For a luxury interior designer, the ultimate compliment is a client who returns to you for their next chapter. When a prominent Washington, D.C.-based family decided to add a third home to their real estate portfolio, they already knew exactly who to call. Having previously collaborated on a stunning coastal project in Bethany Beach, Delaware, they once again turned to designer Erin Paige Pitts, principal of Erin Paige Pitts Interiors.
This time, however, the canvas wasn’t a standard beach house. It was Miradero (often affectionately known as El Miradora), the legendary oceanfront estate tucked away in the ultraluxe, exclusive enclave of Gulf Stream, Florida.
A Property of Deep Palm Beach Provenance
Purchasing Miradero meant assuming the stewardship of a major piece of Palm Beach County architectural history. Conceived in 1931 by the legendary socialite Lila Vanderbilt Webb (in partnership with her son), the estate is an absolute masterclass in classic Mediterranean and Anglo-Caribbean grandeur.
To bring her magnificent vision to life, Lila Webb collaborated with renowned Palm Beach architect Maurice Fatio and the prominent builder C.G. Warner. Fatio designed the estate around a breathtaking three-story tower crowned by a mirador (lookout) that gives the property its name. Infusing true local artistry, Webb even sourced tiles, stonework, and design ideas directly from Addison Mizner’s famed local factory.
Because of this profound historical significance, the challenge for Erin Paige Pitts was immense: how do you honor a Gilded Age masterpiece without letting it feel like a dark, unlivable museum?
The Design Vision: Light, Life, and Warmth
The clients wanted to evolve the estate into a vibrant, active winter home where they could establish new holiday traditions and host large family gatherings from late November through April. Erin’s mission was clear: lighten, refresh, and modernize the grand interiors while fiercely protecting every historically accurate architectural detail.
To combat the heavy, somber finishes often found in older historic estates, Erin introduced a sophisticated, luminous color palette. Strategic, high-end paint selections instantly maximized the South Florida sun, scattering natural light across the sweeping rooms and instantly giving the home an airy, joyful demeanor.
The transformation culminated in the curation of new bespoke furnishings coupled with original masterpieces. By layering clean lines, rich natural textures, and tailored silhouettes, Erin effortlessly married Fatio’s classic bones with a fresh sense of modern luxury.
The result is a masterclass in l’art de vivre—a magnificent preservation of Vanderbilt history, elegantly reimagined for a modern family’s everyday life.
Further Reading for the Interested Reader:
For those captivated by the rich architecture and storied past of this historic compound, discover the definitive history in the book, Lila Vanderbilt Webb’s Miradero, Window on an Era, written by local historian and former owner Robert W. Ganger (published by the Historical Society of Palm Beach County).
