With a love of city life and an eye on retirement, a couple relocating from New York City transformed an Arena District condo into a modern retreat to suit their metropolitan tastes and future needs.
This award-winning home design was inspired by the homeowner’s background in landscape architecture and brought to life by Swiss Remodeling and Meghan Conrad Carey of City Park Interiors. Their creative collaboration endured a long-distance design and building process during the challenging time of the pandemic, successfully achieving a sophisticated living space homeowners Robert and Carol Anderson can comfortably enjoy for years to come.
Pays to listen
A key factor for the Andersons choosing Swiss Remodeling as their contractor was owner Eran Suissa’s open, flexible approach and willingness to listen. Carol explains, “Eran was inclusive of all of our ideas and feedback, he never tried to manage us based on what he thought we should do, or what he thought we couldn’t do.”
Eran explains his company’s philosophy with clients: “In the beginning of the process when we go into the design phase, we just listen, we make no comments or choices.” He adds, “Show me how you feel, how do you use this space, how do you want to live your life, what is the focus of your home. That’s what we take in consideration. And then we can start implementing.”
Award-winning work
This meeting of the minds produced a design that not only won the hearts of the Andersons, it also won Swiss Remodeling a 2022 NARI Regional CotY Award for Best Residential Interior.
Attention to detail on the project was paramount for the Andersons, and Eran appreciated it, “Robert is very detail-oriented, so every little detail was in his drawing, it was unbelievable. Everything from trim height to special cabinets, everything from ceiling to floor was in there, he thought it all through.” Eran adds, “We love these clients, they challenged us and pushed us to the next level.”
Into the woods
Given Robert’s experience with and the couple’s appreciation for the outdoors, it’s no surprise wood is a primary element in the design, alongside an earthy color palette. Wood is integrated throughout the design in creative ways adding depth and warmth to the modern backdrop of this urban living space.
Wood-toned cabinetry abounds across the kitchen and dining areas offering sleek storage with organic presence and feel. In the main living areas, a treated steel wall masterfully frames the fireplace, adding a rustic, earthy touch and creating a comforting atmosphere with conversation seating. A cozier den-like space sits on the opposite side with modern, off-set shelving bookending the television set on a wood backdrop. These two living areas are differentiated with a low bookcase that discretely creates separate spaces without interfering with the sweeping downtown view.
The modern, earthy feel flows seamlessly into the master bedroom suite. The wood wall behind the headboard blends with the soft textures and colors of the furniture and décor. Meghan explains, “There’s so much glass and metal in the architecture of the building itself, so the opportunity to bring in warmth and soften those harder surfaces was important especially in the bedroom. The wood sets the tone in that room. The two pendants over each nightstand help bring the ceiling down and warm it up, creating a more enveloping space. The drapery and choice of fabrics add softness and color to the room.
The spa-like master bath is a clean balance of styles with the classic marble design in the shower and tub area combined with modern fixtures and the wood-toned floating vanity and round mirrors. “We wanted to make the master bath modern yet timeless as well. The marble design on the tile lends a classic elegant feel applied in a more modern aesthetic,” adds Meghan.
In for the long run
The Andersons designed this condo as their forever home and made other decisions in anticipation of aging in place. The second bedroom is equipped with a private ensuite to accommodate caretaker help they may need down the road, and they placed the laundry area in a location easily accessible to others.
The relationship established between the Andersons, Swiss Remodeling and Meghan persevered the pandemic challenges to work through an intense design and building process and realize a successful outcome. Eran says, “I haven’t seen anything else like this in the city, the uniqueness of the design and textures and colors, it’s a very unique project.” About the team Robert and Carol chose to build their forever home, Carol concludes, “Looking back, wow did we make the most awesome decision ever.”
RESOURCES
Contractor Eran Suissa, Swiss Remodeling; Interior designer Meghan Conrad Carey, City Park Interiors; Flooring Hearthwood Floors, America’s Floor Source; Window treatments Silver Threads; Blinds Lutron; Fireplace Fortin Ironworks; Kitchen countertops Cambria, Midwest Quartz; Kitchen backsplash Sonoma, Hamilton Parker; Lighting, sink and faucets Ferguson; Dining table Created Hardwood; Millwork installation WoodLuxe Interiors
Article by Susan Zingraf | Photos by Dale Clark
Article originally appeared in March 2022