The warm chocolate tones in the living room soften the stark coolness of the metal-trimmed glass. Mixing textures and patterns, with a limited palette of color, makes the small square footage seem spacious and luxurious. Wilke, who handled much of the construction himself, built out the room’s southeast corner, covering it with Venetian plaster that he painted a milk chocolate tone. The build-out took what was essentially a useless corner and converted it for a plasma television and computer.

Most people wisely choose to evacuate during a major home renovation. But few move to such an amazing location as Jamie Wilke and his family. Wilke is the owner of Jamie Wilke Interiors. The Wilkes, Jamie, Heidi and daughters Morgan and Madison, are temporarily residing in their 1,550-square-foot, fifth-floor Milwaukee condo overlooking Lake Michigan. The condo is home for now while the family is renovating their new home in Delafield.

A side benefit to the relocation? The couple is closer to their new store, which opened in Milwaukee’s Third Ward last October.

Using a color palette of sable chocolate, cream and spa blue, the apartment-turned-condo reflects a warm yet very urban feel. "The style has a very clean look," says Wilke. "It functions well in a small condo."

The third bedroom of the former three-bedroom unit, which the Wilkes have owned for 18 years, has been converted into a "martini" room. With club chairs covered in a luscious creamy white leather, sable paint on the walls, deep mahogany wood pieces and black and white photos of the Rat Pack and "The Godfather," it’s a great place to unwind.

The floors throughout the space are crafted from layered veneers of black walnut finished with an espresso stain. The floor actually "floats" on the concrete. Frosted glass doors let light in, creating a sense of openness that’s welcome in a smaller space.

The Wilkes have an enviable view from their living room. To the south, the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Calatrava Brise Soleil command attention. Straight ahead is the marina drawing the eye to the blue of Lake Michigan. "It’s as beautiful in the winter as it is in the summer," says Wilke. "The view is worth a million dollars."

	The kitchen was created within all-concrete walls, using every square inch to the best possible configuration. The Wilkes’ unit is one of the few in the building that contains both a cooktop and double oven. A pull-out pantry and dishwasher drawers make the most of the limited space. Rare African granite in a striking black and metallic gold was installed on the countertops and backsplash. The durable Venetian plaster on the walls mimics the plaster found behind the plasma television in the corner of the living room. Curvilinear pendant lighting moves from the kitchen into the hallway.
The chef’s prep sink provides a unique, yet functional space in the master bathroom. The elongated basin allows two people to make use of it at the same time. "It’s a source of conversation," admits Wilke. Steam showers were installed in both full bathrooms and creamy marble tiles add depth without feeling cold. The grass cloth on the walls and ceiling is continued on the walls of the master bedroom.
	Pendant lighting and a three-layered stripe of sable and cream connects the living spaces with the bedrooms. "Because the square footage is tight, there’s color correlation throughout," says Wilke. Most of the original art hanging on the walls was purchased by the Wilkes at Open Canvas, an annual event hosted by the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. m