Urban Dwellings

URBAN DWELLINGS

City residences often have unique spatial challenges. Creative thinking can result in multifunctional rooms: home offices that double as the occasional guest bedroom, dining rooms that serve dually as libraries, and daytime dens, accessible from more public entertaining spaces, that double as night time private master sitting rooms, when closed to the public areas of the home. Interest and comfort must be created in windowless spaces using thoughtful architectural detail, lighting, furnishings, and art. Opening conventionally segregated rooms to adjoining spaces can create a sense of spaciousness prevented by the formality of separate rooms.

Gallery

Click on images for zoom and lightbox view.

One Mag Mile
Traditional Living Room
Tony Berardi Chicago Tribune Photographer

A partial height wall at the far end of this living room is actually the back of a custom designed dark stained oak media cabinet, the living room side of which has been painted to match the living room walls. the partial height of the cabinet allows the space to flow beyond the living room into an intimate tv den/library.
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One Mag Mile
Traditional Dining Area
Tony Berardi Chicago Tribune Photographer

An original wall was removed to open the dining area to the living room for a greater sense of spaciousness and flow. the dining area was then redefined with a tray ceiling that centers over the table. lower ceiling areas around the dining room perimeter allow for recessed lighting. a custom designed lacquer cabinet includes closed storage in base cabinets and lighted glass display shelves behind latticed glass cabinet doors.
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One Mag Mile
Traditional Library
Tony Berardi Chicago Tribune Photographer

Integral lighting within the built-in shelving accents some of the owner’s collectibles. the sofa serves as a bed for the occasional guest. pullout surfaces just below the tops of the built-in end tables extend the surfaces when they are used as nightstands.
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Water Tower Place Duplex
Living Room
Barbara Karant Photographer

Thoughtfully selected furnishings and art contrast the soaring space of this duplex high rise apartment.
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Water Tower Place Duplex
Loft Area
Barbara Karant Photographer

An intimate mezzanine level tv den includes a wall of concealed and open shelving, as well as low cabinets that house the media and audio-video equipment and take the place of the original guard railing between this seating area and the two-story living room beyond.
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Los Angeles Condominium
Entry
Tim Streetporter III Photographer

A portion of the public hallway in this high rise condominium building was incorporated into the entry hall of this private residence. the korean chest-on-chest welcomes arrivals into the home.
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Los Angeles Condominium
Living Room
Tim Streetporter III photographer

A rounded column guides visitors into the comfortable living room.custom shelving displays some of the owners’ collectibles, while carrying the top line of the taller windows across the wall with lower windows.
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Lake Shore Drive Duplex
Dining Area
Hedrich Blessing Photography

The dining area in this contemporary high rise condominium apartment seats a comfortable six and a snug eight. the ceiling has been lowered to define the dining area apart from the living room, add intimacy to the dining experience, and accommodate recessed lighting. floors are wide plank bleached oak run on a diagonal to emphasize the spaciousness of the room. concealed lighting in narrow soffits illuminate art on perimeter walls.
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Lake Shore Drive Duplex
Media Area
Hedrich Blessing Photography

The bleached oak and terra cotta lacquer built-in wall in this urban living room coordinates with the owners’ furniture selection and organizes media, audio-video equipment, and objects for display.
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Lake Shore Drive Duplex
Living Room
Hedrich Blessing Photography

Two comfortable chairs with ottomans face an audio-video wall in this high rise pied-a-terre. wide plank oak flooring runs on a diagonal to emphasize spaciousness.
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Lake Shore Drive Duplex
Master Bedroom
Hedrich Blessing Photography

The bed in this master bedroom has been built onto a platform so that lake views can be enjoyed over the obstructions of low thermal panels and air conditioning units. ebony/walnut stained oak custom millwork, separating a second bedroom/master sitting area from the main master bedroom sleeping area, includes clothing storage and two sets of solid core oak doors which bi-fold across the opening and pocket out of sleeves respectively, creating sound privacy for the occasions when guests occupy the second bedroom area.
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Lake Shore Drive Duplex
Master Sitting Area
Hedrich Blessing Photography

The second bedroom of this duplex city apartment has a sofa bed for occasional guest use, while primarily serving as a master sitting room. the sofa bed faces the opening to the master bedroom seen in the previous image.
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