This prominent couple made their mark on a raw space at Two Liberty Place.
Bathed in neutral hues and subdued metallic accents, a prominent couple build their art deco dream home high in the sky.
There it was, looming above as they rounded a corner of the 2,400- square-foot terrace— squat and shiny and thisclose. The steeped spire of One Liberty Place was a metaphoric cherry on top that sealed the deal for two homebuyers already enchanted by the possibilities of the expansive 46thfloor residence in its sister tower.
“I thought the sight of it was just amazing,” laughs the distaff side of the couple. “I felt like Spider-man.”
Sold! Th is prominent couple decided to relocate from Rittenhouse Square for the chance to put their stamp on the completely raw space at Two Liberty Place, which grew to 5,550 square feet when they combined three apartments. In 2009, they moved into their new residence, opening a custom front door that had been stained a dark hue, adorned with a silver knocker and fl anked by two alabaster sconces.
Inside, Philadelphia-based interior designer Colby Cauchon Lakhmna and carpentry company Fab Dubrunfaut Woodworking crafted an oval foyer that serves as the perfect introduction to what waits beyond. Shimmering silver wallpaper plays off of a silver, ebony and gold mosaic tile fl oor, while a geometric brass chandelier that once graced a Parisian hotel hangs continued…
from a ceiling painted in silver leaf.
Next, the designers worked on composing a setting for the couple’s one- of- a-kind art deco furnishings and accent pieces. They pulled the entryway’s glittering tones throughout the home to add bling to the taupes, ivories and grays of the master suite and its twin dressing rooms, the stainless- and granite- clad kitchen, and the lavish bathrooms. The subdued palette takes a back seat to the vividly hued art and collectibles, which range from an original painting by Bob Dylan (the couple are huge fans) to works from the French ceramics workshop, Longwy, whose creations resemble cloisonné.
And while the diamantine sparkle of the couple’s collection of Daum and Lalique crystal ensures a cool elegance, pops of purple, wide- planked walnut fl ooring, and a museum’s worth of built-in cabinetry crafted from exotic woods like Macassar ebony, Swiss pear wood and pommele veneer add warmth and texture to the home. continued…
Extra touches abound. Not one but two laundry rooms; not just a 1,500- bottle wine room but an entire butler’s pantry; not just a fireplace in the living room but a sleek bioethanol version that frames a picture- perfect view of the PSFS building.
When the couple sell this mansion in the sky, it’s those vistas— of mesmerizing bridges and neon-lit skyscrapers— that they’ll miss most. As will the many guests who have gathered for evening soirées and family parties over the years. Pointing to the Delaware River sparkling in the distance, the homeowner thinks particularly of her five grandchildren, all under the age of 6. “They call it ‘the beach’,” she says with a laugh. Melanie Stecura, Kurfiss Sotheby’s International Realty, 1631 Locust St., Ste. 300, 215.735.2225, kurfiss.com