W Penthouse Residence

High on the 35th floor of the W Residences in Austin, this penthouse pairs floor-to-ceiling city and river views with a collector’s ever-changing art collection. The homeowner curates her pieces herself, and works rotate through the apartment as new discoveries arrive. The design had to be flexible, not fixed. Our response was a calm, timeless backdrop that lets the art take center stage. Soft textures and jewel-toned color give the rooms depth without competing with the walls or the windows. A custom rug in teal and gold sets the palette in the living room, and a modular sofa can be turned to face the view or the fireplace. Sculptural lighting was placed carefully so that it fills the volume of the room and leaves the skyline clear. The rounded edges and velvet upholstery in the dining area reflect the client’s preference for smooth, tactile forms. Because there are few walls in the apartment, storage became an important part of the work. Working with builder Wilmington-Gordon, we reworked the entry with a larger coat closet and art shelves, added concealed storage and pull-out nightstands in the guest suite, and turned the media room beside the primary suite into a walk-in closet. In the primary suite, the bed is angled toward the bend in the river. Layered textiles and a crystal-studded canopy that catches the city lights keep the room restful. Above all, the W Penthouse is meant to be a calm place to live with art. Color and texture give the rooms stability, and nothing pulls attention away from the collection or the view. As new works arrive and the rooms are rearranged, the interior stays quiet so the eye always knows where to look.