ALL THAT GLITTERS
A discerning client engages designer Grace Jones from Dwellings on Madison to create a one-of-a-kind Hollywood Regency-inspired penthouse. Photos by Greg Grupenhof of Greg Grupenhof Photography Only a few locations in the tri-state area offer 270’ views of downtown and the river. Often, it takes a personal connection or repetitive inquiries to find such opportunities when they come available; in this case, it was a combination of both. Having already lived in Adams Place for a few years, the client was very keen on moving up into the building’s penthouse. The client continued to connect with the owners for five years until they were ready to sell. When the transaction finally closed, the new owner received the keys to a penthouse that had remained untouched since 1994, the year it was completed. Coming from a well-traveled background and profession in jewelry design, the client immediately decided to gut the condo and redo it to her preferences and style. As the project commenced, she soon realized that she needed help from a fellow globetrotter with a keen design eye. Enter Grace Jones from Dwellings on Madison. Grace Jones founded Dwellings on Madison in 2011, but her career in design spans more than 25 years. Following early 66 slmag.net
discussions with the client shortly after being brought on board, Jones devised a concept that displays a discernable Hollywood Regency bent with a unique twist that also employs aspects of Art Deco and contemporary design. “We wanted to create modern and glamorous rooms that feel like you are stepping into a high-end hotel,” explained Jones. Given her client’s background in refined jewelry design, Jones added that “we were very precise with our use of metals, depth of tones, and adding in sparkle with some of the lighting.” Working within a color palette of taupe, blacks, and grey, the designer and client were very specific in combining metals— primarily gold accents— as well as silver and black finishes to layer pops of interest atop the neutral background. “Ultimately, our design was to create warmth in the space, as the penthouse gets so much natural light, we wanted to enhance the views and the natural lighting throughout the space.”
