When I decided to remodel my condo on the 22nd floor of a sleek, downtown Denver high-rise, I knew exactly where to begin—my decades-long collection of inspiration. As a longtime subscriber to interior design magazines, I’d spent years tearing out pages, filing ideas, and curating a personal library of features that spoke to me. Those saved images became the foundation for the space I dreamed of creating: elegant, personalized, and uniquely mine.
My building has a minimalist, contemporary feel, so I wanted my space to complement that aesthetic while still feeling warm and inviting. I envisioned a high-end, urban retreat—sophisticated but not sterile; modern but filled with meaningful details and personality.
A bold, abstract wallpaper in the entry was the first piece that clicked. Once my husband and I landed on that design, it became the palette for the entire condo. Every finish, every material, every pop of color pulled from that statement piece.
From the linear chandelier I fell in love with for the peninsula to the unexpectedly consistent “circle motif” that emerged through tile, lighting, and hardware—it all came together organically.
The entryway, where we installed built-in cabinetry and incorporated a Murphy-style mirrored door that hides a relocated laundry room, coat closet, and extra storage.
The reimagined kitchen, which started as a closed-off U-shaped space and is now a galley-style layout with a peninsula. We included hidden ventilation and cleverly integrated the HVAC system using perforated metal panels.
Cabinetry, everywhere. Storage in the building is extremely limited, so I maximized every square foot with thoughtful cabinet placement—in the kitchen, under the peninsula, in the dining and living rooms—everywhere I could.
One of the most creative solutions involved the HVAC unit. We rotated it and built custom cabinetry around it to make it look like part of a double refrigerator. Perforated metal panels allow it to function while visually tying into nearby elements, like the bar cabinet.
Remodeling a high-rise comes with challenges. Plumbing had to stay in place. Structural columns couldn’t be moved. And I learned—very painfully—that all the electrical comes up through the concrete slab in conduit. We couldn’t relocate walls as planned, and during demolition, I tripped over metal framing and broke my arm. That was definitely not part of the design plan!
We also had to work around two structural columns. The entry column was manageable, but the kitchen column landed right in the middle of my peninsula. We turned it into a feature by designing shallow storage on either side—perfect for oils, spices, and other daily essentials.
Throughout the process, I worked closely with my contractor to make every detail functional and beautiful. We reimagined the kitchen layout together, disguised HVAC systems with thoughtful design, and made the most of every inch—all while staying true to the building’s architecture and my own design preferences.This remodel was about more than just updating a space. It was about solving problems creatively and bringing years of vision to life. My condo is now a sophisticated, personalized oasis in the city—and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.
The full project includes a serene bedroom retreat, a cleverly converted home office, and two beautifully updated bathrooms—all designed with the same attention to detail and functionality.
View the full project portfolio here and explore every room.
