‘Tiffany In The Hamptons’ Penthouse Design
A luxury condo interior design that layers crisp, clear blues with tailored architectural details, bringing fresh character to a newly built penthouse in Calgary’s University District.
Sometimes, the best projects begin right across the hall. While installing a neighbouring penthouse in Calgary’s University District, the owners of this home stopped by, connected with our work and invited us over to reimagine their penthouse too.
The original home was bright but still felt builder-basic, with expansive white walls and few architectural details. Because the clients had only lived in the newly built complex for a couple of years, a complete renovation was neither necessary nor desirable. Instead, we focused on thoughtful cosmetic updates that would build upon the furnishings and finishes they had already invested in, while introducing crisp, clear blues and tailored architectural details to give the penthouse a fresher, more distinctive character.
Entryway
The entryway sets the tone with walls painted in Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere, applied in a soft, plaster-like finish. The subtle movement gives the once-white hallway greater depth, while the soft blue-grey begins the colour story that carries through the penthouse.
The new light wood console table brings in the relaxed Hamptons influence, while the glossy white and luminous silver-grey décor gives the entryway its more polished, Tiffany-inspired side.
The floral artwork was relocated from another room—and its background happened to match the new wall colour almost perfectly. We would love to say it was planned, but it was a very happy accident. It also foreshadows another area of the home, where the clients’ existing artwork became the inspiration for a much larger wall treatment.
Before Photos
Kitchen & Wine Bar
In the kitchen, two polished nickel cage pendants replaced the pot lights above the island. Their open frames add presence, while the reflective finish brings a little more sparkle to the white cabinetry and dark wood island and coordinates with the clients’ existing dining room chandelier.
At the wine bar, we replaced the solid MDF shelves inside the glass-front cabinets with glass shelves. Previously, the interior light illuminated only the top shelf; now it filters through the entire cabinet. We relocated the clients’ crystal and glassware here, where the light catches each piece and turns the collection into part of the display. Light styling finished the space without taking away from the glassware.
Kitchen & Wine Bar & Dining Room
The dining room needed a stronger sense of enclosure within the open floor plan. Benjamin Moore Aegean Teal became the defining feature, refreshing the clients’ existing blue palette with a clearer, more vibrant tone. Wall panelling wraps all three sides, giving the colour greater presence while adding architectural depth. We worked the panel layout around the clients’ television and added a final trim detail beside the bulkhead, creating a clean, intentional stopping point for the teal.
At the windows, custom pinch-pleat drapery introduces softness and pattern, with a motif that naturally relates to the clients’ dining chairs. Antique silver-leaf holdbacks sweep the panels into a more traditional silhouette and echo the room’s polished metallic details.
A round pedestal table, relocated from another room, gives the corner a more classic and stately presence. Its dark wood balances the clients’ existing sideboard, while the vase we selected echoes both the room’s colours and its delicate botanical motifs. Layered florals, greenery and considered styling across the dining room give the existing furnishings a fresher, more cohesive setting.
Before Photos
Family Room
The clients had an extensive collection of custom artwork, so we began by cataloguing each piece and identifying those with gold frames that could form a cohesive gallery wall. We also reframed one additional work to bring it into the grouping. Rather than centring the collection on a single wall, we carried it around the corner above the sectional. This composition balances the scale of the large sofa, creates a beautiful view from the entryway and avoids leaving the main wall feeling unfinished.
The existing built-in bookcases received a smaller but equally transformative update. Tiffany blue vinyl grasscloth was installed behind the shelves, adding colour and texture to what had been builder-basic white cabinetry.
An oversized faux tree brings height and softness to the adjoining corner, helping connect the bookcases with the seating area. We completed the room by styling the shelves and layering in accessories that complement the clients’ art and furnishings. The process also inspired a friendly “Unshelf-Off,” with each of us styling one side of the built-ins.
[Watch the Unshelf-Off and vote for the winner!]
Before Photos
Mudroom & Laundry Room
The mudroom cabinetry was already in place, but the bench read as an extension of the hallway storage rather than a space of its own.
Painted in the same Benjamin Moore Aegean Teal used in the dining room, the mudroom carries the refreshed blue palette through the penthouse. A custom bench cushion, patterned with organic Tiffany blue and cream shapes, softens the cabinetry and reinforces the home’s broader colour story.
In the adjoining laundry room, the stacked washer and dryer had been left exposed between the surrounding cabinetry. We added the millwork that should have been considered in the original build: a fitted gable neatly encloses the appliances, while a concealed access panel keeps the plumbing reachable for future maintenance. Additional cabinetry above provides useful storage and gives the laundry area a cohesive, properly built-in appearance. Behind the countertop, beadboard painted in Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere continues the architectural detailing we introduced throughout the penthouse and brings a subtle touch of colour into the room.
Before Photos
Living Room
The windows sit noticeably left of centre on the back wall, so we used drapery to correct the visual balance. Matching the custom pinch-pleat panels in the dining room, the drapery extends beyond the right side of the window. This gives the window wall a more centred composition, while the traditional tailoring brings a more elevated presence to the room.
A larger, lightly coloured rug brightens the seating area and introduces a much softer texture underfoot. We also reupholstered the clients’ ottomans in a more current cream and pale blue pattern, moving away from the heavier blues previously used in the room and towards the lighter Tiffany blue palette established throughout the penthouse.
The remaining furniture was kept, with the transformation coming through carefully chosen layers. Teal-grey plaster lamps, an oversized faux tree and new décor in silver, teal and cream soften the room, while touches of black connect the styling to the clients’ much-loved artwork. Together, these updates give the existing furnishings a lighter and more cohesive setting.
Before Photos
Primary Bedroom
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Before Photos
Bathrooms
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Before Photos
Guest Bedroom
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Before Photos