06/24/2026

Jeff Lichtenstein

Jun 24, 2026

Beems’ Blue Tape – Essential Decorating Design and Trends

My friend Beems’ Blue Tape is going to be tested when it is finally peeled off. Blue Tape, aka painters’ tape was invented by the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) in 1988. Blue Tape is a type of adhesive to protect surfaces during painting or construction projects. If you’ve built or remodeled or had a painter over, I’m sure you’ve seen it. What is fab about it is that it allows for clean removal without damaging the surface behind it. Voila.

But Beems has an experiment in progress to see how good Blue Tape really is.

See, this past week, I visited my friend Beems who I’ve known since second grade along with another grammar school friend, Kro, that I’ve actually known longer. Beems lives in Ophir Colorado which is about 15 minutes from Telluride. We went hiking and visited national parks like Black Canyon on the Gunnison, Mesa Verde, and towns like Durango. Beems built a house in 2006 and we stayed with him there. Some of the house features included dramatic volume ceilings, expansive windows, and an observatory balcony to witness the mountains by day and a million stars by night that were breathtaking.

But there was a strange thing in Beems’ custom home. Lots of blue tape on the stairs and throughout the house. I asked “Why the blue tape?” He said he’s waiting to finish the house. I said “When did the remodeling start?” Beems said it never began. The blue tape has been up since he built the house. The fact that the blue tape still looks new and hasn’t come off is a testament to the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company.

Jerry Garcia art not going to attract the masses for resale

Other areas of the house need some help. The 3^rd bedroom that I resided in just had a mattress on the floor. The art selection was mostly music bands posters. Plus, brown Baltic granite, which was in style in 2006 but just isn’t anymore!

Lucky for Beems, I just conducted an interview with Jason Lynn of Decorators Unlimited.

Jason is Vice President at The Decorators Unlimited and has been with them for 18 years. Decorators Unlimited is the premier source for luxury interior design and decorating in South Florida. They also handle international projects and design an average of 150-175 ventures a year. They currently have 20 designers and have a total of 85 team members.

They have been involved in decorating jobs and have partnered in projects that include the The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Kolter Development, Four Seasons Private Residences, Kenco Communities, and Toll Brothers.

So whether you’re Beems, who needs Decorating Help 101, someone considering a remodel or perhaps curious what is in style and trending in 2026… this is a sensational interview…

1. Q: How is South Florida design and decorating different from the Northeast or Midwest?

A: South Florida design tends to embrace light, texture, outdoor-indoor living, and inspiration often comes from the surrounding landscape.

2. Q: Is it hard to get new clients to understand the difference between regional lifestyle and decorating changes?

A: We explain it as a lifestyle map: the space should mirror how our clients actually live, not just what’s trending.

3. Q: Many people who move to South Florida are going through life-change scenarios (growing family vs. downsizing). Is that a hard adjustment?

A: It can be. We work closely with our clients to design their dream space for the stage of life they are in. Often, that entails chic yet flexible spaces that work just as well for a quiet night at home or large gatherings.

4. Q: What colors are most in style right now?

A: Think warm neutrals with pops of saturated accent—warm whites, caramel, and sandy beiges paired with olive, teal, or terracotta accents.

5. Q: Does your approach to decorating differ if it’s on the Ocean, Intracoastal, Golf Course, Preserve, or city view?

A: Yes. Oceanfront gets durability with a mood—water-resistant textiles, soft neutrals, and reflective surfaces. Intracoastal and preserves invite greener textures and earthy tones. City views call for bolder focal points and cleaner lines to withstand the drama of the skyline. The location guides the material and palette choices.

6. Q: Is there a difference in approach if it’s a condo or a single-family home?

A: Absolutely. Condos often demand smarter storage, multi-use spaces, and a leaner floor plan; single-family homes allow for more scale, texture, and layering. We tailor floor plans to the building’s rules and the family’s routines.

7. Q: Materials?

A: Natural materials rule: rattan, bouclé, linen, natural stone, and organic wood.

