Sometimes it takes only an instant—as in Instagram—to ignite a spark that transcends the moment and results in a meaningful relationship with winning results. Such was the case for a client of interior designer Courtney Davis. “Her work just popped up in my feed, and I was attracted to her style,” says the Birmingham-based homeowner. “Our family went to the Panama City area with my in-laws for years and made so many happy memories together. When they sold that place, we really missed the beach. After renting a few places, we decided we wanted a more lasting connection.”
One of Courtney’s projects struck a particular note. “It was a house I did in Palm Beach with layers of color and patterns—comfortable but elegant and not too beachy,” says Courtney, who is based in Jupiter, Florida. This was the look her client was seeking for her Alys Beach home. “We have some hunting property that the men in our family enjoy, so I wanted this place be more girly but in a sophisticated way,” says the homeowner.
“The interiors were as white as the rest of Alys Beach, so choosing a palette was top of mind,” Courtney says. “We did, however, keep the walls white in all the downstairs rooms since they all open to each other.”
The designer and homeowner shared a love for a particular Elizabeth Eakins hand-blocked print, so they chose it for a banquette and sofa pillows. “It became our hero fabric in the living room and beyond,” says Courtney. “All the other colors—blues, creams, corals, greens, and golds—sprung from that.” Because the living area has so many windows, the Roman shade fabric was a key decision. The pair chose a large-scale, green-and-white Quadrille print called Palm Garden for some coastal flair.
The airy kitchen has brushstrokes of pale green accented by a collection of asparagus plates on the wall. Behind a jib door, Courtney created a moment—a bar space in a teal blue shade with Cowtan & Tout grasscloth.
In the kitchen, a lighter green shows up in the counter stool fabric and custom lampshades over the island. “We wanted the kitchen to be a little bit calmer and quieter because you see it from the front door all the way out to the pool,” says Courtney. However, she did add some colorful surprises to engage the eye. A jib door in the kitchen opens to reveal a decidedly chic moment—a teal blue bar papered in grass cloth and topped with a collection of antique oyster plates.
Additional accents include vintage asparagus plates mounted to the kitchen wall, as well as one-of-kind, hand-painted wooden plaques encrusted with shells by South Florida artist Sheema Muner hung along the staircase. “They are visible from the entire first floor, so they set the tone for the house,” Courtney says.
In the dining area, a handmade Soane rattan fixture floats over the table. Various floor coverings help delineate the downstairs spaces and add a casual attitude. “The rug in the living room is natural fiber, but the pattern and mix of colors is so distinctive,” says Courtney. “That was an early decision that helped set the direction for that area.” A plush Elizabeth Eakins neutral wool rug adds texture in the dining space, while an antique Oushak sets off the kitchen.
“Courtney was the most detailed and organized designer I have ever worked with, from the overall look to the last knickknack,” says the homeowner. “This home is everything I imagined and more. Now we have a new place to continue making memories.”
Meet Courtney Davis
A native of South Florida, Courtney studied at the University of Florida and received her degree from Savannah College of Art & Design in Atlanta. “At first, I studied event management but soon realized I wanted to make more of a lasting impact in people’s daily lives,” she says.
Courtney then spent the next 10 years in Atlanta honing her skills with a design/build firm and later with Amy Morris Interiors. After their first child was born, Courtney and her husband moved back to Florida and settled in the Jupiter area. She worked with a designer in Palm Beach before opening her own firm in 2019.
“The time I spent in Atlanta was invaluable,” Courtney says. “It shaped my design aesthetic which combines some classic Southern touchstones with the vibrancy and color from my coastal background. I like to say I was raised in the tropics and trained in the South!”
Courtney Davis Design • courtneydavisdesign.com
