Loring Park Condominium

Project: Loring Park Condominium
Designer: Mark Nelson, Allied Member ASID, AIA
Firm: David Heide Design Studio, Mpls., 612-337-5060

When the owner purchased this Summit House condominium in downtown Minneapolis, the space contained many small, enclosed areas, which made it feel cramped and limited the view of Loring Park and the downtown skyline. “The design concept was to completely remodel the space, establishing an open, modern, and more cosmopolitan aesthetic,” says designer Mark Nelson. The end result is a captivating space that is appropriate for modern living, even though the building itself is nearly forty years old. “It has a New York sensibility,” Nelson adds, “with postcard vistas from nearly every spot in the condominium."

The kitchen and living spaces now flow together—and a lowered ceiling in the kitchen gives the area its own identity and adds intimacy to the space. Nelson says the addition of a steel blue painted ceiling and lighter-toned wood flooring “offers visual contrast that is distinct, but not jarring.” With its clean lines, smooth surfaces, and rich, dark tones, the kitchen “strikes a sophisticated, contemplative counterpoint to the bright lights and natural world seen through the windows on the other side of the living space.”

The modern art and furnishings were chosen for their sophistication and classic lines, but also with comfort in mind. “The owner loved contemporary and modernism, but it was important to him that the space not be too austere,” Nelson says. The final selections offer a touch of color and refined whimsy, which completes the clean feel of this urban home.