exterior of Mitch Brown’s brand-new Palm Beach humble abode
The task is typically laid out for Palm Beach interior visionary Mitch Brown, who uses his keen eye for design to cater to each of his clients’ living needs. Putting his high-esteemed design capabilities to the test on his very-own home for him and his husband, Rick Moeser, feast your eyes on the magnificent Moeser & Brown Residence.
Mitch Brown and husband Rick Moeser
Walk me through your design process for this project. We needed more space. We started with the ground floor unit. We knew the upstairs had an amazing ocean view, so we were finally able to convince the owner to sell. We decided to take the entire project down to the studs and concrete floors. The kitchen was just a galley, now we have island and beautiful glass doors. In order to do the series of doors, we had to add an steel beam and tear down the wall. In my 30 year career, I finally got to say, “Tear down this barring *** of a wall and put a window where a window ought to be.”
Mitch Brown achieves design perfection in his very own home, whether demonstrated through its hallways, kitchen or bedroom
What was the main priority for the client and why? I had the unique experience of Rick and myself as the clients. Again, it was about more space. The thing is, we love the location. On the beach and a block from Worth Avenue. That’s hard to give up. I tell most of our friends we have the amazing luxury to walk to most restaurants for dinner and stumble back home aft rewards.
What was the client’s design inspiration? Our goal was the ability to create a show space for what I do, yet create a livable, comfortable environment that’s uniquely ours. My rule when doing a project is when you enter your home you should feel as if you’re on holiday. So we decided to do a west coast casual and comfortable style, meets east coast/FL spin.
Mitch Brown achieves design perfection in his very own home, whether demonstrated through its hallways, kitchen or bedroom
What was the most challenging aspect of this project and how did you overcome it? When you’re dating you try to get to know the person the best you can before committing to a life together. Likes, dislikes, goals, travel, blah blah blah. But usually it’s not until you actually get married that you decorate with this person. Now that’s learning how to be in a relationship! I think all couples should have to decorate together before saying “I do”. We were blessed. We plowed through it, and it wasn’t easy, but now we wouldn’t change one decision. And we have a level of trust we didn’t know before.
What were some of the most stand-out details for this project? It’s so much harder shopping for myself than it is for clients. There are no instructions from clients, and as a designer, we know too much. When you’re “in the business” you are so exposed to so much. Decisions become deaf defying leaps. So I remember something that a great friend, Kim Sargent, taught me which was “editing”, sometimes taking things away can make a space stronger visually. With all the possibilities out there, rather than adding, what can I remove from the equation to make it better?
Mitch Brown achieves design perfection in his very own home, whether demonstrated through its hallways, kitchen or bedroom
What was the outcome when it was done? We walk into the house and as per my goal, we see all the way across the space and into the garden. That’s one of my favorite architectural details. We managed to create an environment that we are both so comfortable with. We added objects and details from travels which really define who we are. We love entertaining and our friends seem to really enjoy hanging out in the space.
DESIGN DETAILS
PROJECT NAME Moeser & Brown Residence
LOCATION 122 Peruvian Ave, Palm Beach
INTERIOR DESIGNER
David Mitchell Brown LLC. Mitch Brown, dmitchbrown.com
ARCHITECT/BUILDER
B & A Builders banddbuilders.com
YEAR BUILT
1930-1950
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
Art Deco/Modern
SCOPE OF PROJECT
Exterior renovation, exterior hardscape and landscape renovation and complete interior renovation.
SQUARE FOOTAGE
Approx 2000 sq ft.
NUMBER OF BEDROOMS
3
NUMBER OF BATHROOMS
3
RESOURCES
Porto Ramano
LVR sconces portaromana.com
Lightology
MBR pendant lightology, lightology.com
Dorothy Draper
Banana leaf wallpaper dorothydraper.com
Holly Hunt
Master bedroom Terrazzo wallpaper hollyhunt.com
Liebherr
Kitchen refrigerator, liebherr.com
Kitchen Aide Café series
oven/stove kitchenaid.com
ART Living room– Ken Perenyi over the fireplace. Blue nude from Paris flea market.
Media room– Rob Tucker painting of Palm Springs residence.
Kitchen– Slim Aarons
photograph of the Kaufman house-Palm Springs.
FURNITURE
Custom upholstery and draperies
Photography by: PHOTO BY CARRIE BRADBURN/CAPEHART PHOTOGRAPHY
