Mid-Century Soul at the Trailborn
Stolen Glance - 18”x 24” - Oil on canvas by Jeff Gloy
Finding the Right Aesthetic
Bar Duna - Trailborn Surf & Sound Hotel
Wilmington, NC. - Photo Courtesy of La Duna Paradiso
My process always begins with a search. As a designer, I don’t just look for "new" spaces; I look for environments that respect a Mid-Century aesthetic—places where the lines, materials, and lighting echo the golden age of design.
Wherever I go, I’m scouting for that specific look. Recently, while at home in Wilmington, my wife and I had dinner at La Duna Paradiso, the restaurant at the beautifully renovated Trailborn Surf & Sound. The moment we walked inside and sat down for a drink at Bar Luna, I knew I had found the exact aesthetic I was looking for. The space is undeniably contemporary, yet it possesses a quiet, cinematic quality and a Mid-Century soul that felt like the perfect "stage" for my work.
The Intersection
The "Aha!" moment for this painting was seeing how naturally a woman from the early 1960s would fit into this modern setting. Because the architecture at the Trailborn leans into that timeless Mid-Century language, my subject doesn't look like she’s from a different world—she looks like she finally found where she belongs.
She represents a time of effortless class. By placing her in this modern boutique interior, I’m exploring the bridge between the high-society elegance of 1962 and the vibrant, sophisticated energy of Wilmington’s design scene today.
The Design Detail
I have immense respect for the teams that craft these environments. The work Post Company did with this renovation is stunning. Through this painting, I’m celebrating the fact that "cool" doesn't have an expiration date. I invite you to pull up a chair, linger in the moment, and experience the art of the inhabited space.
