project highlight

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 A Dream in the Sky: Crafting a 5th-Floor Sanctuary at SkyView

This residence was commissioned by a high-profile client who values privacy as much as perfection. While discretion is always our default, this particular client graciously allowed us to share glimpses of the project, an architectural expression that reflects his personal DNA: understated luxury, modern refinement, and intentional detail at every turn. The result is a home that speaks volumes without ever raising its voice. 

When our client purchased this 5th-floor unit in the iconic SkyView building, he wasn’t just investing in square footage, he was investing in a feeling. He envisioned a space that rose above the ordinary, where light poured in through expansive windows, and every inch reflected calm, clarity, and understated luxury.

He wanted more than finishes. He wanted flow. A living room where people gather and linger. A dining area that invites conversation. A kitchen that feels like part of the home’s heartbeat, not just a functional space.

But it started as a shell: concrete floors, exposed ceilings, and the remnants of a former bank’s framework. He needed a builder who understood more than construction. He needed someone who could translate emotion into architecture and bring his vision to life with precision and grace.

That’s where we came in.

From the studs to the final detail, we guided every step. The result: a serene, modern coastal residence that feels grounded yet elevated. Personalized, but timeless.

This isn’t just a build-out, it’s the realization of what happens when craftsmanship meets clarity of vision.

 The Start of a Full Buid-Out

This unit had never been finished. We were starting from the original structural concrete slab and steel framing. The MEPs were rough, the ceilings were raw, and the layout was undefined. My job was to bring clarity to the chaos, starting with new framing, mechanical reroutes, soundproofing between units, and proper ceiling drops to accommodate lighting, HVAC, and fire suppression.

From the beginning, we focused on flow and precision. Every soffit, every recessed light, every transition between rooms was laid out with intention. We weren’t just building walls, we were creating atmosphere.

This photo captures the early stage of a full interior build-out. At this point, it’s all structure and systems. But behind the drywall and materials, there’s already a story forming. One where the craftsmanship matters, where every trade is coordinated down to the day, and where the final product has to match the level of trust this client placed in me.

Before the Finish: Building the Heart of the Home

This is what the kitchen looked like in its early stages: concrete floors, open ceilings, raw mechanicals, and stacks of materials waiting to become something far greater than the sum of their parts. At this point, the space held no warmth, no light, and no flow. But the vision was already set, and the responsibility was clear.

The client wanted a kitchen that felt calm, elegant, and effortlessly functional, one that would serve as both a showpiece and a space to live in. That meant starting from the structural grid and reworking nearly everything. We reinforced the concrete slab, rerouted electrical and plumbing to support a full suite of integrated appliances, and framed out soffits to accommodate LED lighting, ducted air, and the suspended glass pendants that would later give the space its glow.

Every system, HVAC, sprinkler, and low-voltage, had to be coordinated in advance. We left nothing to chance. This was about creating more than just a working kitchen; it was about precision planning for something that had to feel seamless once complete.

Behind the boxes, tools, and temporary chaos, there was purpose. Every taped seam, every exposed conduit was part of a larger promise, to deliver a finished space that reflected the care, taste, and lifestyle of the person who trusted us to build it.

Framing the Future: The Start of a Master Suite

The layout hadn’t been defined yet, but the intention was already there, the client wanted a space that felt expansive, calming, and deeply personal. This room would be more than a place to sleep. It would be a private retreat, a workspace, and a reflection of his design sensibility.

From a construction standpoint, this phase is all about precision. 

We laid out framing channels to support floating walls and integrated millwork, coordinated plumbing for the en suite bath, and routed electrical for the recessed lighting grid that would later create softness across the ceiling. 

Every stub-out, every conduit, every floor marking was tied to a decision already made, lighting zones, bed placement, motorized shade wiring, HVAC returns, and the AV system.

This was the kind of project that required you to think five steps ahead. There was no margin for guesswork. We were building around finishes that didn’t exist yet matching mechanical systems to future millwork reveals, centering lighting to line up with floating furniture, and embedding infrastructure that would eventually disappear behind quiet, seamless design.

But beyond the technical, what drove every detail was the client’s desire for peace. He wanted a room that felt intentional from the moment you entered simple, tailored, and quietly impressive.

And that’s what we started building right here: a feeling. Wrapped in concrete and conduit, but fully alive with vision.

The Framework of a Future Sanctuary

This is where the master bath began, an open span of concrete, steel, and stubs. No tile. No lighting. Just rough-ins and raw space overlooking the Gulf. But the vision was already forming, and my job was to make sure the foundation matched the level of refinement the client had in mind.

From day one, he described the bathroom not as a utility space, but as a retreat, something open, spa-like, and deeply personal. He wanted to walk in and feel the tension fall away, surrounded by light, water, and natural textures. And to deliver that, we had to start beneath the surface.

The plumbing was rerouted to accommodate a freestanding soaking tub and dual showers with body sprays and flush-integrated linear drains. We framed for a floating vanity setup and pre-wired for mirror lighting, accent lighting, and dimmable LED strips along the ceiling perimeter. 

We recessed the ceiling to create depth and anticipation, while making space for custom ducting and quiet exhaust systems that would never interrupt the atmosphere.

It may not look like much in this photo, but everything that matters starts here. Every line on the floor. Every pipe. Every embedded wire. These are the bones of what would become a calm, polished, high-functioning space designed to make the view feel like part of the room and the room feel like part of a larger story.

Setting the Bones for a Space That Inspires

This wide-open span of concrete and steel was never meant to stay empty, but in this moment, it held the weight of possibility. The client stood here and pointed toward the light. He didn’t need to say much.

 I knew what he was asking for: something calm, something sharp, something that felt right the moment you stepped inside. A place where the day could begin with clarity and end with quiet reflection.

Technically, this stretch of the unit gave us a lot to work with, an uninterrupted run of glass, exposed slab ceilings, and enough depth to layer both private workspace and social seating into one cohesive zone. But it also required discipline. 

We had to map the ceiling grid precisely to accommodate future lighting channels, HVAC ducts, and recessed tracks for automated shades all without interfering with the structural beams or window transoms.

We coordinated layout with millwork early, ensuring the shelving, power outlets, and floating desks would land exactly where they needed to. Pre-wiring was critical, especially for the low-voltage runs that would later support lighting control, AV, and motorized features that had to disappear into the architecture.

But beyond the plans and measurements, this was about honoring a feeling. The client wanted openness, but also order. He wanted the outside view to be ever-present, but never overpowering. And he wanted a space that functioned with quiet intelligence, where every detail had a purpose, and nothing was out of place.