On the Market/Condo Life: Luxury furnishings complete the high-rise lifestyle

By Valerie Sweeten, Condo Life Correspondent

Published 12:00 am, Sunday, June 24, 2018

So, you’ve moved into a beautiful condo, and it’s time to find the perfect, high-end, luxury furniture and accessories to accent your space, but you don’t know where to start.

With spacious concepts, high ceilings and generous windows, getting the right layout with the right pieces is important.

ViacMiami.com’s article, Essential Luxury Condo Decorating Tips, stated that your choice of furniture is important. Elegant and simple designs are a must, but so are your color choices. In smaller rooms, darker furniture can make a room appear bigger, but white and soft pastel colors on both furnishings and walls also enhance the space.

In addition, don’t neglect special touches for walls, table sides and accents, the article stated. Whatever accessories you choose, make sure to pick bright color palette, as they open up space, making it brighter and pleasing to the eye.

At BeDesign, 2016 West Alabama, brands such as FlexForm, B&B Italia, Molteni&C, Fendi Casa, Roda, Paola Lenti, Zanotta, Gallotti & Radice, Meridiani, and more are sold. BeDesign works with Realtors as well as professional and individual clients.

Adrian Duenas, CEO and curator of the BeDesign product portfolio, enjoys working to complete his client’s dream vision for their home with lighting, furnishings and accessories.

“We’re here to guide the client from what trend they’re looking for, from classic to modern. The room comes to life by starting with the color and material of the flooring, then focusing on the type of lighting, with either natural or spotlights,” he said.

Specialty lighting, textures, accessories and mixing styles can have an enormous effect on the space, he said.

“Lighting can change the color, texture,” Duenas said. “Velvet is so trendy right now. You can have gray or beige, and then add a pop of color with a nice rug or pillow. You have to create a harmony, a lifestyle. It’s the mix. It’s the transition with an old table with contemporary chairs. Everything comes to a point of a livable, enjoyable environment where you have the aesthetic and comfort side. It’s very, very important.”

At CASA, 2800 Kirby, high-end brands are featured, including Giorgetti, Poltrona Frau, Rimadesio, Listone Giordano, Elam Kitchens by Tisettanta, Viabizzuno and Tacchini, as well as others.

CASA is the brainchild of Houston real estate veterans Jerry Hooker and Jacob Sudhoff, known for developing and designing some of the city’s most luxurious residential projects such as Giorgetti Houston, The Sophie at Bayou Bend and Riva at the Park.

Catering to industry experts as well as hoteliers and homeowners, CASA’s clients visit the store to select their flooring, technical and decorative lighting, furniture, doors, cabinetry, and closets. Their expertise is available for advising how to best use furniture pieces.

Hooker, managing partner of CASA, said when furnishing a condo, strategic furniture placement is key to functionality in order to take advantage of views or control less desirable views. Square footage is also a major factor, he said.

“Utilizing the furniture layout to keep floor space open and flexible gives more opportunity for events, holidays and everyday use,” he said. “Pocket and barn doors are great to open up additional living areas while retaining private space. Integrated closet and storage systems allow for specific and custom needs to be met. Planning these spaces in advance and with the condo layout in mind will help keep style present while maintaining functionality.”