Palm Beach Cottages & Gardens Designer's Treasures Deep Sea Gems | Kitchen Magic | Breakers Upgrade December 2005 view magazine photos CHANGE IS GOOD A designer who dances to her own tune animates a Breakers apartment with measures unrestraint by Saxon Henry | photographs by Kim Sargent WHEN A DESIGNER SAYS, "Out with the old, in with the new," a painful process of sorting out may follow for clients who have amassed a treasured collection of antiques and collectibles. Though the dictum applied when New York interior designer Jennifer Post updated Martin and Madge Miller's Breakers apartment, which they had owned for more than 20 years, the couple embraced the transition from heavy and dark to light and airy as if embarking on a felicitous adventure. "They wanted me to move away from the existing traditional interiors that were filled with period furniture," Post says. "In order to accomplish that, I encouraged them to clean things out and keep only the pieces that were close to their hearts." Two of their favorite pieces, a Biedermeier bar and a chair from Madge's childhood, were valued possessions that Post worked into the design scheme. The Millers put the rest up for auction at Christie's. "We wanted to achieve the freshness that Jennifer's interiors evoke, so we were fine letting go of much of the furniture," says Martin, a former sportswear manufacturer who is now a consultant in the clothing industry. "But we were glad to keep those things that really meant something to us." The designer tucked these treasures into the interior with ease, pointing out how they bring depth to the room they grace. "When you see the Biedermeier bar against the honed limestone floor and the white cotton upholstery, it heightens the sophistication of the room," Post explains. "This is often the case when one or two traditional pieces of exceptional quality are placed thoughtfully within a minimalist setting." Once the Millers decided what would stay and what would go, Post spent a day with them shopping in Palm Beach for new furnishings. Then, while the couple summered in their East Hampton home, the designer worked her magic. By the time they returned for the season, they walked into a transformed modern retreat. Though this was the first time Martin and Madge worked with Post, they've known her for many years. "We met her through our daughter, Jenny [Symonds]," explains Martin. "Jennifer designed a New York apartment and a London flat for her, and we loved them both." In fact, Post has become such close friends with Jenny that the Millers have come to regard her as family. The feeeling is mutual" "I would do anything for them," Post says, "I've never known a family that treats everyone with such beauty and grace." Though the closeness enhanced their working relationship, Post didn't deviate from her normal process when advising them. "Regardless of the client, I always begin by presenting two or three options that are strikingly different, each of which provokes a different mood through the tonality of color," Post explains. "Once a client gravitates toward one, the choice tells me which direction to take." Post calls this sensory exchange "design spirituality," and claims that it brings a unique dynamic to each project, though her stylistic vision is always an overarching directive. "My clients know that I'm demanding and that I will push to ensure that each space is incredible," she remarks. "I don't do anything mediocre-- everything has to have a 'wow statement,' yet be understated and subtle." White proliferates in Post's projects, interrupted only here and there by spots of capricious color. For the Millers, she chose sherbet-toned greens, oranges and yellows with a dash of bright pink. "all of Jennifer's designs are very clean and clever," says Martin, "and she has a natural capacity to introduce color without it being overbearing." Post believes that her aesthetic is so fitting for the couple because they are classically youthful and energetic. "Mrs. Miller is in her 60s and Mr. Miller is 70 years old, but they can run circles around most people who are in their 50s," she explains. "They wanted their apartment to reflect that youthfulness, so we basically took 20 years off its life!" The Millers so love their Palm Beach home that they have asked Post to re-envision their New York apartment. This is not unusual for the designer, as her clients -- who include Matt Lauer, Jennifer Lopez and Simon Cowell -- often call upon her to design more than one residence. As Post edits and transform existing spaces in Palm Beach, New York and the Hamptons, often banishing elements her clients have lived with for years, she would never dream of eliminating the relationships she builds -- especially when they are as special as the bond she shares with the Millers.