In the real estate market, sometimes opportunity knocks and you have to respond. Even though you’ve only been in your current home for four years. Even though you weren’t looking to downsize for another five years. And even though you already have your hands full looking for a condo in Florida.
This was the less-than-convenient situation a couple found themselves in when they heard about plans for Hampstead Park in Mariemont. The 18-unit project, developed by Greiwe Development, North American Properties, and Sibcy Cline, would offer them a walkable neighborhood, the lock-and-leave ease of condo living and the chance to design their space with the help of their longtime friend Douglas Greiwe, principal designer with Greiwe Interiors.
Although the timing wasn’t ideal, it was all too good to pass up.
“We thought we better seize the opportunity,” the owner says.
Getting in early
Hampstead Park was just a concrete slab when they put down their deposit. Like many owners in Greiwe’s five condo developments in Mariemont, the couple was looking to scale back on square footage but also shift their lifestyle.
“Our kids had all left town and we knew we were going to be seasonal (in Ohio). And we realized we were only using two or three rooms out of a big house,” the owner says of their previous home in Indian Hill.
Located on Miami Road, Hampstead Park is a short walk to the restaurants, shops and entertainment options in Mariemont’s village square. And that’s by design.
“Owners of our residences have purchased a lifestyle, not just a condo,” says Rick Greiwe, principal of Greiwe Development. The developer intentionally selects properties that are within a block of town centers so that “the community is the condo owner’s amenity,” he says.
For this couple, the location was a key selling point, and a unit on the third floor sealed the deal. Beyond offering beautiful views of Mariemont’s historic buildings and mature trees, the 10 and 11-foot vaulted ceilings and expansive windows “make it feel so much larger,” the homeowner reflects.
An old friend on board
After signing on the dotted line, the couple immediately began collaborating with Douglas Greiwe to take their style a little lighter and brighter. Having worked together for 28 years on four projects, “they really just trusted us,” Greiwe says.
Starting with the couple’s colorful artwork and a few furniture pieces from their previous home, the team found the sweet spot between traditional and transitional. Warm wood finishes and classic elements bring depth while powerful patterns and simple lines infuse fresh energy.
“It’s just a cleaner style all around,” Greiwe says.
The power of patterns
While the couple replaced their mahogany dining room set with a fresher farm-style table, furniture throughout the dining and living areas has traditional lines. Yet, graphic elements take the look to a transitional place. In the dining room, ladder-back chairs pair with a honeycomb-patterned rug and overlapping circles on the front of a sideboard. In the great room, an abstract animal print and modified paisley offer an update on classic designs, as well as the rolled arms and nailhead trim of two sofas and the turned legs of an end table.
Wallpaper is a major player throughout the home’s décor—even where it’s barely perceptible, but it really shines in the baths.
In the master bath, a spunky stylized animal print winks at the poise of a crystal chandelier while continuing an ethereal blue hue from the bedroom. And in the powder room—a favorite place for statement-making wallcoverings—the vibrant energy of an oversized floral pattern places the elegant vanity, gilded mirror and traditional sconces in a playful light.
Traditional warmth
To balance the condo’s vaulted ceilings and calming palette, the designers introduced warm wood and iron finishes. Engineered walnut flooring runs throughout the living space while beams in the kitchen and great room help “bring the ceiling down and make it feel cozier,” says Elizabeth Longaberger, associate designer with Greiwe Interiors. The coziness continues when the Town and Country fireplace glows on a wall opposite the two sofas.
In the white kitchen, wood paneling accentuates the glassware and serving pieces displayed in glass-front cabinets, contributing to a furniture-like look. And although light fixtures in the kitchen, great room and dining room have clean lines, the iron finish gives them warmth and dimension.
A new way of life
During the construction phase, the couple lived in their newly purchased Florida home. When their Hampstead Park condo was finished last May, they settled into the Mariemont community that’s just as enjoyable as they’d imagined. “We love being in an active neighborhood,” the owner says. “We walk to dinner quite often.”
Now that both new homes are in place, the snowbirds plan to split their time between Ohio and Florida.
“It was a lot of change all at once, but it’s been worth it,” the owner says.
RESOURCES Builder/Developer North American Properties/Greiwe Development, Rick Greiwe; Interior, kitchen and bath design Douglas Greiwe, Greiwe Interiors; Architect Sari Lehtinen, M+A Architects; Lighting, furniture, mantel, window treatments, accessories Greiwe Interiors; Fireplace Town and Country, Bromwell’s; Kitchen and bath cabinetry Kitchen Views Cabinetry; Countertops and backsplash Sims-Lohman; Appliances Thermador dishwasher, range, refrigerator, and U-Line Wine cooler, Keidel; Sinks Kohler, Keidel; Kitchen faucets Greiwe Interiors; Bath and shower tile Carpetland Carpet One; Tub Kohler; Paint Sherwin-Williams; Flooring Schumacher & Co.; Windows Renewal by Andersen; Landscape designer Martin Koepke Design; Architectural landscape lighting and design Rob Ellis
Article by Amy Howell Hirt/Photos by Daniel Feldkamp
Article originally appeared in Housetrends Cincinnati – March/April 2020