Best Seat in the House

The view from a fourth-floor condo at The Ravello can relax even the tightest-wound individuals. Although there is some noise from nearby highway traffic, the condos are set atop a hill, far enough back from the road to see the tidy shops at Briarcliff Village, beautiful landscaping, a nature trail and an abundance of trees from the shady, cozy 330-square-foot balcony.

And, even better, one doesn't have to be outside to enjoy the view. The condo's living room and kitchen, beset with windows, look out onto the balcony and the landscape beyond.

To keep the view unobstructed, Arlene Ladegaard, interior designer and owner of Design Connection Inc., flanked the windows with simple, soft brown curtains made of natural material. This warm, comfortable and uncomplicated theme runs throughout the living space, which is awash in neutral brown and blue tones.

The design of the condo was tailored to fit the current owner, who moved in last fall from a home on the Plaza. Though he enjoyed living there, the streets were always bustling with activity, and he wanted to move north without being too far outside the city. At The Ravello, he's just minutes from downtown and the airport, all while enjoying an atmosphere that is laid back with less foot traffic and more animal sightings.

The homeowner hired Arlene after realizing that their two styles meshed from her website portfolio and gave her almost free reign on the design.

The process took about three months to complete, and Arlene says it was amazingly simple, choosing most of the fabrics, furniture and artwork at North Carolina's High Point Market.

Arlene describes the condo as transitional — with neutral, monochromatic tones that are uncluttered but more softly contemporary than modern design. She had the ceilings painted to match the walls and specified little use of trim and molding on the ceilings and archways in the entrance, providing a clean, contemporary look that she says is found in areas like California, rather than what is seen locally.

“I kept it urban with no moldings, clean lines and the accessories were kept minimal with a definite place in mind when purchasing,” she says. “The lines on the furnishings were kept clean and straight. The fabrics were kept with almost no pattern to accentuate the beautiful artwork.”

The owner of the condo says he plans to live there for a long time and describes the design as luxurious, filled with furniture and art that will stand the test of time.