To celebrate Caroline Cecil Textiles launching at Palm Beach's newest design destination, the Grand Tour Home, we sat down with showroom owner Caroline Rafferty to talk textiles.

 

"We’re excited to introduce Caroline Cecil’s natural take on geometrics and botanical prints to our clientele." - Caroline Rafferty

 

The Grand Tour founder, Caroline, is a longtime interiors industry veteran having opened her own boutique real estate development and construction company in 2006 in New York. In 2008, she co-founded Carolina George, an interior design firm with its own line of fabrics and furniture also in New York. After moving to Palm Beach with her family, Caroline established Caroline Rafferty Interiors in 2015. The Grand Tour marks her foray into owning a showroom, where together with her mother she introduces a highly curated collection of product lines to the Palm Beach design community.

 

The Grand Tour Showroom in Palm Beach, displaying CCT's HUTAN, BRIDGE, and LOOP fabric. Image from Architectural Digest / Ken Hayden.

 

 

Hi, Caroline! Tell us about your new showroom, The Grand Tour:

The Grand Tour is the physical manifestation of mine and my mother’s love for furnishings and fabrics by contemporary makers mixed with iconic vintage designers and unique gems found here and in faraway places. The name pays homage to the 17th and 18th-century tradition of European nobility traveling as a rite of passage in search of literary works, art, and artifacts that depicted the cultures they came from. The concept behind the store was also largely inspired by my grandmother, Dearie, who was an avid collector with an inquisitive spirit. We invite all fellow design lovers, travelers and curiosity seekers to take a journey of their own as they explore our shop and discover each story waiting to be told.

 

What is your design philosophy?

I love the narrative of an interior. Everything in your home should tell a story, feel collected and personal, and speak to who you are and the places you’ve been.

 

The Grand Tour Showroom in Palm Beach, displaying CCT's Bridge and LOOP fabric. Image from Architectural Digest / Ken Hayden.

 

Why did you decide to launch in Palm Beach?

I wanted to have a medium to share mine and my mother’s love for design and discovery. As a designer, I’ve spent years researching artists and craftsmen and infusing their works into my interiors projects, and experiencing other cultures as I’ve traveled the world with my mom. We wanted to bring a sense of wanderlust home with us and share with design-savvy homeowners who might be looking for a little edge in our coastal town. We’re also committed to giving back and Palm Beach has such supportive communities that share this particular passion.

 

What’s your favorite print from our collection, and why?

HUTAN in black and natural. I like that you can see the artist’s hand in the print, it’s a refreshing take on a palm leaf that doesn’t feel expectedly tropical or dated. 

 

 

"HUTAN is a refreshing take on a palm leaf that doesn’t feel expectedly tropical or dated." - Caroline Rafferty

 

You are carrying our line of fabrics by-the-yard, as well as some ready-made pillows. What drew you to Caroline Cecil Textiles?

Caroline Cecil has a great color sense and a keen eye; she really knows how to work with neutrals and edit in a thoughtful pop of color, like chartreuse or peacock blue. And the scale of the patterns is really transitional and can work with so many styles.

 

The Grand Tour Showroom in Palm Beach, displaying CCT's HUTAN and LOOP fabric. Image from Architectural Digest / Ken Hayden.

 

The Grand Tour Home is located within the Royal Poinciana Plaza in Palm Beach, Florida. To learn more about this exciting new addition to the Florida design scene and their collection of our fabrics, visit grandtourhome.com.