Flip this over to enjoy the September | October issue of Orange Appeal!
CONTENTS
FA L L 2 0 2 6
FEATURES: 32 SWEET HOMECOMING A successful residential interior designer in New York City, Lindsay MacRae always knew she would return to Central Florida and raise a family with her husband. While the home she found in Windermere reflected the desired traditional style on the exterior, the interior presented some elements that needed to be addressed.
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REFRESHED & REFINED
When Lisa Clayton found the home she wanted, her husband, builder Charlie, Charles Clayton Construction, knew there was a project ahead. Together with their architect and designer, they brought a 1930s beauty back to life through updates and additions. Now reflecting a transitional style, they can enjoy it for years to come.
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ART CENTRIC
ABBY LIGA PHOTOGRAPHY
When an owner is a little shy about using color and wallpaper, but has an exquisite art collection and fashion sense, leave it to designer Cathy Sands, Blue Daze Designs. She thoughtfully coaxed her client through the process of embracing new hues and expanding his home horizons.
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GENEVIEVE GARRUPPO
INSIDE:
cover: The main living area of mid-century makeover by designer
Cathy Sand, Blue Daze Designs. Photography by Abby Liga DiDomenico, Abby Liga Photography. Article on page 44.
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FIRST LOOK
6
EYE ON ARTS
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DESIGNING MINDS
ITC, Interiors Trading Company, opened a new, larger showroom filled with more than 50,000 fabric samples, trims, accessories, lighting, furniture, art and accessories. CityArts celebrates 20 years, thriving in the iconic Rogers-Keine Building in downtown Orlando, with a variety of exhibits and events. For designer Tera Smith, the idea of becoming an interior designer emerged when she was a child, and she has a passion for the process.
14 TRADE SECRETS
Coverings 2026, North America’s largest international tile and stone exhibition and conference, revealed a first look at select new tile and stone products.
22 ROOM BY ROOM
Designers showcase their work and discuss the details and inspirations behind these stunning spaces. FALL 2026 1
E D I TO R & P U B L I S H E R
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fIRST LooK
miles of textiles
Interiors Trading Company, the to-the-trade showroom filled with more than 50,000 fabric samples, trims galore, accessories, furnishings and art, recently opened in a larger, more open and airy space. Known for carrying well-known and loved names such as Kravet, Hickory Chair, Scalamandre, Baker, Lexington, Thayer Coggin, Fabricut and Century Furniture, the professional and knowledgeable staff is well-versed in the design process and can often problem-solve with clients. ITC carries sustainable products such as down feathers, soy, corn and bamboo fibers, organic cotton, and even recycled plastics. A conference room is also available for consultations and presentations. interiorstrading.com
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EYEonARTS
fall exhibit Ambar Santiago makes her exhibition debut at CityArts’ SIDE Gallery with Guatemala: My Place of Trees, curated by Juan Pablo Santa Luna, opening September 17. Through fluorescently powerful color and dense layers of overgrown plants, Ambar confronts the complicated experience of growing up in the United States while feeling separated from her Central American and Caribbean heritage.
CityArts Celebrates 20 Years
P
art of the Downtown Arts District, CityArts is housed in one of the most interesting buildings in Orlando. Featuring distinctive architecture, historic relevance and an eye-popping green exterior, the Rogers Kiene Building — built in 1886 — has been the gallery’s home since 2019 when longtime arts supporter Ford
Kiene renovated and donated it to the City of Orlando for use as an arts space. According to the Orlando Foundation for Architecture, one of the most striking fea-
tures of the Rogers Kiene Building is its exterior cladding of pressed zinc metal, a rarity in building construction. This material covers the entire facade, with intricate high-relief designs that highlight its neo-classical inspiration. The cladding on the main building is likely original, while an addition to the north wall, constructed before 1892, features similar but subtly different detailing. This summer, CityArts officially commemorated the milestone with CityArts Retrospective: Celebrating 20 Years, a landmark exhibition honoring two decades of artistic innovation, community impact and cultural leadership in downtown Orlando, marking the beginning of a year-long series of special events, including the release of a limited edition CityArts Retrospective wine, produced in partnership with Assemblage Wine & Friends and worldrenowned artist Boy Kong. CityArts first opened in June 2006 in the historic Webster Building at 29 S. Orange Avenue. Over the past 20 years, the organization has played a pivotal role in shaping Orlando’s creative landscape, supporting artists, cultivating new collectors and fostering a vibrant arts community. Impressive statistics include: 20,000+ artists exhibited (1,000 annually), more than $1 million in art sales and art services since 2006, and welcoming 1.2 million visitors. “As a result of Orlando’s large creative class, there’s an abundance of talent in Central Florida,” says Barbara Hartley, Executive Director of the Downtown Arts District. “We celebrate all the artists and musicians who have participated, the leaders who have volunteered on the board of directors and committees, the dedicated staff, and all of the individual and corporate sponsors and art buyers who have generously given their support.” For more information: downtownartsdistrict.com/cityarts 6
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At its heart, this debut exhibition asks what it means to create a homeland inside your own imagination when the real one feels just out of reach. Guatemala: My Place of Trees is a reminder that sometimes the landscape we make to find ourselves can become the very thing that swallows us whole. In the last six months, Ambar Santiago has risen to prominence in Orlando through her advocacy for women artists. Ambar strongly believes, “If I can help one woman feel prepared enough to enter the art world, then I’m doing something right.”
