The Penthouse History

The 30-story apartment building was completed in 1963. At the time, it was the tallest apartment structure between New York and Chicago. Years later, the units were individually sold as condominiums.

A prominent family purchased the entire 30^th floor, but only resided in a portion of it. For many years, the other units remained vacant to ensure their privacy. When the units recently went on the market, the homeowners purchased the three-bedroom corner penthouse unit.

The Penthouse Renovation Challenges

Plumbing and electrical updates were needed throughout the unit, but all mechanicals were tied in 29 stories below. Working closely with the building management team, our engineers and architects developed a plan to upgrade all systems and created a new layout that included eliminating walls and reconfiguring the space, while adhering to building restrictions and updated code requirements.

All building materials had to be cut to fit inside the small freight elevator for transport to the 30^th floor.

 The Kitchen: Before

The original galley kitchen had no natural light, lacked storage and was closed off from the rest of the condo.

The Kitchen: During

While the homeowners would like to have completely blown out the kitchen wall to open the space into the living room for an unrestricted lake and skyline view, a portion of the existing wall could not be removed due to mechanicals common with those on the stories below.

Our design solution removed half of the wall and expanded the counter, which satisfied building requirements and afforded the fabulous open view the homeowners wanted.

The Kitchen: After

The kitchen was transformed from a cramped, outdated space to a fresh, contemporary room that flowed seamlessly with the living and dining rooms, creating an engaging, open-concept living space.

Custom cabinetry framed the wet bar with a custom stainless trough bar sink and wine refrigerator. The bar was built around the existing walls which expanded the kitchen area into the living and dining rooms.

The homeowners chose rich finishes in warm colors to accent the space. We used Shaw 5″ wide plank hardwood floors in Danforth throughout; and granite surfaces in the kitchen in Alaska White against beautiful custom 48″ cabinets.

The difference is in the details: The homeowners achieved a custom, upscale vibe by mixing textures and finishes, selecting glass tile inlays in the kitchen backsplashes and creating a dramatic entry using natural stone inlaid tile in the foyer.

 The Living Room: Before & During

The existing fireplace was no longer permitted in the building.

The Living Room: After

The old, outdated fireplace was replaced with a 5,000-BTU linear electric fireplace by Modern Flames, which beautifully complemented the new and decidedly upscale interior.

 The Hall Bath: Before & After

A whirlpool tub, custom tile surround and pedestal sink created a timeless update in the hall bath.

 The Master Bath: Before

The homeowners wanted to remove the existing tub, opting for a larger shower and more storage space.

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. Custom cabinetry was designed to maximize every inch of space.

 The Master Closet & Laundry: Before

The condo was originally two separate apartments that, at some point, had been redesigned as one. It had two entry doors to the main hall—and we were not allowed to eliminate either of them.

The Master Closet & Laundry: After

Designing an armoire with hidden castors adjacent to the master closet made good use of the space. Because the original unit didn’t include laundry, we incorporated a washer and ventless stacked dryer along with a laundry sink within the closet’s custom built-ins.

 The Penthouse: After

The finished space is nothing short of spectacular. What a view!