduces whimsical shimmer, while a bleached teak table lends an organic counterpoint to the refined vignette.
Den: Davis grounds the space with a generously scaled navy linen sofa from Restoration Hardware, perfect for lounging. A custom black linen Roman shade ensures complete light control, while the black ceiling amplifies the room’s cinematic mood. To offset the theater-like atmosphere with a touch of Floridian flair, Davis artfully layers alligator elements—from an iconic Dennis Goodman Photography print to Schumacher accent pillows in mini-gator print, and an alligator-inspired area rug that adds rich texture underfoot.
Den Bathroom: Inspired by the vintage Old Florida artwork located to the left of the vanity, Davis crafted this bathroom with alligator mosaic wallpaper, a detailed coastline map, and leather-accented deep blue cabinetry—paying tribute to the homeowner’s Florida roots while blending tradition and personal style into a warm, inviting space.
Guest Bathroom: Gold accents on the campaign-style furniture are reinterpreted in the en-suite with an abstract palm-leaf wallcovering from Phillip Jeffries, its subtle movement and glinting reflection adding dimension. The reflection in the Made Goods mirror reveals delicate bird illustrations, reinforcing the suite’s nature-inspired theme. Overhead, a lantern-like vanity fixture from Wilson Lighting carries the welltraveled aesthetic into the en-suite, lending cohesion to the design with a refined, worldly touch.
Guest Bedroom: Saturated color, intricate pattern, and tropical textures intertwine to create expressive yet approachable, whimsical yet warm design, where cockatoos, hummingbirds, and birdcage pendants serve as playful focal points that anchor the concept. Yet, when subtly is desired, a fascia from Shade & Shutter Concepts conceals the mechanism of the room-darkening shade, allowing the blue fringe and motherof-pearl trim on the drapery to capture attention. Campaign-style pieces, like the Theodore Alexander nightstand and Century bed, lend a “globe-trotting” sensibility.
Guest Bedroom: Across the headboard wall, and echoed in the en-suite, a custom wallcovering introduces a soft sea-salt hue, carried onto the walls and ceiling in Sea Salt by Sherwin-Williams. “We went with a whimsical goblet pleat,” Davis shares about the drapery. “Brush fringe accents the pleats and trails the leading edge, finished with playful pom-poms.” The detail harmonizes with the Ikat fabric on the bed scarf and pillows, trimmed in oversized pom-pom fringe from Kravet.
Guest Bathroom: The pineapple, a longstanding American emblem of hospitality, feels especially fitting for this home. This Hinkley Lighting vanity fixture, with its playful silhouette, adds personality to the en-suite while complementing the mirror’s cane-detailed inset and frame. Though the vanity was pre-selected, Davis elevates it with hardware from Modern Matter — brushed-brass pulls inset with semi-precious moonstone — that impart a subtle, glowing warmth.
Yet in the primary bathroom, the navy hue recedes, welcoming a serene palette of creamy white and silver accents. Across the bedrooms, drapery becomes a signature statement. In one, Davis shares, “We layered brush fringe with mother-of-pearl beading — every detail was part of the story. Even with all that pattern and color, the space still feels warm and approachable.” In the den, the window treatment shifts toward function, creating a moody retreat where gators — a uniquely Floridian motif — meet a movie-night atmosphere, making it a destination within the home’s vibrant Palm Beach spirit. n
Lanai: The custom outdoor rug nearly spans the terrace, templated and cut to match the circular radius of the building for maximum functionality and a tailored look for a homeowner who enjoys spending time outdoors. Wood-look tile grounds the space and climbs the wall as an accent. Durable furnishings from Ebel are upholstered in crisp white fabric on the sofa, with nautical blue-and-white stripes on the chairs for a coastal nod. Atop the table, a whimsical Floridian centerpiece — a mother-and-daughter flamingo pair.
Written
by
Rachel Seekamp
Photography by Blaine Johnathan Photography
Interior Designer:
Tye Interior Design
3301 Bonita Beach Road, Suite 110 Bonita Springs, FL 34134
239.233.5650 www.tyedavis.com
Resources:
Ferguson Home
38 Goodlette-Frank Road South Naples, FL 34102
239.963.0087 www.build.com/ferguson
Legno Bastone Wide Plank Flooring
168 Commercial Boulevard Naples, FL 34104
239.206.1898
www.legnobastone.com
Naples Flooring Company
900 5th Avenue South Naples, FL 34102
239.263.1213
www.naplesflooring.com
PLC Closets
12871 Tradeway Drive, Suite 10 Bonita Springs, FL 34135
239.260-1890
www.plcclosets.com
Ruben Sorhegui Tile 3876 Mercantile Avenue Naples, FL 34104
239.643.2882 www.sorheguitile.com
Shade & Shutter Concepts
1810 J and C Boulevard, Suite 5 Naples, FL 34109
239.514.3557
www.shadeandshutterconcepts.com
Wilson Lighting 2465 Trade Center Way Naples, FL 34109
239.592.6006
www.wilsonlighting.com