designingMINDS
TERA SMITH’s
PASSION for the PROCESS For interior designer Tera Smith of Smith Interior Design, a career in design began long before she entered the profession. As a child, instead of playing with Barbie dolls, she designed dream homes for them, a creative pastime that sparked a lifelong passion for interiors. While still in high school, she enrolled in design classes, completed projects and internships, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in interior design. She began her career managing large-scale residential remodeling services, where it became clear that her strengths and passion best aligned with boutique luxury design, leading her to establish Smith Interior Design.
F
or eight years, Tera operated her
Having access to a diverse selection of
and resources offered to her clients. As
business from a home office while
samples allows us to create something
her network and expertise have grown, so
raising her two young children. As
that’s uniquely theirs while they experi-
has the scope of her work, with luxury
her portfolio grew beyond individu-
ence seeing their dream come to life.”
residential projects throughout Central
al room makeovers and remodels into
Building strong relationships with
Florida, including homes in Golden Oak
large-scale custom homes, she opened a
suppliers and manufacturer representa-
and, most recently, the first private resi-
design studio to better serve her clients.
tives has enabled Tera to stay at the fore-
dence at the exclusive Four Seasons Private
“I wanted a space where clients can be
front of emerging products, materials and
Residences Orlando at Walt Disney World
intimately involved in the design process,”
design trends. She regularly attends the
Resort.
Tera says. “We can select materials together,
High Point Market in North Carolina,
“It was such an honor to be invited to
compare finishes and introduce options
using those connections and experiences
design a residence within the Four Sea-
they may not have initially considered.
to continually refine the level of design
sons,” she says. “Our vision for this project
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designingMINDS was to create a residence that feels like a natural extension of the refined Four Seasons brand experience.” She was selected for the project while already working with the homeowners on their primary residence in Golden Oak, which was under construction. Tera elevated the six-bedroom, five-bathroom residence with thoughtfully selected finishes, including custom wallpaper, trim details and furnishings that seamlessly blend luxury hospitality design with personalized residential living. She embraced a nature-infused palette of soft sands, warm ivories, muted green and natural wood tones to establish a tranquil backdrop throughout the home. Comple-
transitional style that feels sophisticated
“People want their homes to feel warm,
mented by floor-to-ceiling windows, three
and refined, while remaining comfort-
inviting and connected to nature,” she
private balconies and motorized draperies
able, inviting and chic.”
says. “We’re seeing a return to layered
that maximize natural light and views,
Looking ahead, Tera is excited by the
neutrals, natural woods, stone, texture,
the design fosters an effortless connection
direction interior design is taking. She
and spaces that feel collected rather than
to the surrounding landscape.
sees homeowners moving away from
overly designed. I think clients are also
“Each of my clients’ homes should feel
stark, all-white interiors and becoming
becoming more confident in selecting
connected to where they are and how
more comfortable with warmer tones,
things they truly love instead of following
they want to feel,” Tera says. “For this resi-
richer textures and natural materials that
every trend. The end result is a home that
dence, we embraced the Four Seasons aes-
bring a sense of depth and personality
feels more personal, more timeless, and
thetic with white oak, marble, and a warm
into the home.
ultimately more comfortable.”
