“A serene palette with natural materials reflects a serene lifestyle.... Simple can be beautiful and elegant and rich.”— Anita Lang, Interior motives

Transform your high-rise condo from a steel and glass box into a stylish slice of home.

From floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking city lights to exposed ductwork or concrete floors, let’s face it: The very things that drew you to a high-rise condo make for a hard, cold place to live. Unless you listen to the experts. Three Valley interior designers offer their tips and techniques on how to transform steel and glass high-rise condos into hip but homey urban living spaces. Whether your condo is an 800-square-foot studio or a 3,500-square-foot penthouse, these design techniques can help you find the look you’re longing for.

Furnishings
Careful selection of furnishings for your condo is a must. “Living spaces are not as generously proportioned as they would be in a home. By not over-furnishing, you’ll have the feeling that your space is not crowded,” says John Harding Dey, ASID, owner of John Harding Dey Interiors in Chandler. Choosing the right sofa and chairs can go a long way toward creating comfort without clutter.

• Choose metal- or wood-framed pieces that aren’t overly upholstered. “Overstuffed furnishings don’t work well in an urban steel and glass high-rise,” says Anita Lang, ASID, principal designer with Interior Motives in Scottsdale and Fountain Hills. She recommends clean frames with simple cushions that visually open up the space while creating comfort.

• Select sofas or chairs with no arms or low arms. “With conventional arms, a room can feel much more closed in. Low arms or no arms help create a spacious feeling,” says Jan Friedman, ASID, partner in the Scottsdale-based design firm Friedman & Shields.

• Find furniture with legs. Friedman employed this strategy with a very small bedroom she designed at Optima Camelview Condos in Scottsdale. “Keep your furniture up on legs, and it gives the illusion that it’s floating,” she says.

• Choose multi-functioning furnishings. “Life is happening within a little square footage,” Lang says, suggesting furnishings that do double duty. For example, if you eat in front of the TV often, select a coffee table that’s a bit higher. Or purchase flip-top tables that require minimal space in daily life but can expand to accommodate guests.

Clean-lined furniture and textured rugs make condos feel open yet comfortable.

Softening Touches
With all this sleek-framed furniture, you may be wondering how to balance chic with cozy. If space allows it, Dey recommends positioning furniture at an angle or buying a curved sofa. “Largely, it’s visual interest that helps soften the room. Curves and angles take away from the rigidity of a 90-degree angle,” he says.

Additionally, the right use of color and finish can help. Try organic materials, such as a wood veneer instead of paint. Lang loves this technique and emphasizes that this is not a Midwest basement wood-paneling look. “It’s a very friendly, green product that goes on like wallpaper and adds so much warmth to the room,” she says.

Another technique is simply to keep things, well, simple. In condo living, less is more. Overly patterned throw pillows, rugs and artwork can create a claustrophobic sense of busyness. “People want simplicity in their lives. That’s one reason they’re drawn to the whole loft or urban condo concept,” Lang says. “A serene palette with natural materials reflects a serene lifestyle. That doesn’t mean it has to be cold. Simple can be beautiful and elegant and rich.”

Finally, choose your colors carefully. The bright, attention-getting accent wall with a single, dominant piece of art can create an aesthetic excitement that just makes your heart sing. Meanwhile, warm colors can create a sense of unification and harmony. Whatever you do, don’t settle for builder-quality, off-white walls. “With a cold exterior of concrete and glass, choose a warmer palette on the inside,” Friedman urges. “It will have a warm, inviting, cozy feel inside in contrast to the outdoors.”

Window Coverings
Many people choose their condo for the view, yet balancing the dramatic effect of floor-to-ceiling glass with privacy can be a challenge.

Ask yourself simple questions, Dey says. “What kind of view is it? Is that part of the reason for getting the condo? If so, you don’t want to minimize it by using too many softening devices,” he says. Here are some tips and tricks:

A soothing, organic palette contrasts well with a condo’s cool city setting.

• Consider portable privacy screens. “You’re addressing privacy where you need it, and leaving some negative space behind your screen,” Lang says, adding that this technique works well in the bathroom. “You can screen the bathtub area but not the whole bathroom. It looks really interesting in that space.”

• Try fabric panels. Suspend woven, textured panels from the ceiling and,
voila, you have beautiful, interesting window treatments that can be pulled aside when not needed for privacy.

• Use hidden roller shades. Concealed in 4-inch housing compartments, roller shades balance privacy with aesthetics. “People think that to add style they need to dress the windows and put lots of coverings on them,” Friedman says. But if you’ve got a great view, why cover it up?

Artwork
Artwork that captures a sense of scale, proportion and texture can put the polish on your cozy urban crib. Experts agree – go singular and bold, not cluttered and small. “In the condo setting, glass robs you of wall space,” Lang says. “Do one or two important pieces,” Lang suggests, and then be content to leave blank walls and open floor space. “Have quiet spots along the way. The luxury of space lets your eye rest and adds balance to the room,” she says.

Friedman also recommends buying fewer pieces of greater importance rather than many small pieces. But there is a caution: Your condo may be 2,500 square feet complete with soaring ceilings, but if your artwork won’t fit in the elevator or hallways, you’re in trouble. “Measure the freight elevator before you buy a piece, or else you could be making a very costly mistake,” Friedman says.

A single piece of bold artwork creates aesthetic appeal without adding clutter.

RESOURCES
Friedman & Shields
15125 N. Hayden Road, Ste. 123,
Scottsdale
480-922-4521
interiordesignscottsdale.net

Interior Motives
16851 E. Parkview Ave.,
Fountain Hills
480-837-8979

6921 E. First St., Ste. 2,
Scottsdale
480-970-8979
interiormotivesaz.com

John Harding Dey Interiors
1346 W. Highland St.,
Chandler
602-576-4007
JHDasid.net