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FeedThe Height of Living
A dynamic duo combines talents to create a dream home on high.
(page 2 of 4)
The starting point was a Provence-inspired painting of fall flowers in a classic blue-and-white vase. Cathy spied the piece during a visit to Winterthur Museum & Country Estate, and was immediately smitten.
“It makes me feel good when I look at it,” she says. “The colors are so warm and welcoming.”
That palette of gold, rust and terra cotta flows throughout the condo, an earthy counterpoint to the cool, contemporary lines of the architecture. To find furniture to complement that vibe, the Rossis searched from Wilmington to Washington, D.C., to cyberspace.
Cathy spied the curved, clean-lined sofa during a business trip to Alexandria, Virginia. She and Jimmy hopped a train to New York City to check out a French Moderne desk. A large, exuberant floral painting in a crackle finish traveled from only as far as Pala Brothers in Wilmington. And the charming still life in the kitchen was painted by Cathy when she was a little girl.
Wasdyke also shared such tricks of the trade as mounting the toilet paper holder on the half wall that separates the toilet from the tub, so it wouldn’t be the first thing seen when entering the bathroom. She also suggested the Rossis replace the solid wood headboard on their bed with a wrought iron piece.
“It doesn’t block the view,” she says. “You can see right through it.”
She also found ways to integrate family pieces into the design. Vintage milk glass pitchers and bowls collected by Cathy’s mother found a home in glass-front display cupboards mounted above the upper kitchen cabinets. Dozens of framed family photos are artfully arranged on a gallery wall.
“Terri will hold your hand as little or as much as you want—and sometimes squeeze it,” Cathy says.
The open floor plan gave the Rossis lots of options. In the expansive great room adjoining the kitchen, they chose to devote square footage to the conversation area rather than designate a formal dining space. A console table expands the possibilities by opening up to seat six people. When the Rossis entertain on a large scale, they reserve the River Tower’s community room.
Page 3: The Height of Living, continues...
