Partnering with a repeat client, Jennifer Kole of Jenami Designs transforms a high-rise condo into a stylish, contemporary haven.
The den features striking Scalamandré Bent Wood wallpaper, a Four Hands Oranda coffee table and a sofa upholstered in Onza bouclé fabric.
The Client
For a pair of empty nesters, their next chapter marked a shift toward refined living, moving beyond the typical snowbird lifestyle to embrace a chic, urban retreat that would reflect their love for city life and modern style. Their Gold Coast high-rise became an ideal setting for their vision. They enlisted Chicago-based designer Jennifer Kole of Jenami Designs, whom they had known for years through their children, and first worked with on a project for their Florida home—ultimately leading to their next venture together. “[The client] followed my design work via social media and reached out to me to do some soft surface finishes on her Palm Beach condo during the pandemic,” says Kole. “In the midst of that project, she purchased the apartment and we started on that immediately.”
A custom-built piece by Mica Furniture in the living room is complemented by a Calacatta Borghini slab from Calia Stone fabricated by Becker Works, with a variety of accessories from Views, Arteriors and Inside Home Chicago.
The Priority
When the clients purchased the penthouse property, it was ”bare bones,” explains Kole, with basic, builder-grade finishes and a few custom pieces that had to be removed and redesigned. Their goal was to create an elevated, more contemporary aesthetic, so Kole focused on removing elements that didn’t fit their style and replacing them with more refined, modern materials that better suited their vision for the space.
A Jennifer Kole-designed vanity fabricated by Mica Furniture plus Ann Sacks tile and an Urban Craft stool complete the primary bathroom.
The Challenge
Maneuvering the project’s oversize custom pieces—from a 10-foot marble panel for the built-in to a custom double-sided sectional sofa—through a modestly sized elevator called for some creative wrangling, says Kole. “Some of the upholstery pieces had to be upholstered and fabricated on-site to avoid unsightly seams.”
Highlights of the primary bedroom seating area include framed works from Andy Blank’s Gradient Dot series, a custom sofa upholstered in Dedar fabric from Holly Hunt and a chic custom Urban Craft table.
The Details
Kole added custom built-ins and furniture throughout to give the space personality and make it feel unique. She also created a den with custom glass walls and transformed the kitchen with marble countertops, split cabinetry (faux wood on the bottom and lacquered on top) and inverted hardware. “I’m extremely proud of the custom built-in in the main room,” shares Kole. “The mix of materials and the asymmetry came together beautifully.”
A pair of photographs by Carla Coulson from the Young Girl in Bloom series paired with a Rove Concepts Angelo bed and a vintage lamp make for a chic guest bedroom.
The Outcome
“She raves about it,” sums up Kole of the client’s response to the completed project. “She tells me that when she’s in Palm Beach she misses her Chicago home every day because of the thoughtful nature of the design.”
Photography by: HEATHER TALBERT
