Visionary Spaces
A Paradise in Palm Beach Gardens: V Starr’s PGA Resort Spa Renovation
How design director Holly Nixon infused elegance and natural beauty in the transformed space.
Nestled in the idyllic beauty of South Florida’s Palm Beach Gardens lies a singular destination for luxury: The PGA National Resort. Home to 99 holes of championship golf, the resort also boasts an exclusive members club, a state-of-the-art sports and racquet club, and a lavish spa.
Since it first welcomed guests in 1981, the resort spa has served as a sanctuary for blissful restoration. But when the resort embarked on a $100 million transformation, they wanted to bring a fresh atmosphere of inspiration to the space. They invited boutique Florida design agency V Starr to renovate.
Interior Designer: Holly Nixon, V Starr / Palm Beach Gardens, FL, May 2022 / Photographer: Will Pryce
Founded by the one and only Venus Williams, V Starr specializes in high-end residential and commercial design. Design director Holly Nixon led the way for the spa renovation.
“I love to dig deep into the project’s history, surroundings, and demographics in order to weave a narrative that is unique to each project,” Nixon says. “We were looking to create an escape—a sense of calm and serenity within the lush, tropical surroundings.”
“We were looking to create an escape—a sense of calm and serenity within the lush, tropical surroundings.”
The renovation “tells a softly spoken story of breeze-swept sands, pale coral textures, and lush, shadowy palms,” Nixon says. Taking inspiration from the natural setting—especially the gorgeous landscape and coastal proximity—the revitalized spa exudes elevated tranquility.
Interior Designer: Holly Nixon, V Starr / Palm Beach Gardens, FL, May 2022 / photographer: Will Pryce
Interior Designer: Holly Nixon, V Starr / Palm Beach Gardens, FL, May 2022 / photographer: Will Pryce / featuring the Odin® Bar Faucet in Brilliance® Luxe Gold®
To create a sense of continuity throughout the 40,000-square-foot space, Nixon and her team chose a simple palette: soft whites and washed woods.
That understated scheme set a refreshing backdrop for champagne and blush coral accents, among them a pink Turkish slab. “It was about finding this natural material that had this softness to it, that had a kind of eye-catching specialty to it,” Nixon says. “We searched high and low for this stone.”
Interior Designer: Holly Nixon, V Starr / Palm Beach Gardens, FL, May 2022 / Photographer: Will Pryce
Cheerful colors and organic leaf prints make their way into the spa through a Catherine Martin fabric. “While the main colors of the spa are quite understated, soft and subdued, the accent colors used were very specific,” says Nixon. The print adds a sophisticated, yet playful element to the spa’s pool deck.
“While the main colors of the spa are quite understated, soft, and subdued, the accent colors used were very specific.”
To add a layer of luxury alongside the leafy greens and bright corals, Nixon chose the Odin® Bath Collection by Brizo with a Brilliance® Luxe Gold finish. “The use of the gold tone was inspired by the sparkle of sunlight through the palm tree canopies,” Nixon says.
Interior Designer: Holly Nixon, V Starr / Palm Beach Gardens, FL, May 2022 / photographer: Will Pryce / Featuring Odin® Custom Shower Products in Brilliance® Luxe Gold®
Interior Designer: Holly Nixon, V Starr / Palm Beach Gardens, FL, May 2022 / Photographer: Will Pryce / Featuring the Odin® Widespread Lavatory Faucet with Low Lever Handles in Brilliance® Luxe Gold®
“The use of the gold tone was inspired by the sparkle
of sunlight through the palm tree canopies.”
The team also wanted to create a section of the spa that would appeal especially to the resort’s male guests. They designed a small, speakeasy-style barbershop—with a nontraditional twist. “We wanted it to be modern and sophisticated, and to be a contrasting space to the other areas,” Nixon says.
Inside the barbershop, the Odin® Collection in Matte Black lends a suave air. Above visitors’ heads, a custom mural depicts the illustrious history of golf. “It’s very highly contrasting the rest of the light, fresh, ethereal kind of moment,” Nixon says.
Interior Designer: Holly Nixon, V Starr / Palm Beach Gardens, FL, May 2022 / Photographer: Will Pryce / Featuring the Odin® Bar Faucet in Matte Black
The renovation was close to Nixon’s heart—and V Starr’s home in South Florida. “Every project is special,” Nixon says. “But when there’s a project in your backyard, it feels a little bit extra special because you’re there. So we were a little extra precious about it.”
The team’s dedication shines through in the finished renovation. Now, when they visit the spa, guests are greeted with an opulent take on their natural environment—one that invites them to relish every detail, embrace their surroundings, and immerse fully in a paradise of peace.
