When it comes to preppy palettes, no colour combo springs so easily – or joyfully – to mind as pink and green. So it’s no accident that stepping into this 750-square-foot Miami guest house is like slipping into a Lilly Pulitzer party dress, pulling on a Lacoste polo or checking into a chic bungalow at The Beverly Hills Hotel – it’s all by design. “It’s a nod to the past and it’s just about going for it, decoratively speaking,” says Toronto-based designer Anne Hepfer of her bold decor choices.

She had already worked with the clients on the main house, a grand Spanish villa that serves as the family’s vacation home, as well as their permanent home in California. And experience told Anne that the homeowners would be gutsy enough to embrace her Palm Beach-inspired palette. “While I don’t imagine most people would want to live with pink and green all the time, it’s easier to take a risk with a guest house. It’s sort of like a powder room in that sense,” she says.

Palm-frond print
A Christopher Farr palm-frond print dominates this Miami guest house’s only bedroom. The headboard's silhouette references the 1930s, while the tailored bed skirt keeps the room rooted in its preppy present.
Guest house bedroom
In the bedroom, a whimsical pink lantern draws the eye up to the stepped-in ceiling. The bold pattern on the drapes, headboard and bedskirt is balanced by a strong dose of pink and neutralized by the white walls and bedding.
Guest bathroom
While the guest bathroom is often a decorator’s chance to experiment and go bold, designer Anne Hepfer kept this one neutral to contrast with the rest of the space. White walls and a marble countertop provide polish, while the weathered vanity with shuttered doors lends a beachy vibe.
Pineapple sconces
Pineapple sconces with scalloped candy-striped shades in the bathroom reference the vibrant, preppy personality of the rest of the guest house.
Tuxedo sofa
To maximize sleeping space, Anne incorporated a twin mattress on the Billy Baldwin-style tuxedo sofa with a trundle underneath. She designed durable rugs made of finely woven plastic to visually break up the expanse of terracotta flooring and ease guests’ minds about getting the floors dirty.
Pink barrel-back chairs
Anne modelled the pink barrel-back chairs after ones she grew up seeing in her grandmother’s house in Florida. “When you swivel in the chairs, the trim at the bottom swings,” she says. “These little details are like the icing on the cake or the cherry on top of the sundae – they make a guest feel special.”
A piece of art
A Lilly Pulitzer bike with pink-rimmed tires becomes a piece of art when displayed in the living room.
Beachy Miami theme
Every element, from the coffee table books to the starfish, reiterates the beachy Miami theme, making the well-appointed guest house feel nicer than a luxury hotel suite.
Kitchenette
Anne’s fearless use of colour flows right into the kitchenette, where she used kelly green lacquer and pink swirl ceramic knobs on the kitchen cabinetry for extra impact. It’s an inviting nook for guests to help themselves to snacks and refreshments.