When one considers downsizing, one doesn’t usually think of a 4500 square foot condo in a high rise. But that’s exactly what Valerie and Gil Clausen of Denver, had in mind. The newly empty nesters yearned for city living, fresh, modern spaces, and views of the Rockies.  They found it in a new development and bought the unfinished flat just in time to design the interiors themselves. And, lucky for them, they knew just who to call on for the design. Jenny Tate of Tate and Burns Architects in Essex is Valerie’s sister and (like most sisters) can practically read her mind.

For Jenny, it was a dream job. She was charged with making sense of the layout, choosing furniture and finishes, while highlighting their beloved art collection and incorporating family heirlooms into the mix. The result was precisely what the Clausen’s dreamed of: modern furniture from the likes of B&B Italia and Fritz Hansen suit the lofty space, while pieces they already owned found new homes. Emphasizing clean lines, natural materials, and a subtle color range, the rooms, though expansive, have a warm feel. Jenny is a genius when it comes to details: a glamorous marble dividing wall houses a gas fireplace, a handy niche above the free-standing tub holds soap, pull out trays dry hand washables in the laundry room (JEALOUS), and completely flush-to-the-wall outlets in the kitchen are faux painted to match the stone. Oh, and the TV rises silently from underneath the honed marble kitchen counters.

View Tate + Burns work on their website (including my master bath!):  www.tateburnsarch.com