While the idea of living in a tower, especially an ivory one. may conjure images of isolation and impracticality, the Bilrmore condomini¬ um residence of Paul Rothman and Geraldine Rosen dispels that notion, and then some. Set in one of the famed edifice’s two original towers, the apartment sits above the penthouse and is a serene oasis where the couple rev els in 360-degree views, an impeccably designed environment by Bruce Bierman and a stellar modern art collection. ■ Though compelling to the current owners when they first saw it. the apartment was in disrepair. It was clear it had to be gutted. Bierman called the original look “faux Versailles,” vet he saw potential. “The space was destined for each room to have great proportions,” he says. ■ For Rothman, the priority was how his art collection would.
Project Name: The Biltmore Palm Beach
Architect Name: Bruce Bierman Design
BY DONNA PAUL | PHOTOGRAPHS BY KIM SARGENT
White Light I Interior designer Bruce Bterman created a seamless transition between the bring room(previous spread left), boasting crisp furniture like the Mansfield Sofa from } Robert Scott, and the terrace, outfitted m Sutherland leaf furniture.One And Only Bur man redesigned the space(opposite) as an expansile one-bedroom apartment The dub
chan is upholstered in a chenille from Glam A Lee jofa mini sheer catches a breezeBathing Beauty i An Art Deco sconce(TOP) from Jean Karajian brightens the master bathroom and the muted palette frames the artWood Works | A desk chair(above) front J Robert Scott is in a bleached sycamore, the only type of wood used throughout the apartment See Resources
work within Bierman’s redesign. For Rosen, ir was simpler. “We didn’t want an opulent apartment, just a beautiful one.”she says. Bierman addressed both requests. Now an ex pan sive, 1.500-square-foot one■ bedroom, the new space is cohe¬ sive, with each room flowing into the other, a result of a tone-on-tone palette.
“With Paul’s passion about his artwork, it was a given that the furniture be subtle and understated,” Bierman explains. Sumptuous linen, silk, wool, chenille and leather range in shades from creamy white to muted beige. Upholstered pieces, such as a vintage 1970s Karl Springer parchment buffet and dining table, blend with Bicrman’s tonal scheme. Splashes of color come courtesy of Picasso, Warhol, Fernand Ltger, Alex Katz and Robert Indiana—and, of course, the view. The apartment has one of the highest van¬ tage points m Palm Beach. A 600-square-foot terrace becomes another room when floor-to-cciling glass doors arc opened and slid into a pocket in the living room wall. While the square footage is not excessive, the high ceilings— 18 feet in the living room, 12 feet in all others—imbue the space with grand proportions. “The ceiling is so high that allowing it to appear detached makes it more ethereal,” the designer explains. The technique also gave space for cove lighting.
To work within such a clean framework required strict atten¬ tion to detail. Bierman made deliberate choices to achieve his sig¬ nature minimalism: streamlined, bur never cold or lifeless. Opting for kitchen cabinetry without hardware, for example, is the kind of couture craftsmanship for which Bierman is known. He designed a simple reveal chat provides the same function as a door pull, bur is expressed as a sleek, elegant detail.
There is a palpable atmosphere of tranquility here, due in parr to the rich, subtle hues of Bicrman’s palette commingling with the Florida sunlight. It makes the space feel profoundly harmonious. Rothman remembers having a dream about another apartment a fewr months before finding the tower space. It looked almost exactly like this one. “1 wanted that apartment, it was so perfect and beautiful,” he says, adding, “but. for me. this is it.”
Soup’s On I The kitchen(opposite) is mi appropriate place to show off a pair of soup cam by An dy Warhol The floors in the kitchen (and throughout) are limestone The cabinetry has no hardware, a minimalist detail that complements a sleek Gaggenau cooktop and a Mtele stainless steel hoodIcons Of Class I Designer Bierman(top righ t) reclines on a while leather Karl Springer bench from Palumbo. The prints of Greta Garhotiere made by Warhol’s printer in one of the artists own designs.
