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Sophisticated Decorating Idea's

By Brenda Mancil

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Premier Properties

September 24, 2011 03:28 AM

Written by Carolyn M. Runyon

Photography by Becket Logan

It was quite a move for Celia Berliner to leave her executive p

Berliner’s design uses clear spatial organization, attention to detail, color, and natural light to create a spacious environment. “The apartment is approximately 1,400 square feet, with two bedrooms and two baths and a pleasant layout,” Berliner says. “But the finishes and color scheme were dark, and there was a lot of clutter. The home is on the twentieth floor with wraparound windows and amazing views with abundant natural light.”

The project was a gut renovation and full redesign. Berliner created the floor plan and focused on opening the kitchen to the living area as the starting point for the home’s overall design concept. The kitchen’s custom-made cabinets are a silver laminate in satin finish, while the countertops are white Corian. The floor and a large column in the kitchen are clad with Jerusalem gold limestone mottled with yellow and gold with orange undertones. “These colors determined the cohesive color scheme used in the rest of the living space,” notes Berliner.

A window in the wall separating the kitchen and the living area allows for a view and light between the spaces. The Jerusalem gold limestone flooring that flows into the entire living area gives continuity to the space and creates the illusion that it is actually bigger. “The lightness of the furniture and the large windows that curve around the space keep the area glowing with light,” says Berliner. “In fact, I call the overall design concept ‘float and glow.’ Float because the legs of the furniture are minimal and hardly noticeable, and all the built-in cabinets are raised off the floor—everything appears to be floating in the space. Glow because of the use of light and reflective surfaces.” The glass and Lucite tables create invisible functionality as well as reflections, as do the white crystal bowls with clear dots. The art behind the sofa is pale and minimal, white on white.

The custom-made white cabinets in the living room hold everything necessary for entertaining and comfort so the space is uncluttered and elegant. “Clutter creates noise in people’s minds,” says Berliner. “This living area has a clear spatial organization that leads to a serene, harmonious feel. The orange sofa is vibrant and inviting. The orange plays off the undertone of the limestone floor; it’s a happy, auspicious color conducive to people gatherings….You can’t help but smile when you see it.”

One corner of the living room curves gently with tall windows covered by white solar shades that filter ample light. The white satin lacquer built-in window seat, which also offers storage, follows the curvature and creates continuity with the cabinetry in the perimeter of the room.

Throughout the home, the “glow” continues with the brushed metal and glass dining table, the oversized white enamel framed mirror placed behind it, and all the interior doors throughout the apartment, which are custom-made with single glass panels to allow for the light to filter through. The en suite master bathroom also has reflective qualities in the subtle and relaxing soft green, glossy glass tiles, and extensive use of pristine white marble for the flooring, countertop, and tub face and deck. The shower glass enclosure, the ceiling-high mirrors facing the medicine cabinets, and the full-length mirror on the back wall contribute to the luminosity.

“The second bath is smaller, so I decided to jazz it up a bit with a bright jelly bean lime green,” says Berliner. “The glass tiles in the tub area are oversized and have a matte finish; the smaller tiles used for the vanity backsplash are glossy.” Ceiling-high custom medicine cabinets are faced with tall mirrors that expand the space. A fixed glass panel stands on the tub deck, and white Thassos marble covers the floor, the face of the tub, and wall wainscoting.

The owner works from home, so the second bedroom was designed as a functional home office. Satin white finish custom cabinets, with their simplicity of design and ample storage, allow for the display of some personal and decorative items. The rug carries the yellow, gold, green, and orange tones from the rest of the living space, bringing it all together. The sofa bed’s design is streamlined and uncomplicated. All design elements come together in perfect harmony and relate to the rest of this sleek, sophisticated, and elegant home.