8. Q: Are people afraid of color?

A: Some may be hesitant because they fear commitment, but a pop of color adds a bit of personality.

9. Q: 15 years ago the “Med was Dead.” Where are we with Modern?

A: Modern has softened; clean lines, warm woods, and textured fabrics that feel current, but not cold. The trend is towards organic modern: warmth, a sense of ease, and inspired design choices.

10. Q: Is there a type of home style you love to get your hands on that you don’t see very often?

A: I love the diversity of projects. Take, for example, equestrian properties: we have designed both ultra-modern and highly traditional equestrian estates. Both were incredible projects to work on.

11. Q: How has technology changed lifestyle and home living?

A: Tech has become invisible to the eye but powerful in the workflow—smart controls, energy management, and quiet systems that just work. The trick is seamless integration.

12. Q: Does landscaping come into play?

A: Absolutely. Landscape is the first impression, and the indoor-outdoor dialogue is key to successful design— especially in South Florida.

13. Q: How do you feel about wallpaper?

A: Wallpaper offers texture and pattern. When used thoughtfully, it can add drama, warmth, or whimsy.

14. Q: Lighting?

A: We often treat lighting as the jewelry of the room with bespoke pieces that are intentional and look chic. Layering ambient, task, and accent lighting adds depth, color, and function. Dimmable lighting and warm temps are your friends.

15. Q: Flooring?

A: Flooring sets the stage for texture and movement. Natural woods and luxe stone are winners.

16. Q: Are you seeing much with metals?

A: Yes—mixed metals are alive and well. Brass, bronze, and shiny nickel can coexist if you anchor them with a common temperature or finish.

17. Q: Glass?

A: Yes, in new ways. In a recent project, we incorporated bronze glass railings on a dramatic central metal staircase. It’s a showstopper.

18. Q: I was in the home furnishings fabric business. Most of our fabric was used for draperies, bedspreads, light upholstery. Where do you like to use fabric most? What types of fabrics are your favorite?

A: We reach for bouclé for texture, light linen for drapery, rich velvets for warmth and luxury, and durable fabrics for outdoor living.

19. Q: How do you deal with western exposures and northern exposures from a design standpoint since too much heat and lack of light can be challenging?

A: For west faces, I favor heat-tolerant textiles, lighter ceilings, and reflective surfaces to bounce late-day light. For north-facing rooms, I lean into warmer, brighter palettes and layered lighting to simulate daylight. The goal is warmth and balance, not battles with the sun.

20. Q: What rooms and spaces are most critical?

A: The daily hubs—kitchens, family rooms, primary suites, and outdoor spaces—are the heartbeat. Start with the spaces your life actually lives in.

21. Q: Is there a quieting demand going on right now? More closed-off space?

A: Yes—people crave calm, serene environments. Wellness is a hot space right now; we are designing yoga rooms, meditation spaces, zen-like primary suites, and elevated home offices.

22. Q: What do you try most to talk clients out of?

A: We have the most amazing clients and love collaborating with them. We take their wishlist and offer inspiration and expertise to create their dream home.

23. Q: Where do you get your design inspiration?

A: Travel, fashion, and having a front row seat to the design industry.

24. Q: Major no-no to avoid?

A: Not studying the floor plan. A beautiful space cannot function if you can’t move through the space naturally.

25. Q: How much does resale come into play?

A: Common wisdom would say to appeal to the broad market, but in high-end luxury design, that is not necessarily true. Recently, we designed a large estate in The Bears Club featuring a bold, dramatic marble that is not for “everyone”. That said, the bold design choice paid off when the house was sold.

26. Q: What areas of the country does Decorators Unlimited do work?

A: Some of the states and countries they have worked in include Florida, Georgia, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Maine, Connecticut, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Colorado, California, Wyoming, Montana, Mexico, Bahamian Islands, St, John, Cayman Islands, Aruba.

For my friend, Beems, thank goodness Colorado is one of the states on the list.

Jason Lynn
Vice President

4700 Riverside Drive, Suite 100
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Cell: 561-215-7615
[email protected]
www.decoratorsunlimited.com