Beauty, simplicity, and clarity were the guiding concepts in our work on this renovation. The lower floor of the duplex was gutted, preserving only the original wood floors. The ceilings were raised to the maximum possible height, adding light and spaciousness. The color palette was minimal to accentuate the inherent properties of the materials. White kitchen cabinets and Corian countertops along with a Novelda Crème limestone bench in the living room convey minimalism. Splashes of color were added by using unique materials such as a green quartzite and metallic glass turquoise. The new stair has a “hardware-less,” glass railing and is lit by a new skylight. At the top, we created an open study overlooking the upper terrace with built-in desk and bookcases. The master bathroom vanity is also notable, a custom piece carved from Inca Gray limestone in China and shipped to the site.