Highly Dramatic

From the minute you walk through the front door, you are treated to a sleek, stylish interior—a study in black and white with bold splashes of green, like a breath of fresh air or a smooth jazz number by Kenny G. Floor to ceiling windows offer a birds-eye view of The Pier, boats in the St. Petersburg Marina and people strolling the downtown city streets.

The interior's uncluttered minimalist ambience is so unexpected. Yet it's a perfect fit for Signature Place, one of Tampa Bay's most distinctive luxury residential towers, with its architectural design resembling a large sail on a sleek boat.

Inside the condo, the first thing you notice is an oversized photo of a tree, its stark black trunk and branches highlighted by graceful green leaves. The enormous photo is divided into 12 acrylic panels mounted free form and frameless on the wall. Like everything else in the home, it's sculptural and captivating. It also sets the stage for what's just around the corner.

The kitchen, dining area and living room all flow together to make the home seem more spacious. Green and gold blown glass globes hang over the granite kitchen countertops, while the dining room features iconic Knoll Platner chairs, a retro 1960s style that is very hot right now.

The home's interior reflects the discriminating taste of the owners, Dr. and Mrs. A. K. Desai's, as well as Michelle Jennings Wiebe of Studio M Interior Design, the primary interior designer for much of Signature Place.

Everywhere you look, Michelle has recreated the condo’s black, white and green color scheme, even in the commissioned painting by abstract artist Alberto Murillo that hangs between the dining room and the living room.

A sleek, low-slung white Italian leather sofa dominates the living room, which also features a green, black and white geometric patterned carpet, a black swivel Jehs & Laub chair and a custom white and black lacquer media center with flat screen TV. Small art pieces in green and black decorate the shelves of the media center, giving the room a streamlined, gallery feel.

The master bedroom is equally dramatic with its sumptuous Italian-made bed and upholstered leather headboard. A crystal teardrop light fixture hangs over the bed, while a series of framed mirrors in various sizes create an interesting work of art on the wall.

The guest bedroom has the glamour of luxurious white and black bed linens that designer Michelle calls very upscale hotel-esque. Textured wallpaper behind the bed is hung horizontally rather than vertically to give it a more contemporary flair. A fun black swivel chair allows guests to sit and contemplate the gorgeous view out the window.

Although Dr. Desai and his wife have a home in St.Petersburg’s Snell Isle neighborhood just a few miles away, the condo serves as a close-by weekend retreat, as well as a corporate apartment for entertaining clients.

“We enjoy the location right in the heart of downtown’s many amenities,” says Dr. Desai. “We like to leave the car behind and just walk around; it’s a very attractive feature of being here. We’re proud to be part of the transformation that is happening in downtown St. Petersburg.”