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TrADE sECrETS
TOP 10 TILE TRENDS
Coverings 2026, North America’s largest international tile and stone exhibition and conference, revealed a first look at select new tile and stone products. Here are some highlights. 2. BRUTALISH SANCTUARY: merges stripped-back materiality with refined restraint, reimagining Brutalist influence through concrete looks, terrazzo textures and matte stone looks. Celebrating material honesty, some tiles are left unglazed, allowing the material to speak for itself. Rejecting all-white predictability, this trend embraces authentic texture and inherent character, creating spaces that feel quiet, grounded and protective.
1. ARTICULATED ACCENTS: This tile trend celebrates the synchronized harmony of graphic precision and outward design articulation, crafting tiles that engage the senses. Advanced glazing and contour-detailing techniques create surfaces that evoke the feel of anything from soft leather to textured sandstone, complete with stitching-like details or pitted striations. The result is a layered, immersive experience that responds dynamically to light and touch, bringing warmth, visual depth and subtle sophistication to interiors.
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TrADE sECrETS 4. HAPTIC EXPERIENCE: Ceramic surfaces are evolving beyond visual appeal into interactive, multi-sensory experiences that respond and engage with the senses. Textures now range from subtle ridges and embossed patterns to deeply undulating surfaces, inviting touch and creating a human connection with materials. Advances in glazing chemistry and digital production add reactive qualities, allowing finishes to subtly shift with light, perspective or angle, lending to walls and floors with a dynamic almost living quality. These tiles not only enhance aesthetical range, but also elevate interiors to immersive, tactile environments. 3. GILDED AGE: Metallic details have resurfaced, becoming a quintessential design element among contemporary tile collections. These iridescent details transform ceramics from purely functional surfaces into sophisticated focal points. Gold, bronze, copper and silver ornamentation takes shape among both large- and small-format pieces, creating shimmering contrasts against matte, textured or neutral backgrounds. These accents are designed to interact with light, to emphasize architectural features and enhance spatial depth, all while adding quiet luxury to projects.
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5. JADE TERRAIN: Inspired by the precious stone, this trend captures the serenity, sophistication and luxury of jade green as it translates into ceramic and porcelain tile. Jade green, positioned near the center of the green color family, showcases a wide array of hues in jade-inspired tiles, ranging from soft pastel greens and vibrant turquoises to deep, earth-toned mossy shades and saturated tones with subtle shadows of black. With product selections such as monochromatic subway tiles, two-toned mosaics, large-format tiles with shades of jade veining, this trend offers designers and installers remarkable versatility and lends itself equally to calming interiors and bold architectural statements.
TrADE sECrETS 7. ORGANIC MINIMALISM: Evolving to a cooler, more minimal aesthetic, this season manufacturers are emphasizing tranquility, texture and lasting stone effects. This trend represents a collective return to structured, quiet spaces, desaturated tones, and the integrity of durable materials. This approach elevates raw elemental surfaces, such as concrete and ivory stone looks, into refined, tactile expressions of calm, sophisticated design.
6. MICRO-ILLUSIONS: Small-format tiles have reached their mighty peak, achieving immense design effects by mimicking large-scale surfaces or intricate mosaics. Techniques such as precision scoring, digital printing and color-matched grout allow these tiles to replicate expansive mosaic murals, create optical illusions or produce layered dimensional effects. The result is high-impact design that is both cost effective and installation friendly, perfect for feature walls, accent areas and floors that demand detailed artistry without complexity.
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TrADE sECrETS 9. TAILORED CRAFT: Function meets nostalgia in a way that is as playful as it is practical. Tailored Craft draws inspiration from fashion’s enduring motifs, blending tailored elegance with skilled craftmanship. These looks imbue a quietly luxurious aesthetic that feels curated, tactile and timeless — perfect for designers who value character and considered design over fleeting trends.
8. SURFACE TECHNOLOGIES: Manufacturers continue to pioneer new surface technologies, redefining the experience of space through touch, texture, light and function. Sculptural reliefs, bas-relief textures and glossy-matte contrasts create richly tactile walls, while advanced technologies add dimensional depth, slip resistance and silky touch-effects. From new integrated induction cooktops to engineered shower trays and backlit-effect surfaces, tile is redefining the relationship between material and technology.
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10. TILE AS ART: Tile is shifting from simple cladding to an immersive design statement, with manufacturers positioning it as a sophisticated alternative to wallpaper or art. This season’s collections introduce bold graphics, optical illusions and continuous murals that create decorative storytelling, ranging from geometric and metallic identities to refined scenographic patterns and hand-drawn, narrative-driven scenes.
