A Feather‑Inspired Garden Retreat in Iconic El Cid

El Cid, West Palm Beach, FL

Interior Designer: Billy Ceglia
Landscape Architect: Bell Design, Inc.
Landscape Contractor: Lopez Group, Inc.

One of our most joyful and collaborative projects to date, Casa Aves in El Cid, West Palm Beach — featured in Palm Beach Cottages & Gardens — brought together Bell Design with interior designer Billy Ceglia for a client with a wonderfully imaginative spirit. Drawing inspiration from the Beverly Hills Hotel, Addison Mizner, 1950s tilework, and the graceful geometry of birds and feathers, we crafted a landscape that feels both fantastical and deeply rooted in Palm Beach tradition.

A reimagined entry courtyard, softened with herringbone cast‑stone paving and turf jointing, now creates a gracious transition from street to front door. Pink orchids, layered ferns, and a bubbling fountain animate the entry walk with movement and serenity. At the pool, new zellige waterline tile in Ballerina Pink extends the project’s signature palette in a playful, unexpected way. Overscaled cast‑stone planters anchor the terrace with silver bromeliads, while a cantilevered Tucci umbrella allows the space to shift effortlessly between shaded dining and sunlit lounging.

Custom aluminum gates — abstracted from egret and peacock feathers — define the garden rooms and introduce sculptural moments throughout the property. The result is a landscape that feels cinematic, transportive, and unmistakably personal to the client.