‘Flower Bandit’ Lewis Miller, whose floral installations grace NYC trash cans, asks $2.9 million for Florida home

The Flower Bandit has listed his West Palm Beach home for $2.9 million.

Famed society florist Lewis Miller, who has also been called the “Banksy of flowers” for his guerilla-style floral art installations, transformed this home into a work of art – full of jewel tones and tasteful decorations.

And the Spanish mission house built in 1926 at 333 Pilgrim Road comes fully furnished.

Miller purchased the Florida property sight unseen in 2021 for $1.14 million, but still splits his time between New York and the Sunshine State.

“I took a chance and played it right — and I also worked with great realtors and trusted them,” Miller told Gimme Shelter.

And yet, Miller added, “As much as I tried to go to Florida, I can’t leave New York. Florida seems exciting at first, but there’s nothing like New York.”

“I don’t need a house, extra work and chaos. Maybe later. Maybe I’ll rent for a while,” said Miller, who also has a mansion in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood.

Miller’s client list ranges from institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art to charities, luxury brands and wealthy individuals. He launched his flash flower installations in 2016, before the presidential election, but they took on new meaning after the election as a way to unite and bring some joy to a divided nation.

“I wanted to find a way to give back and push myself creatively,” Miller added. “I do all these cool ballroom projects and it’s a love affair with New York and flowers. Random floral installations are very ephemeral but dramatic. I learned a lot living and working with flowers, but I realized that what New Yorkers are most hungry for is nature, and so it’s nice to see people who are so grateful and it kind of spreads the love for what I want to do. .”

Those installations, which are often made from flowers left over from events or at the end of their lives, took on an even deeper meaning during the pandemic, when they became a symbol of hope. In the midst of despair and isolation, flowers transformed ordinary objects into giant works of art, falling from the city’s giant garbage cans, in front of bus-filled buildings, spilling out of bus shelters, and left outside hospitals as a thanks for the first one. respondents who were indeed the heroes of the city.

There were literally thousands of flowers – roses, asters, delphiniums, sugar maples, daisies, sunflowers, anemones and more; sometimes 6,000 blooms — in a single installation, he told Gimme.

Miller also created limited edition prints and a candle, with a portion of the proceeds going to charity. In Florida, Lewis is heavily involved with a charity that helps families on the brink of homelessness.

What makes the house stand out? “Lewis makes it special,” said Sotheby’s International Realty listing broker John Cregan, who shares the listing with his wife, Lisa. “He made it really beautiful.”

The house was renovated by the previous owner. Then Miller renewed again. “He opened the flow and comes fully furnished. Its taste level is extremely good. People who come in are blown away by it,” Cregan said.

Instead of the bubblegum pink of Palm Beach and mint green, think West Palm Beach green with dark leaves and tobacco for color. The furniture, Miller said, ranges from a couch he had handmade in London, to vintage rattan wall sconces, to local West Palm antiques.

“I wanted the house to feel like Hemingway’s old Florida—what Florida looked like before air conditioning, with sepia tobacco tones and a masculine touch to the house,” Miller said.

“I like the location and I’ve always liked a bit of the Spanish Mediterranean,” he continued.

“The proportions were excellent and so was the overall feel of the house. I was really lucky with the timing. I bought it at the right time. Anything of interest was getting snapped up or priced so high it was out of reach – and I love a project.”

The main house comes with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a fireplace. Design details include hardwood floors and many built-ins such as bookshelves. Interior colors echo the lush greenery of the exterior, including the green-tiled chef’s kitchen.

There is also a second story porch with Spanish tiles that wraps around the back of the house for entertaining.

The facilities also include a guest house with two additional rooms that both have full kitchens and bathrooms.

And yes, despite breaking up with this apartment, his flash installations will not stop.