For more information and to register for Coverings 2027, to be held in Orlando, visit coverings.com.
ROOM by ROOM
Area designers share details about some of their favorite rooms.
HOM E O F F I C E Working from home in style! Our client didn’t have to trade glamour for function when designing her home office. Wolfe-Rizor Interiors created a custom rug and selected luxurious fabrics in hues that echo throughout the home, bringing a cohesive sense of warmth and sophistication to the space. The room was finished with a striking piece of art personally selected by the client. Privacy was thoughtfully created with interior steel-and-glass window panels, which define the office without completely closing it off. The design allows this busy mom of three to keep an eye on things while running her businesses—or simply step away for a well-deserved break.
WOLFE-RIZOR INTERIORS Construction by RLH CONSTRUCTION Photo by Rickie Agapito 22
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ROOM by ROOM
SITTING AREA Once home to Central Christian Church in downtown Orlando, this historic building was transformed into five luxury townhouses. C L Studio, Inc. designed two of the residences, blending the building’s history with a modern, collected aesthetic. Original, refinished church floors ground the space, layered with a wool and silk Art Deco rug. Charcoal gray bouclé club chairs, a glass pedestal table, and a Post-Brutalist concrete vessel (via tangorenholf.com) sit beneath a commanding large-scale work by globally acclaimed artist RETNA. The result is a thoughtfully curated interior where art, architecture and design come together naturally.
JOSE J. CABRERA, C L STUDIO, INC. Photo by Steven Allen 24
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ROOM by ROOM
DI N I N G R O OM A long, narrow dining room isn’t a problem, it’s an invitation. Our clients love to entertain, so we knew from the start this space needed one bold gesture rather than a collection of small ones. The answer was a 12-foot slab of live-edge wood, raw and sculptural, its grain moving down the length of the room like a current. Everything else was chosen to fall in line, and nothing is there by accident. Full-height paneling gives those long walls structure and rhythm. Two oversized landscape canvases were hung because one would have looked timid. Completing the space are leather chairs with a lived-in ease, a cascade of crystal overhead, and a black sideboard grounding the far end. There’s a tension between the polished and the primal in this room, and that’s exactly what makes it feel alive. It seats 12, wastes nothing, and was made for long dinners and lingering conversation.
AUDREY MORRONE, MORRONE INTERIORS Photo by DeVore Design Media 26
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Sweet Homecoming Interior Design: Lindsay MacRae, Lindsay MacRae Interiors
Photography: Genevieve Garruppo • Styling: Matthew Gleason
Even while building a very successful residential interior business in New York City, designer Lindsay MacRae always knew she would return to Central Florida and raise a family with her husband. She had started her career at Disney before moving to work for large design firms. She knew it was time to go out on her own after the birth of her first child while navigating pandemic life. 32
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From the front entry’s blue door and welcoming table dressed in a blue print fabric, you get a feel for the coastal influences beyond. The traditional exterior exudes the vibe Lindsay was looking for. The formal living area features a mix of Florida icons, including the blue chairs, white palms, striped ottoman, and tropical bird print anchored with an antique sideboard that serves as a bar.
FALL 2026 33
‘‘I
’m very traditional and while we were living in New York, we had original wood floors and details found in older homes. But I was having a hard time finding that here. My parents are in Clermont, so Windermere seemed like
a good area, but there were so many ’80s and ’90s homes that just were not my style. Then we found this house, and even though it wasn’t exactly what I wanted, I knew we could make renovations,” Lindsay says. While the home’s exterior reflected the desired traditional style, the interior presented some elements that needed to be addressed. “We tackled things little by little. Being a designer, my house always gets the attention last. My husband happens to be very opinionated but as the designer, I had to find things that we both liked. We had a baby and then another baby, so we were very busy. But at the end of the day, we both wanted a space that was fun. I have to be joyful; be in spaces that make me smile,” she explains. A sitting area, formerly a dining room, is filled with comfortable furnishings that provide a perfect place for adult conversations and relaxation. In the office, a large mural creates a sense of place with the grounding zebra rug, vintage desk and green upholstered chairs. The found pineapple chandelier lights up the breakfast room while the large-scale painting adds some whimsy and color.
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Pops of blues and greens in accessories and accents add interest to the all-white kitchen.
