The two-story condo in the Marine Terminal Lofts overlooks the Milwaukee River and the city beyond. Furniture groupings create intimate spaces in the open-concept floor plan.

In designing her condo atop the Marine Terminal Lofts in Milwaukee’s Third Ward, the homeowner, a Gen X business executive, had an eclectic wish list for Greg Holm and Lisa Manetti, designers with Peabody’s Interiors in Whitefish Bay. "I was going for a vintage, modern, contemporary look — a bunch of oxymorons actually," the owner says. "I wanted a little bit of everything. I wanted it to reflect who I am."

At the time she was working on the local fashion scene, so that influenced some of her tastes, Holm says. A hand-crafted Nama Rococo wallpaper — French Dot Ooh La Black — that she had seen in a trade magazine became the designers’ inspiration piece. "It became a piece of art and a jumping off point for the color scheme," Manetti says.

The mixing of old and new, vintage and contemporary, created a unique vibe, Holm says.

In the two-story open concept unit, the floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Milwaukee River are the structural highlight, Holm says. But the key to the space, the homeowner and designers agree, is its flexibility. "The furniture can adapt to her changing mood," Manetti says, whether she’s entertaining a large group or just a few close friends. "Just by grouping the furniture, it kind of delineates the space," Holm says. "The mobility of the floor plan allows her to flip the dining room wherever she wants."

The condo owner says the space has the earthiness she was seeking. "I really wanted a place that was casual and homey and that I could entertain in," she says. "I wanted a place that could have movement — the flexible space encompasses all the things that I’m interested in."

The homeowner’s extensive art collection, which includes pieces by Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns, is displayed prominently throughout the condo. "I’ve been assembling it my entire life," the owner says of the artwork. "I come from a family that is very interested in art."

The designers combined the owner’s love of art and textiles with a bold color palette to make the space a unique reflection of their client. "Overall, I think it looks modern and fresh," Holm says.

"There is no way that I would have been able to get it to the place it is on my own," the owner says. "I have a very strong vision, but it’s always helpful to have people who do this for a living and have the know-how to put it all together." 

A hand-pleated paper wall covering makes a statement in the sophisticated master bathroom. The vanity top and tub deck are granite; the cabinetry is cherry.
	The kitchen features granite countertops, cherry cabinetry and a walk-in pantry.