HIVE

Shifting Gears

Summer 2022

Designers know to prepare for surprises and setbacks, but how do you handle an entirely new brief on a project? A year into designing a pied-à-terre for a couple, designer Mark Cravotta learned that his clients had decided to divorce. The husband retained the apartment in a sleek downtown Austin high-rise — and Cravotta had to come up with a new vision. He reconceived whole areas, including the kitchen, and maximized the space, transforming a narrow corridor into a home office. A custom shelving unit with frosted glass backing both welcomes light and blocks the views into a nearby office building. Masculine touches come via board-and-batten paneling, a wood-sheathed ceiling in the living room, and vibrant geometric-patterned rugs, all of which contrast with sculptural modern lighting by John Pomp, Ted Abramczyk, and Christophe Delcourt. The final touch? An expansive terrace that’s like a well-appointed gentleman’s club in the sky.