FALL 2026 35
Lindsay is inspired by colors and textures, but especially wallpaper which she used in almost every room — from vibrant florals in her daughters’ bedrooms to a tropical mural in the office and bamboo trellis background in the primary bedroom. But the boldest is in her husband’s office bathroom where eye-popping orange slices practically jump off the walls. Many of the furnishings were found on shopping trips to West Palm Beach. She jokes that she’s not allowed to go with her mother again after they brought home a $700 mirror for one of the girl’s rooms. But those trips allowed her to carefully select items that had a Florida feel in keeping with her overall design. A trip with her husband yielded a pineapple chandelier for the breakfast room she had spray painted in a favorite shade of green. Blue is the predominant color throughout the living areas, starting with the front door and the fabric covering a table in the entry. To the right, Lindsay turned the original formal dining room into an adult sitting area since they eat meals in the kitchen. “That’s the room I didn’t know what to do with. Other than putting a grand piano in there, nothing else really made sense,” she adds. She included a chinoiserie-style chair with an upholstered seat, plush navy sectional with patterned pillows, and a white wicker table creating a comfortable lounge area. Artwork adds personality to the home and many of the pieces reflect a love of birds, Florida icons, and a touch of whimsy such as the very large painting in the breakfast area. The kitchen is mostly neutral with subtle accents — blue-toned wallpaper backing the glass cabinets, a green Dutch door, and rattan plant holder on the expansive island. Although Lindsay still has projects in New York and other locales, this is home base. “It’s just a different world there and sometimes you end up working for people who are famous. But the resources are fantastic, so I was really fortunate to start there. Whenever I needed something, I’d just go down the street to the D & D [Decoration & Design] Building. I still end up going there, and even though I love it, I am tired of going back and forth. I am looking forward to working on more projects locally,” she concludes. This page: In the husband’s office bathroom, the orange slice wallpaper is joined by fun art, including a photograph of kids diving from a dock and some Mickey Mouse ears. The coral-toned powder bath included a bright flamingo print and bamboo mirror. Opposite: In the main bedroom, softer colors prevail including the trellis wallcovering, Lindsay’s favorite yellow floral draperies, woven textured furnishings and accents, and the rustic lanternstyle pendant. Each of the girls’ bedrooms are bathed in bright florals with jute rugs and more bamboo and rattan accents. 36
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FALL 2026 37
REFRESHED&REFINED
Builder: Charlie Clayton, Charles Clayton Construction Architectural Design: Bernie Johnson, Johnson Estate Designs, Inc. Interior Design: Paula Holden, White Orchid Designs Landscaping: Signature Landscaping Photography: Abby Liga DiDomenico, Abby Liga Photography 38
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She loved it. He saw challenges. It was just what she was looking for. He knew he would tackle the issues. And so, in the end, Lisa Clayton convinced her builder husband, Charlie, that this could be their chance to create an age-in-place home they would be able to enjoy for many years to come. Opposite: The stunning entry highlights the peeked ceiling with original beams and woodwork. To balance the arches leading to the living room, arched alcoves with mirrors were added to the opposite side, flanking the original porch doors. This page: A full bank of windows on two sides bring in the light and showcase the landscape. The original dark wood ceiling was painted white, and furnishings reflect a transitional style with vintage wood pieces and a more modern metal table.
FALL 2026 39
t
he couple had sold their former two-story dream home, where they raised a family, sooner than they planned, and this 1930s house had just come on the market. Moving quickly, they went from considering to closing in a short time. Fortunately, there was a guest house on the property they could live in during construction.
“It’s a one-story and I also saw the potential of the large property, imagining what the
grounds could look like. There was even a chicken coop out there. Sometimes houses need a new generation to come in and bring freshness to it,” Lisa says. The couple knew from the beginning they wanted to add a wing for a larger primary suite. “We wanted to keep all the beauty of the history and the architecture that existed, but we needed to make it function because it didn’t have the bathroom and bedroom count we needed,” Charlie adds. As the owner of the well-respected Charles Clayton Construction, Charlie knew his team could handle much of the project, but they called on architectural designer Bernie Johnson and interior designer Paula Holden to guide them through the process. “Bernie understood immediately what needed to be done on the floor plans and Paula’s great with aesthetics — bringing color and space and texture together,” he shares.
