Located in Lake Worth, FL, the historic “La Florentia” was chosen for the 2015 American Red Cross Designers’ Show House. Saturday was the last day, and I was excited I was able to attend.
The 7,000+ square-foot Mediterranean-style home, built in 1925 by Addison Mizner’s protege Sherman Childs, was the first historic estate in the Lake Worth registry. It was nicknamed the “Birthday Cake Castle” in 1954 when past owner Upton Close gave the home to his wife, Margaret Fretter Nye, as a birthday present in 1954. The home is known for its cake-like qualities including two birthday candle-like pillars on either side of the grand entrance, thick plaster-work swirled to resemble frosting, and a birthday cake stained glass window.
The Birthday Cake Castle is nestled on over one acre of land directly on the Intercoastal Waterway with incredible views of Palm Beach. Unique features include an octagonal turret, 52 windows, an impressive grand front stairway, stained glass windows, and 135 feet of waterfront. Here are a few highlights…
via Palm Beach Post
Do you see the stained glass birthday cake in the window? Via my iPhone.
via my iPhone
via Curbed
Loggia by Todd Hase, via Architectural Digest
via my iPhone
The living room, by Lisa Erdmann & Associates, was positively breathtaking.
Images via Lisa Erdmann & Associates
I love how she tied in the blue and purple hues from the stained glass…
Dining room by Jeff Lincoln Interiors, via my iPhone
Old master bedroom designed by William Bainbridge Steele, via Richard Graulich, Palm Beach Post
Old master bedroom sitting room, via Architectural Digest
via my iPhone
Kitchen by NXG Studio, via Architectural Digest
via my iPhone
via Richard Graulich, Palm Beach Post
The third floor turret by Frocktail Decor and Design, via Palm Beach Post.
via my iPhone
The Birthday Cake Castle sold in October 2014 according to Zillow. You can see the before pictures here, what a transformation! The previous owners agreed to participate in the 2015 Show House prior to the sale, and fortunately the current owners were also on board. More than 20 renowned designers contributed to the extreme makeover, which included an addition of a new downstairs master bedroom. Alexa Hampton served as honorary chair. Click here for more 2015 Red Cross Designers’ Show House images and here for the 2014 Show House.
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Andrea,
Fantastic coverage and curating of images! The other outlets I had seen featuring the showhouse did not show any of the stained glass!
Kudos to you for getting some better idea of the actual look and feel of the BCC !
Dean
What a beautiful and whimsical house!
Wow! orchids on the ceiling? Yes!
Wow! What a breathtaking transformation!
My husband never bought me a birthday cake house. !!! LOL. I loved the living room. I really like the unusual big homes in that area of Florida