Avrea and Co. Contributes to LEGENDS Festival with McKinnon & Harris

April 25, 2024  by HFBusiness Staff in Business Strategy, Industry   

Inspired by summer repose and the vibrant, playful blue and green hues of Palm Beach, Avrea and Company’s “Pretty in Petals” gardenscape will display an ensemble of “favorite things” imagined in an aesthete’s garden retreat across two window vignettes. 

“We referred to these seemingly universal memories of being embraced by the sun somewhere familiar. A summer home in the Hamptons, perhaps, or a home in Palm Beach with a skyline of Palm Trees. A place that’s familiar… that encourages laziness, joviality, and sun-kissed cheeks,” said Ashley Avrea Cathey, founder and principal of Avrea and Company.

“There’s always a garden lounge area in the picture that’s a staging area for sunscreen, drinks, and light reading material,” she adds.

‘Siam’ hand-painted chinoiserie wallpaper by de Gournay serves as the verdant backdrop for McKinnon and Harris’ high-grade aluminum and hand-sewn upholstered pieces. Based on historic wallpapers from 17th- and 18th-century European homes and inspired by original Chinese wallcoverings, the lush ‘Siam’ anchors two scenes — a more traditional seating area and a more casual lounge space styled with a Palm Beach essential: a bar cart.

The hand-painted de Gournay paper — filled with native birds, lush plants and exotic florals of Southeast Asia — is set against a crisp white Williamsburg ground. Real florals, terry cloth pillows from Hermès and D. Porthault, and pops of greenery bring the fantasy to life.

Both displays feature pieces in Bermuda Hundred Blue and vibrant green Majesty Palm from McKinnon and Harris’ newly-released del Palma Color Collection, a “happy fantasy of Floridian” shades inspired by the Mediterranean Revival style of Palm Beach villas and vias.

Two new additions to the brand’s sculptural Graves Collection, a rocking chair and club chair, will be on display in the Majesty Palm hue. Visitors at LEGENDS will receive a first-look at the styles before they launch in the coming weeks.

Another highlight piece is a custom duVal dining chair by McKinnon and Harris that Ashley Cathey reimagined into a comfortable, “petite” lounge seat. The brand’s artisans have been handcrafting customized, made-to-order furniture at their Richmond, VA, workshop for more than 30 years.

“It’s been years that we’ve been hoping McKinnon and Harris would extend their duVal dining chair into a lounge chair. And now, thanks to their made-to-order, customization capabilities, we were able to bring that vision to life for LEGENDS,” added Cathey.

The window display at McKinnon and Harris can be visited May 7-9 at 915 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles.