MIX
TRACY TURCO fuses vibrant hues with lavish patterns and Gilded Age nostalgia in a hip and historic Palm Beach apartment
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By LIZ PETONIAK
Photography by JERRY RABINOWITZ
MASTER
n the colorful world of Tracy Turco (formerly Stern), every space is like a film set, every locale has its own soundtrack, and every day is a chance to play the part. Rooms touched by this interior designer, entrepreneur, and artist feel like a hyper-real rendition of scenes from her mind’s eye. As a result, each area tells a story and sparks a conversation. Before Turco launched a tea empire and began decorating homes, she spent her formative years in South Beach. Miami’s rich history encompassing jazz, fashion, film noir, and movie stars—as well as her grandfather’s stories of the performers who came through town—fed her imagination. Today, her penchant for nostalgia informs both her lifestyle and work. When remodeling a pied-à-terre in the historic Palm Beach Hotel Condominium, the bon vivant tapped into this feeling and channeled high society of yesteryear. “It felt like opening a door and stepping back in time,” Turco says of the first time she saw the circa-1926 condominium. “I can just imagine what went on. The outfits. The tea dances. There was a lot of entertaining and philanthropy. I think that’s what made me fall in love with it—the romance of this magical flashback.” The apartment is one of a handful in the building the newlywed purchased with her husband, Jerry Turco, a real estate developer and one half of their company, T&T Design & Development. The couple led the renovations, with Jerry acting as the contractor and Tracy as the designer, and now rent the finished units through Airbnb. Although their primary South Florida residence is situated nearby on the island’s North End, the duo envisioned this particular condo as their own hideaway. 68
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8/24/18 11:32 AM