After relocating to Pittsburgh from the West Coast, the owners of this new-build condo in Bakery Square came to find it was the just-right location to put down permanent roots in Pittsburgh.
They called on Studio Lithe to elevate the space and make it increasingly their own. “We were able to come in and say, ‘We can jump this up a level. It can be even more bespoke. It can be more custom,’” says Principal/Designer Morgan Stewart. She saw a major opportunity to improve its builder-grade finishes and details.
Studio Lithe’s Modern and Productive Inspiration
In all aspects of the design, Stewart led with the question: How can we make this space really fit your needs, day in and day out? This approach aligned with the homeowners’ professional values. They work in tech, where that connection to User Experience (UX) design and research informed many of their conversations with Stewart.
Her goal? To make the experience of living there as frictionless, beautiful, and functional as possible.
With the build being so new, Stewart likens the project to a “blank slate.” “That gave us a bigger opportunity to dream up what it could be. The homeowners were looking for something that was a retreat for their family. This means harmonious, beautiful and serene, with thoughtful use of color and art. Everything feels pretty neutral, but then there are these fun pops of color throughout.”
Right off the bat, replacing builder-grade fixtures was a must. “Redoing them to make the things that you actually touch and feel much more elevated and elegant.”
Additionally, there are new solid doors, a refreshed, sculptural handrail leading the way up to all four floors. We see carefully chosen hardware, plumbing and lighting fixtures that make “a world of difference.”
The welcoming kitchen is now home to custom, whitewashed red oak kitchen cabinetry, a dining bench, and bar by Drury Cabinetry. “I love doing this because I feel the actual experience, the user experience, in the end is exponentially better when we do something like build custom cabinets,” says Stewart. “We are very obsessed with hospitality. And so, we tend to talk a lot about where the center of the home is, how people use it, how people entertain.”
Connecting Minimalism and Creativity
Not only that, but the office suite-slash-creative zone invites the user to settle in, ideate, and focus, with custom built-ins. These include a hidden desk, cabinets, shelving and worktable. The master bedroom is home to a custom walnut bed with built-in side tables and a walnut wardrobe cabinet. These elements were crafted in collaboration with local designer and fabricator, Bones & All.
How about a moment for the big, beautiful bathroom tile? “When we pitched it, we were like, “This is a little bit of a reach, and it’s a little bit weird,” says Stewart. The risk paid off. The clients immediately said yes. The strong pattern, just like the geometric-print fabric bench in the kitchen and the graphic artwork in the office, flows with the modern, minimalist elements throughout.
Overall, the aesthetic calls back to the couple’s time in San Francisco, their personal style, their love of art (Stewart pulled from their existing collection to create focal points throughout), and their penchant for Scandinavian design. Other essential requirements: clean lines and keeping areas clear of clutter.
Now, what was once a basic yet beautiful condo is a living space that’s durable, long-lasting, practical, and pleasing to live in. “The space felt fully transformed by the time we were done with it,” says Stewart. In other words, good design makes life better.
To explore more of Studio Lithe’s work, read here.
Story by Nicole Barley
Interior Design and Photography by Studio Lithe
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