A couple who’d decided to downsize from a large Baltimore home discovered a two-story penthouse in the city’s Guilford neighborhood. Though their taste runs modern and the two-bedroom dwelling in the venerable Warrington building reflected another era—from lavish moldings to ornate fixtures—they loved the layout, proportions and views from the expansive terrace.

After they bought the property, the wife tapped designer Joanne Fitzgerald to revamp the interiors and create a modern, eclectic vibe while respecting the home’s architecture. “Seeing what the place looked like and knowing what she wanted, it was exciting to visualize how we were going to make it hers,” Fitzgerald recalls.

The designer overhauled every inch of the 3,400-square-foot apartment. She transformed the kitchen and three baths, created a bar near the family room and replaced or refinished most of the flooring. Wherever possible, she selected furniture and art from her clients’ collection. “We also brought in modern furnishings and colors that made the traditional elements look that much more spectacular,” she notes.

What influenced your design scheme?
You walk into the apartment and see a gorgeous curvilinear stairway. I suggested we keep that motif going because it’s a very linear space. We selected circular light fixtures and an oval dining table to bring that thread through. 

Explain how art elevates a home.
Original art makes such an impact and is a window into who the homeowners are. I urge clients to take their time and collect artwork that moves them. And whenever they travel, I tell them to get a piece of art—it will be a lifelong reminder of the trip. 

For this project, my client and I went to Montreal together and selected some new art to add to her collection. And we just got back from an art-buying trip to Mexico City and Oaxaca, where we found some outstanding pottery pieces from a family that goes back a few generations.

How do you foster harmony between traditional and modern elements?
When you have an ornate architectural canvas, it’s important to pay homage to it in some respects and contrast it in others. Adding elements with straight lines and materials without much pattern helps achieve the contrast you need.  

There was so much architectural detail in this home that we decided to keep it very quiet. Rather than changing colors in every room, walls are painted the same pale gray—Benjamin Moore’s Bruton White. We kept the moldings the same color but painted them in a high gloss so they really sparkle. 

Why do you paint ceilings a different color?
I firmly believe that the ceiling plane is vastly underutilized and I’m allergic to ceiling white. To create mood, I paint ceilings in very pale, subliminal colors that people don’t immediately recognize. In this apartment, the paint scheme is consistent; all the ceilings are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Gray Sky. 

How did you upgrade the kitchen without breaking the bank?
The existing materials were nice and installed beautifully. The classic cabinet profile looked good with the crown moldings and fit into the building vernacular really well. We decided to keep the cabinets but re-lacquered them in a pale gray; the paint was sprayed on so the cabinets look factory-finished. Finally, we added exquisite new quartzite countertops and polished-nickel hardware. 

What do you achieve by mixing a variety of metal accents?
Metal is the perfect launching pad for making interiors look more modern; the brushed and polished brass that we see a lot now has a modernity to it. One of my favorite things is to mix warm woods and cold metals. 

Describe the family room transformation.
I wanted to have fun in this room, where 10-foot-tall doors open to a spectacular terrace. The Romo wallpaper has a graphic quality that updated the space beautifully; I chose a complementary dark-gray for the accent wall and picture molding. The coffee table made of burled olive wood with acrylic legs is a play on traditional and modern. Overall, the space is casual but still very elegant.

What advice do you offer clients doing condo renovations?
It’s important to talk to building management early on. Find out what you can and cannot do. See if you can get plans, which is not always possible when you’re dealing with an older building. Once you understand how much flexibility you have with plumbing and electrical, you can work from there. 

Shed light on how and when you use wallpaper.
There are some situations where wallpaper can anchor a space and give it the artistic dimension it needs. And there are others where we might need just a little bit of pattern. That was the case in the primary bedroom. Even though the Phillip Jeffries wallpaper is quiet in terms of color, it has a huge impact in scale. I didn’t want to distract with pattern and color—I wanted to attract and create interest without being overwhelming. ■

ASK JOANNE

What are your favorite sources for art?
I love Susan Calloway’s gallery in Georgetown; the work she curates is excellent. I also send clients to the Torpedo Factory where they can get to know what they like and meet the artists. 

Name your favorite bold shade at the moment.
I’m a huge fan of Benjamin Moore’s Raspberry Blush. It’s a warm pink that’s just fantastic. I will probably try it in a bedroom. 

Share a favorite furniture possession.
A dry sink I bought when I was antiquing with my mom. It has a scalloped edge and original zinc lining. I used it as a changing table and later ended up converting it into a bar. My son once carved his name into it, which adds to its history!

What's a good way to update a vintage piece?
I love painting old wood-framed Bergère chairs in a fun color and jazzing them up with new fabric.