Condos
April 15, 2021
Step Inside A 5,000-Square-Foot Apartment With Luxurious Design Details
When designer Lisa Tharp walked into this condo, housed in a historic building, she saw the potential right away. “What started as a simple decorating project turned into a rather extensive renovation,” she says. The homeowners moved from a traditional house in the suburbs to the city, wanting a fresh start and “a more refined, contemporary atmosphere,” adds Lisa. So, she knocked down the awkward columns and out-of-place Colonial-style fireplace, and created a sense of flow throughout the 5,000-square-foot residence. Lisa layered in artwork, custom furniture and luxurious finishes (think: silk wallpaper and velvet upholstery) to really tell a story between rooms. The final result is a memorable home that mixes classic and contemporary details and speaks to the homeowner’s new phase of life. “When you can make a big transition comfortable, you’ve really done the job,” she says.
Scroll down to explore this luxurious apartment!
With studio presence in Boston, New York and Auckland, Lisa recently extended her design firm to Canada in December, launching a branch in Montreal. She transforms spaces in the city, country and on the water by marrying modern and classic elements with custom-designed furniture.
To enter this luxe apartment, you take one of two brass elevators and are welcomed with glossy black walls, classic floor tiles (that are original to the building) and a tortoiseshell treatment on the ceiling. “This is your very bold and dramatic first impression,” says Lisa.
“Veining is the most incredible art created by nature,” she says about the powder room’s statement vanity. The Calacatta marble is repeated in the fireplace surround in the living room.
Decorated with silk velvet walls, a channeled bench to take off your shoes and a milk glass pendant, this sitting area sets the tone for the rest of the space: livable luxury.
The homeowners wanted a multifunctional room that could work for an intimate dinner for two or a cocktail party. Built-in greige bookcases and a pair of honey-hued settees create a comfortable reading environment, too.
Through a pair of French doors is a cozy den that’s been decorated with one of the homeowner’s personalities in mind. “Our goal was to give a lot of subtle cues to his interests, like geology, astronomy and physics, without straying into the world of cliché,” says Lisa, referring to the celestial-inspired ceiling mural and Hervé van der Straeten light fixture.
He is also a competitive soccer player, so this photograph of a vintage, distressed soccer ball that looks like the moon was a natural choice. The walls are covered in a silk golden wallpaper for added warmth in the windowless space. “It’s like the color of a candlelight glow,” she says.
Artwork plays an important role in this home. This color-blocked painting from London, England, juxtaposes beautifully with the sculptural marble side table and aluminum replicas of post-war TV towers from Germany. A funky wooden lounger doubles as art on its own.
“Even in the whitest of spaces, we wanted the apartment to feel welcoming and embracing and not take itself too seriously,” says Lisa of the formal living room. She created a circular seating area, so you could have a view of the lush exterior from all directions.
In the sunny breakfast nook, shades of pink reign supreme. An Andrew Zimmerman piece hangs on the wall (far right) and ties in the blush banquette without reading too sweet.
“Even though some of these rooms have a lot of furniture in them, it’s really about creating inviting zones,” says Lisa. The family room has a mix of seating for watching TV, playing chess or enjoying an intimate conversation. The light aqua color on the walls is Williams’ Blue from Lisa’s collaboration with ECOS Paints, named after the first prominent Black architect, Paul R. Williams.
The principal bedroom is all about simple serenity with a channeled leather bed, 1970s Italian task lamp and layers of contemporary and mid-century artwork. The bronzed green quilt bedding adds a glamorous touch.
Lisa Tharp Design