Moving on Up – Penthouse Renovation on Lakewood’s Gold Coast
Blog #3 of 3 in a series
Our team at Dover was honored with the 2017 NARI Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award: 1st Place, Interior Renovation, for an upscale penthouse transformation. This week, designer and guest blogger Shelley Bujdos wraps up her behind-the-scenes tour of this award-winning project. Enjoy the fabulous design, the beautiful finishes—and the spectacular view!
THE LIVING ROOM: BEFORE & DURING
The biggest change in the family room was the fireplace: The existing unit was no longer permitted in the building due to code restrictions.
THE LIVING ROOM: AFTER
We replaced the old, outdated unit with a 5,000 BTU linear electric fireplace by Modern Flames, which beautifully complemented the new interior and let the view of Lake Erie and the city of Cleveland take center stage.
THE MASTER BATH: BEFORE & DURING
In their master bathroom, the homeowners wanted to remove the existing tub, opting for a larger shower and more storage space, which was at a premium in the penthouse unit.
THE MASTER BATH: AFTER
The custom tile shower included a rubbed bronze shower system by Hansgrohe and a glass enclosure to make the space feel larger. We designed the space with custom cabinetry to include smart built-ins that helped to maximize every inch of space.
THE MASTER CLOSET & LAUNDRY: BEFORE & AFTER
From what we could tell, the condo was originally two separate apartments that, at some point, had been redesigned as one. It had two entry doors from the main hall—and we were not allowed to eliminate either of them, per the management company. The extra door located near the master bedroom posed a major quandary for the homeowners: What to do with this awkward space? How could we hide the door?
My suggestion was to make it an extension of a larger master closet. Working with our carpenters, we created an armoire that looks like a permanent unit, but with hidden castors for mobility. By trimming out the armoire, it appears to be a built-in piece of furniture. We also wrapped the wall adjacent to the master closet to create a seamless extension of the space.
Because the original condo unit didn’t include a laundry room, we incorporated a washer and ventless stacked dryer along with a laundry sink within the expanded master closet’s custom built-ins. The design gives the homeowners the function that they need, while again, making ingenious use of space.
THE PENTHOUSE: AFTER
These final photos show the beautiful finished living space. It was an exciting project to manage, with a scenic backdrop that made for some pretty stellar working conditions!
Shelley Bujdos
