Our day at the Norton Museum of Art during Palm Beach Design Days began gently, with the soft morning light filtering through the courtyard as designers, collectors, editors, and friends gathered for breakfast before the panels began. There was a quiet sense of anticipation in the air. The Norton always feels calm and thoughtful, and that morning, it became a beautiful place for the design community to come together.
The first conversation, “Design Giants: Celebrating the Best of American Interiors,” brought together Victoria Hagan and Tom Scheerer in conversation with Galerie editor-in-chief Jacqueline Terrebonne. Sitting there listening, we couldn’t help but feel how special it was to be surrounded by such design legacies—designers whose work has shaped the way so many of us think about interiors today.
The conversation felt generous and reflective. They spoke about developing a point of view over time, about the importance of client relationships, and how the definition of luxury continues to evolve. What stood out most was their warmth and honesty. It felt less like a formal panel and more like listening to thoughtful stories from people who have spent decades refining their craft.
The next discussion opened up the conversation even further. Kelly Williams, Romanos Brihi, Phoebe Dickinson, and Stephen Sills spoke about the relationship among art, collecting, and interior design. It was fascinating to hear how art often becomes the starting point for a room, guiding everything from color to composition. Listening to collectors, designers, and artists speak together made it clear how interconnected these creative worlds really are.
Between panels, people lingered in the museum gardens and hallways, continuing conversations that had begun inside. That’s something Palm Beach does beautifully—design discussions never feel confined to a stage; they naturally spill into the spaces around them.
Later in the afternoon, the conversation turned to the quieter details that bring interiors to life. In “The Power of the Edit: Styling with Personality, Depth, and Detail,” moderated by Marisa Marcantonio, speakers Carmel Brantley, Ben Reynaert, Mieke ten Have, and Emma Bazilian reflected on the art of styling. They spoke about how objects, books, and personal collections create the layers that give a room soul. It was a reminder that great interiors are not just designed—they are edited, refined, and lived with.
The final panel of the day, “The New Rules of Luxury: How Designers Are Defining Beauty, Craft, and Comfort Today,” once again brought Jacqueline Terrebonne to the stage alongside Patrick Sutton, Meredith Ellis, Melanie Miller, and Sarah Bartholomew. Their conversation touched on something many of us have been sensing for some time: that luxury today is increasingly about authenticity—beautiful materials, thoughtful craftsmanship, and spaces that feel deeply comfortable and personal.
The Norton provided the perfect setting for it all. A museum devoted to art becomes, for a day, a gathering place for the conversations that shape how we live with beauty, craftsmanship, and creativity.
