In the details

Moving from an expansive estate home to this in-town, high-rise condominium did not mean the owners had to abandon their much-loved, traditional furnishings and art collections. Instead, remodeling efforts focused on selecting their favorite pieces and complementing them with a rich palette of colors, fabrics, materials and architectural elements.

What was initially an attractive but dull condominium is now a home with lush details in keeping with the taste of the homeowners.

The only major structural changes occurred in the master bathroom, says interior designer Karen Ferguson of Harrison Design Associates.

"The owners were able to update many of their furniture pieces with fabrics in deep hues of red and gold," says Ferguson. "Understated architectural details and moldings, set against a subtle textured wall finish, unite the main rooms, allowing the collection of fine paintings and sculptures to become the focal point. In the foyer, for example, travertine tile floors were replaced with a gridwork of hand-scraped white oak floor planks criss-crossing limestone."

The cool smooth limestone brings a sense of formality to the entryway, while the warm, textured wood softens the effect, adding detail and interest to the stonework.

Ferguson says that coved ceiling moldings and paneled doors with bolection moldings in the frames, along with substantial baseboards, contribute to the stately effect. The decor is achieved by building up these finer elements Ferguson even introduced secondary moldings on the recessed tray ceiling in the dining area.

"Trims and finishes in the home are mostly transitional in character," Ferguson says. "These are not ornate moldings they have an elegance that is expressed through their substance."

"We wanted bring the home together by using one wall finish throughout the main living spaces. The custom process resulted in a suede-like surface with visual depth," Ferguson says.

The existing furniture complements the home's tonal palette, and several pieces were reupholstered specifically to suit the warm color scheme of reds and coppers.

The scraped floors and textured walls instill an implied history, suggesting the decor evolved over time. The kitchen furthers this idea, with the central island finished in a different tone than the wall cabinetry.

"The old kitchen was long and narrow and we had to work within this footprint largely constrained by placement of stacked services," says Ferguson. "We set the wood floors diagonally to create a feeling of space and replaced louvered pantry doors with material-fronted cabinetry to soften the end of the room."

The artisanal, handcrafted feel is also seen in the custom, hand-tipped mosaic backsplash. This feature is repeated in the master bathroom.

Space was also addressed in the master bathroom. A freestanding tub was introduced to imply a greater floor area. The shower was pushed to the rear of the room and has a similar mosaic wall treatment to that in the kitchen.

"We also built the wall out around the vanity," says Ferguson. "While it may seem counterintuitive to build outward in a small space, this technique creates the impression that the vanity is set into a generous wall area."

The wealth of architectural finishes and tones of rose and copper, together with dextrous spatial treatments, create a gracious family home.

Story by: Charles Moxham

Photography by: John Umberger In the details This remodeled condominium combines attention