When Tanya and Daven L. Hines Sr. sold their River Hills home two years ago to move into a glossy new condo inside The BreakWater Condominiums on Milwaukee’s East Side, they vowed to retain coziness. In addition to their son, who attends UW-Madison, they frequently host nieces and nephews, along with both sets of grandparents. As one of 10 children, Daven’s idea of a family party naturally translates to a large gathering.

"Literally, we have every space full when they are here," says Tanya Hines, who loves the condo’s open layout, including a granite kitchen island with eight seats, a sharp contrast to her boxy River Hills home. A five-burner stove, stainless-steel fridge and dark-wood cabinetry — along with an under-counter "beverage center" for guests to grab drinks without disturbing the Hines’ meal preparation — provide a sleek look.

As new empty-nesters they desired a "grown and sexy" look. After working with Lisa Anne Minneti of Peabody’s Interiors, who acted as a "design therapist" to fuse the couple’s contrasting ideas, the result includes zebra-print pillows on a plush sectional the color of mango fruit (flanked by two black leather Ralph Lauren club chairs), sandstone marble in the guest bathroom, a bejeweled chandelier hovering over the glass Regency Art Deco dining-room table (from Italy) and an eglomise mirror with antique panels and silver gilding in the master bedroom. Brought from the River Hills home, which featured an elegant European style, were just a few things, such as a glass sofa table, leather ottoman and two chairs.

Windows line three of the living room walls. The east wall opens up to a deck where the Hines’ host viewing parties of the Milwaukee Air and Water Show, festival fireworks or the beautiful blue of Lake Michigan. Binoculars perched in a corner of the living room further capitalize on their 12th-floor views.

Despite no longer having to mow the lawn or shovel snow, moving from the suburbs to downtown took Tanya Hines a while to adjust, although her husband acclimated immediately, enjoying jogs and bicycle rides along the lakefront. Now, they both enjoy shorter commutes (as a consultant she often hops on the Amtrak train to Chicago, and Daven owns DART Salon & Spa in the Third Ward) and walk or hop cabs to their favorite restaurants, and Milwaukee Bucks games too. "There’s nothing like going to Pasta Tree or Bosley’s or Sunday brunch at The Knick," she says. "It’s more of a walking community. We’re getting to an age where we’re getting older, not old."