Making the Ascent

With the help of interior designer David Millett, Patty Brisben’s condo in a landmark building has become her personal retreat and family haven

Written by Bridget Williams / Photography by Eric Williams

Growing up in a home largely decorated in a style self-described as “all things early American,” businesswoman and philanthropist Patty Brisben vowed that the home of her dreams would be the polar opposite. The hugely successful founder of Pure Romance made good on her promise in spades with her latest residence – a cosmopolitan condo in the Ascent.

Facing an empty nest and seeking a new life outside the suburbs, Brisben began looking at condos close to the city. Her affinity for The Ascent certainly was not love at first sight. “I flat out told my agent no when he suggested it,” she recalled. After some convincing, she agreed to take a look at several units, including the penthouse. With several of her children and their families, as well as Brisben’s interior designer David Millett in tow, the group moved from unit to unit, allowing them to see how such a large group could function in each distinct unit. While some were quickly ruled out, the one that remained still presented challenges to Brisben’s ideal. “I’m a pretty good visionary, but the original configuration was too choppy. I love my family and I love entertaining and want to have room for everyone to spread out and feel comfortable.”

It was not until a downstairs neighbor offered her the chance to take a look at their floor plan that everything fell into place. “It helped me to conceptualize what could be and that we could make it work,” said Brisben. “We looked at the unit at nine in the morning and before lunch the deal was done,” added Millett, whose opinions Brisben relied on heavily in her decision.

Brisben and Millett share a unique symmetry of style, which allowed them to move quickly in transforming the spaces. “I’ve worked with Millett on so many projects that it’s crazy,” laughed Brisben. The movers brought in the last pieces of furniture on Labor Day weekend – just in time for Brisben to throw a fireworks viewing party for 125 – a event family and friends have said must become an annual tradition.

Spend five minutes with Brisben and you will quickly be enthralled by her effervescence. Throughout the interior of her home, it seems as though Millett was able to bottle a bit of her luminosity and judiciously sprinkle it about for dramatic effect. It is a unique sensory experience that begins the moment one crosses the threshold. Squares of metallic cork applied to the walls and ceiling resemble the sands needed to create the exquisite Chihuly-style blown glass chandelier overhead. Underfoot, the abstract pattern in a circular rug is apropos in conjuring up the garments of the lovers embracing in Gustav Klimt’s famous painting.

Interior designer David Millett created a unique sensory experience that begins the moment one crosses the threshold. In the foyer, the walls and ceiling are covered with squares of metallic cork. Overhead is a Chihuly-style blown glass chandelier. Glass doors cordon off a wine cellar outfitted with a metallic tile floor and iridescent mosaic tiles on the wall.

Directly ahead, glass doors cordon off a wine cellar that was fashioned by right-sizing the powder room and stealing space from a large closet in one of the guestrooms. The metallic tile floor complements the warm tones of the mosaic tile along the back wall of the space. Wine is one of Brisben’s passions (in her next life she would like to be a vintner), and she has recently started jotting down the date and names of those enjoying the fruits of the vine with her on the cork, which is then deposited into a large apothecary-style jar in the cellar. A painting commissioned by her son has extra-special sentimentality as it depicts a bottle from the Frank Family winery (a place she visited with her children) and incorporates the Pure Romance logo on a wineglass charm.

One of the few things to be left intact during the renovation was the built-in cabinetry in the kitchen and living room. While the former leans more towards the traditional, the hand-rubbed cocoa accents in the corners and profile recesses play into the metallic stripe wallcovering by Romo. A unique feature of the kitchen is a spacious walk-in pantry hidden behind a door that seamlessly blends in with the cabinetry. A light fixture suspended over the bar that separates the kitchen from the living room calls to mind individual droplets of water suspended in midair. A matching fixture can be found over the dining table, one of the few pieces that made the transition from Brisben’s previous residence.

One of the few things to be left intact during the renovation was the built-in cabinetry in the kitchen and living room. While the kitchen cabinetry is more towards the traditional than other design elements in the home, the hand-rubbed cocoa accents in the corners and profile recesses play into the metallic stripe wallcovering by Romo.

A 15-foot long, snaking sectional custom-designed by Rick Lee provides plenty of room to sit and admire the multi-million dollar views. The cocoa-colored shag rug follows the contours of the sectional and was bound on site. In front of the floor-to-ceiling window is a pair of oversized Milo Baughman swivel chairs that Brisben refers to as her “cuddle ups” for their ability to score some quiet time with her grandchildren while watching people coming and going across the Brent Spence Bridge and the barges and pleasure craft cruise up and down the Ohio River.

The cocoa-colored shag rug follows the contours of the sectional and was bound on site. In front of the floor-to-ceiling window is a pair of oversized Milo Baughman swivel chairs that Brisben refers to as her “cuddle ups” for their ability to score some quiet time with her grandchildren.

Millett came up with a clever design solution to deal with what Brisben deemed the white elephant in the living room – hefty support columns placed between the windows: he covered them with the same metallic wallcovering as the rest of the room but ran it horizontally. “It really helps to deplete their mass,” he pointed out. “Some people notice them right away as a sort of ‘wow’ factor, while others don’t really notice them at all. The lines of the wallpaper move the eye to the symmetry of the circular elements found elsewhere.”

The circle as a recurring theme appeals in both large (the columns) and subtle (small metallic inlays within the absolute black granite in the backsplash behind the range) ways. “As David and I continue to work together, I’ve discovered that I love things with a curvy or round shape.”

The light fixture over the dining table corresponds with once found over the bar separating the kitchen from the living room. The table and chairs are one of the few pieces that made the transition from Brisben’s previous residence.

Every design element was chosen to accent and draw the eye to the view. A flat-screen television is hidden on a lift within a dark wood console and can be summoned with the push of a button. Varied shades of blue on the accent pillows bring to mind the hues of the historic bridge below.

Separating the living room from the master suite is a sitting area with a double-sided fireplace. A pair of oversized lounge chairs can be converted into twin beds. Glass shelves within a mirrored niche next to the fireplace in the master holds treasured mementos and family photographs. Clusters of pearly beads are arranged in a contemporary damask style pattern on an ivory background of the Romo Scala wallcovering. The highly urethaned and curved headboard is lit from behind with a pair of silver drum shade pendant lamps hanging overhead. The windows here, as in the living room, are dressed with sheer drapery.

Clusters of pearly beads are arranged in a contemporary damask-style pattern on an ivory background of the Romo Scala wallcovering used in the master suite. The highly urethaned and curved headboard is lit from behind. The windows here, as in the living room, are dressed with sheer drapery.

Linking the master bedroom to what could only be described as every woman’s dream closet is a master bath with loads of storage and spa-like amenities such as a towel-warming drawer.

Having had several months to settle into her new home, Brisben does not see the honeymoon being over anytime soon. “It’s truly like a vacation to live here,” she said. “I used to think the Ohio River was ugly, but I’ve come to appreciate and enjoy its hard-working qualities.”