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This page: The main living room features two distinct sitting areas anchored by the modernized fireplace. New steel doors lead outside, and colorful artwork adds color to the primarily neutral, textured and layered décor. The existing beams were updated with recessed lighting. Opposite: The Claytons spend a lot of time in the cozy breakfast room, accented by brightly hued fabrics and artwork, with views into the kitchen and dining room. It also has a now-working fireplace. In the kitchen, white is predominant to let the outside scenes shine — especially the lime tree. Lisa commissioned the orange paintings on either side of the stove. The chandelier pays homage to the home’s history.
FALL 2026 41
Paula sourced vintage fixtures with antiques to add more character and suggested the new Palm Coast steel doors in the
repaired, plumbing and wiring were updated, and more light sources were added to the kitchen.
living room. She and Lisa reimagined the main fireplace to
“What I love is that due to the design, each room looks out
make it more contemporary, yet still blending with the 1930s
onto the grounds with views of live oaks, gardenias, magnolias
bones of the space. The existing beams were fitted with lighting,
and a banana tree — and, of course, a swing for the grandba-
instead of using can lights, to emphasize their beauty.
bies,” Lisa adds about the reimagined design.
The architect came up with the seamless floor plan for the
While the main house is fairly neutral, extensive artwork, fix-
addition for the interior as well exterior, creating a nursery/
tures and accessories add warm personality. “Paula was tasked
office space for Lisa with a bathroom connected to the main bed-
with utilizing as much of our old pieces of furniture that she
room and a gallery/library, which is one of Lisa’s favorite places
could, which was a challenge for her because our other home
to relax, that overlooks a new private butterfly garden. A new
was Mediterranean. She did an excellent job. We had old leather
powder room, and another bedroom with a Jack ‘n’ Jill bath-
sofas which had great bones, so she reupholstered them, and
room were also part of the design.
they’re perfect. We used rattan throughout because I love all the
Much of the house had been remodeled over the decades, so making everything cohesive was a top priority. The original wood flooring was refinished, non-working fireplaces were
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neutral, natural textures. I would say it’s all more transitional,” Lisa explains. They love having a guest house for family to stay when visiting,
and the Palm Beach décor with pinks and greens was inspired by Charlie’s parents’ collection of Old Florida white wicker furniture that has been incorporated. Outside, the backyard is quite large for the area and was re-landscaped while the pool hardscape was redesigned to better reflect the Claytons’ lifestyle.
Opposite: New landscaping and hardscaping added to the large backyard provide plenty of space for relaxing and play for family — including grandchildren — and friends. The lawn is quietly maintained by “Wally,” the robotic mower. This page: Inspired by Charle’s parents’ collection of white wicker furniture, Lisa told Paula to go all in on an Old Florida, Palm Beach-style, incorporating pink and green to the guest house. The dining chandelier was found and painted to go with the theme. A vintage glass-front case holds Lisa’s treasured trove of seashells. Foliage wallpaper adds a tropical flair to the powder room. FALL 2026 43
centric ART INTERIOR DESIGN: CATHERINE SANDS, BLUE DAZE DESIGNS
PHOTOGRAPHY: ABBY LIGA DiDOMENICO, ABBY LIGA PHOTOGRAPHY
Personal style is on full display in this mid-century home that takes cues from the curated collection of art and a fresh design that evolved, allowing the owner to embrace bolder choices.
THE CUSTOM CORAL FRONT DOOR LEADS INTO THE MAIN LIVING AREA FILLED WITH ART PIECES, INTERESTINGLY ARRANGED BOOKS, SUBTLE PATTERNS AND ECLECTIC FURNISHINGS — ALL PROVIDING A HINT AT WHAT’S BEYOND. A WALLPAPERED CEILING IN THE DINING ROOM STARTED THE NEW DESIGN SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND IS ONE OF CATHY’S FAVORITE VIEWS. EVEN THE BOOKS ADD POPS OF COLOR WHILE THE BLACK CHAIRS ARE GROUNDING, LETTING THE STRIKING CHANDELIER SHINE BRIGHTER. 44
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FALL 2026 45
‘‘H
e just blossomed through the process. In the begin-
porthole windows, you know this is going to be an adventure.
ning, he said he didn’t have any creativity, but he has
But the jumping off point was actually the dining room with its
this wonderful fashion sense and a fabulous art collec-
wallpaper covered ceiling and peek into the hall beyond.
tion that he rotates,” says designer Cathy Sands about
“We did that four or five years ago and that’s when the color
her client Colte Debbouza-Suggs, who shares the home with his
started. Then we remodeled the whole kitchen, and it was just a
husband Abdel.
