When Bethenny Frankel and her daughter traded Greenwich, Connecticut, for the South Florida sun this past summer, she brought a clear vision—and the kind of opening monologue only Frankel could deliver: “Think padded cell with some warmth,” she told her designer. “I don’t want any color. I don’t want any personality. I’ll add the personality on my own.” It was classic Frankel. In other words, the opposite of “Liberace, Versace, la cucaracha”—a reference Bravo devotees will immediately recognize as her description of her Real Housewives of New York costar Jill Zarin’s apartment.
Despite her tongue-in-cheek mandate, the former RHONY cast member and Skinnygirl founder ended up with a home that feels more serene than sterile—a streamlined, contemporary take on classic Floridian design. “For me, walking into a home and understanding where you are is critical,” she says. And in this one, there’s no mistaking it—sun pours into a grand, double-height living room, palm fronds frame every window, and a long linear pool slices across the backyard.
The open-concept kitchen, which sits between the two-story living room and dining area, features sheepskin-fur upholstered counter stools and Anthropologie bamboo pendants. “The wood on these chairs is a ceruse finish. So it has a very natural vibe, and I thought it worked really well with these woven basket light fixtures,” says Lindner.
Anthropologie Montez Bamboo Pendant
Loloi Amber Lewis Malibu Area Rug
Frankel first spotted the house this past March, while touring other listings in the neighborhood. “I was looking for cookie-cutter turnkey places,” she says. But as she parked her car, a “for sale” sign across the street caught her eye. A quick call to the realtor revealed the property was in foreclosure—and technically off-limits. She walked over anyway.