WATERFRONT LIVING

Four Condos. Four Different Styles.

Condo construction is on the rise in metropolitan areas, especially cities in the southern and western U.S. And with good reason. 

Living in a condo has its advantages. They are ideal for individuals and families who want to avoid the maintenance of a larger home, travel frequently, want community amenities, or enjoy being close to entertainment and businesses. 

But, there are a few disadvantages that make potential buyers hesitant to select a condo, including a lack of privacy and limited parking. 

Another potential drawback is the myth that condos limit a homeowner’s style and decor, because it is essentially a concrete box. That’s where we beg to differ.

Lisa Gilmore Design wants to inspire you to think outside the box when it comes to condos.

We want to spotlight four condo projects we have designed with four completely different styles.


  1. High Rise, High Style

This 2,000-square-foot condo has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a den. The Lisa Gilmore Design team fully furnished the entire condo and renovated the kitchen and powder room.

Chic and glamorous interior design, luxury condo real estate, St. Petersburg , Tampa Bay, Florida

Lisa Gilmore Design | Seamus Payne Photography

One of our favorite parts of this project was the custom marble backsplash that we designed to go perfectly with the space - it's a true piece of art.

black and white kitchen, marble kitchen backsplash, luxury high rise, st. petersburg, florida

Lisa Gilmore Design | Seamus Payne Photography

The lighting selections, the millwork details in the raspberry-colored den, and the tile in the powder room were highlights as well.


2. Color-Blocked Painters Palette

Our team designed everything in this 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath, and den condo as featured in Florida Design. The project entailed everything from flooring and tile, to lighting, to paint and wallpaper, to all the furnishings.

Colorful, modern and artsy luxury condo in St. Petersburg, Florida

Lisa Gilmore Design | Native House Photography

One of the highlights of this project were the ottomans and area rug (pictured below) that we designed and fabricated exclusively for this home.

colorful and modern luxury interior design, high rise interior design, tampa bay florida

A moody den, complete with custom ottomans by Lisa Gilmore Design | Native House Photography

modern and funky area rug, luxury interior design_ lisa gilmore design

A custom designed area rug by Lisa Gilmore. Lisa Gilmore Design | Native House Photography

Another favorite was the red desk, which was custom designed and made by OTTRA, which is based out of Brooklyn, NY. Lisa met the owners of OTTRA several years ago during the Brooklyn Design Festival, and they were finally able to collaborate on this beautiful desk in the home office/guest room.

colorful home office interior design, bold art, modern living, lisa gilmore design, St. Petersburg, Florida

Lisa Gilmore Design | Native House Photography


3. Artful Art Deco

This 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo was featured in RUE magazine. The LGD team’s design included all the furnishings, converting the dining area into a music lounge, and the guest room into a home office.

art deco eclectic interior design, luxury high rise interior design, st petersburg, florida, lisa gilmore design

Lisa Gilmore Design | Seamus Payne Photography

The client had a wonderful collection of antique area rugs that were a treat to work with.

art deco interior design_eclectic living_antiques and modern living_ luxury high rise, st petersburg, florida, lisa gilmore design

Lisa Gilmore Design | Seamus Payne Photography

She also had several arts and crafts and art deco pieces, which allowed us to capture her spirit, while pairing the pieces with modern items for an updated look.

art deco interior design, eclectic modern interiors, luxury high rise interior design, antiques, st. petersburg, florida, lisa gilmore design

Lisa Gilmore Design | Seamus Payne Photography

art deco interior design, art collection, luxury high rise interior design, moody interior design, st. petersburg, florida, lisa gilmore design

Lisa Gilmore Design | Seamus Payne Photography


4. Fresh Hues Waterfront Retreat

This 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath condo project involved furnishing the entire space and assisting with hard surface selections. Lisa Gilmore Design created a bar lounge area that flows wonderfully with the living room, dining room, and kitchen - the ultimate entertaining set up!

vacation home interior design, coastal interior design, modern interior design, whimsical vacation home, florida waterfront living, lisa gilmore design, florida design

Lisa Gilmore Design | Native House Photography

One of the unique aspects of this project was the amazing use of the space with 80% of the selections being indoor/outdoor items. Because this is a beach condo, this helps increase the longevity of the space, and extend the living areas outdoors. We truly loved all our use of textiles, pattern and color here. It feels so fresh, exciting, and not at all overwhelming.

colorful vacation home interior design, coastal modern interior design, unique beach interiors, lisa gilmore design, waterfront living, florida home

Lisa Gilmore Design | Native House Photography

And, this was also a special project because we designed the banana-leaf chandelier in the living room with a local metalworker and electrician.

coastal interior design, colorful interiors, artsy interior design, luxury waterfront living, florida, lisa gilmore design, porter teleo fabric

Lisa Gilmore Design | Native House Photography

brass banana leaf lighting, chandelier, luxury interior design, unique lighting, lisa gilmore design

Lisa Gilmore Design | Native House Photography

Despite their box-like layout, condos actually make a fantastic blank canvas for a designer to infuse your personality and style into your home. By combining unique colors, custom furnishings and lighting, and luxurious flooring, we can highlight the best features of your space and show off one of the best aspects of condo living– an abundance of natural light and incredible views.