total evolution from there. It seems like a million colors through-
Cathy doesn’t believe in following trends and gently coaxed Colte into going for something that truly reflected his personality. The process had initially started in 2021, and she says he flourished and embraced her suggestions over the years.
out, but it’s primarily the greens, coral, and deep blue that’s very grounding,” she adds. To keep spaces cohesive, the original parquet floors were replaced with European wood in a herringbone pattern, and
“Our home is a bold reflection of the mantras I live by: ‘Live
custom fabrics were carefully chosen to be interesting and play-
life out loud and to the fullest’ and ‘l’art de vivre.’ Working with
ful, but not distracting, letting the art pieces shine. Although it’s
Cathy Sands — celebrated for her fearless approach to color —
not a large house, it is very well suited to entertaining, which the
we transformed this mid-century modern residence into a canvas
couple does frequently.
bursting with dynamic hues, dramatic lighting and personality-
“Every room captures my passion for embracing life boldly
rich spaces. The result echoes my admiration for style icon Iris
and joyfully. Each carefully curated piece — from vibrant Pop
Apfel: unabashedly bright, vivacious and authentic,” Colte shares.
Art works by Nelson De La Nuez and Sophie Costa to the emo-
Known for her use of striking hues, Cathy explains that neu-
tionally rich narratives embedded in Julio Larraz’s paintings —
trals are an easy choice for manufacturers and homeowners
reflects a commitment to living with beauty, creativity and
who are indecisive. “People are afraid of color — afraid they are
intentionality. International and local artists like Alia Ali, Max
going to make a mistake,” she says.
Zorn, Sarah Fishbein, William E. Jones, Mr. Brainwash, David
From first approaching the custom coral front door with 46
INTERIOR APPEAL | ORANGEAPPEAL.COM
Angel, Rona Castiglione, and Todd Fox add layers of storytelling
and cultural dialogue, turning every wall and corner into an immersive experience. The home itself has become a physical manifestation of how Abdel and I want to move through the world — with vibrant spirit and a commitment to making life brighter and more beautiful through art.” Colte expresses. They have plans for more renovations and updates with their primary bath and suite up next for their honeymoon to continue. Colte and Abdel also spend a lot of time in Paris so there will likely be some continental influences coming. Although Cathy
THE KITCHEN, ALTHOUGH NOT LARGE, IS FULL OF FUNCTIONAL FEATURES AND STANDOUT DETAILS SUCH AS THE CORAL LACQUER CABINET UPPERS AND AQUA LOWERS WITH A TILED BAR. ACROSS FROM THE KITCHEN THERE IS MORE STORAGE WITH DISPLAY SHELVES AND A 3D-TILED BACKSPLASH ADDING TEXTURE AND DIMENSION. THE COLOR CONTINUES OUTDOORS WITH CORAL WALLS PAIRED WITH COMFORTABLE FURNISHINGS AND A PERGOLA OVER THE POOL.
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cannot divulge the details, some “wow” moments are expected. And after that, who knows what might be around the corner? “You should be happy in your home. People worry so much about timelessness and resale opportunities. But if it makes you happy today, you should be able to live in it. This is my favorite kind of project, all about bringing in the client’s personality” Cathy explains. “Beyond aesthetics, our home tells a deeper story about Orlando’s transformation. It symbolizes my unwavering commitment to this city’s burgeoning cultural landscape. As a board member of Orlando Ballet and an ardent supporter of local arts organizations, both big and small, I actively work to nurture Orlando’s identity as an arts destination. This home bridges personal passion and civic pride, celebrating the city’s artistic evolution from tourist attraction to recognized cultural hub. Ultimately, this residence stands as a living testament to an intentional, vibrant, and artful life — and I hope it inspires others to embrace bold selfexpression and meaningful engagement with their own communities through art and culture,” Colte states.
THE MAIN BEDROOM IS SCHEDULED TO BE UPDATED, BUT THE DEEP BLUE WALLS CREATE A COZY SPACE WITH VIBRANT ART. FURNISHINGS IN SHADES OF BROWN, TAN AND ORANGE ADD SUBTLE LAYERS AND TEXTURES. A WELCOMING FRONT ENTRANCE WITH A CUSTOM DOOR PIQUES CURIOSITY ABOUT WHAT’S INSIDE. 48
INTERIOR APPEAL | ORANGEAPPEAL.COM