To get more tips, see our projects, and find ideas for adding liveable glamour to your home, follow me on Instagram or sign up for our newsletter.

DESIGN CHAT:: FLORIDA COASTAL WITHOUT CLICHÉ

HOW TO CREATE A UNIQUE COASTAL DESIGN

As the weather warms up for all, beach vibes consume our every day life.  Who doesn't want to be sipping a fruity drink with our toes in the sand?!  Beach decor is everywhere because it's light, airy, and invokes a sense of nostalgia & relaxation.  Just like you don't want to show up to a pool party in the same bathing suit your friend has on, your coastal decor doesn't have to look like everyone else's.

Bright, Fun Color

Blues, greens, oranges, and pinks make a space instantly feel tropical.  Stick to light walls and make your upholstery smile.  Using different textures of fabrics will make your space less sugary sweet.

IMG_1899.jpg

Airy, Monochromatic

If color is fear inducing, you can stick to the contrast of white and navy for a rich, coastal feel. The light walls with the white upholstery and the navy accents allow for the natural light outside to be part of the color palette.

Lisa Gilmore Design Lakehouse Sancturary

Lisa Gilmore Design Lakehouse Sancturary

Natural Elements

Whether it is an amazing piece of artwork for your walls or a piece of furniture, part of the coastal theme is definitely keeping to nature.  

Gray Malin Photograph "Retro Miami Beach Club, Diagonal"https://graymalin.com/photography/retro-miami-beach-club-diagonal

Gray Malin Photograph "Retro Miami Beach Club, Diagonal"

https://graymalin.com/photography/retro-miami-beach-club-diagonal

Phillips Collection Waterfall Console Table

Phillips Collection Waterfall Console Table

We once had a client say that when he walked into a coastal room he wanted to feel relaxed and like he should be drinking a Corona.  Coastal decor should be just that: fun and relaxing.  

Sun-kissed noses and sandy toes,

kristin signature.jpg

DESIGN PROJECT:: TRANSITIONAL PATTERN MIXING

A few weeks ago, we shared this beautiful dining room space, with you. We had such a great time mixing patterns, lighting and textures in the room. We also carried the palette through their family room and kitchen nook! 

In case you missed it, here is a quick image of the dining room, (and here is the full story)

When we designed the rest of the spaces adjacent, we wanted to carry the same color tones and pattern mixing throughout. We certainly didn't want to repeat any patterns either.  So we got to work pulling different options for lighting, drapery, and pillows. 

In the entry way we used this really amazing chandelier, it truly is a work of art. The mercury glass and metal make a fantastic statement piece when you walk in the door. I was so happy when our client approved this piece, I may have danced a little! 

Our client's existing furniture was rather on the darker and more traditional side, so we wanted to lighten up the space and give it some modern elements and interest. Our common color throughout their home was a beautiful watery blue hue. 

For the drapery we chose a fabric with a lovely allover paisley pattern, with the slightest sparkle in the thread. We paired it with a golden linear pattern, water blue texture and fun trim details on the pillows. All together it compliments their existing area rug so nicely. 

We couldn't resist the scale like pattern of this table lamp. It is such a beautiful piece that is subtle and eye catching all at once!

Because our client lives on the water on Boca Ciega Bay, we of course wanted to embrace the waterfront lifestyle, without throwing starfish and seahorse all over. So we chose to accessorize with a few coral pieces and sea creatures rather than allow them to be direct focal points. Another thing that I love to accessorize with is old books, there are so many varieties of colors and styles to have fun with!

In the kitchen nook, we wanted to keep having fun with the pattern mixing and watery blues, however, we decided to introduce a fun pop of crimson and coral. Our client decided to keep their existing light fixture, so we decided to modernize the space with bolder patterns in the custom window treatments and fabric we chose to recover the chairs with. 

All in all we are very pleased with how their space turned out! It is a lovely marriage of traditional and modern, with a healthy dose of pattern mixing to make this quite the lively transitional space!

All photography by: Native House Photography