Condos
August 14, 2023
Two Designers Turned Their Downtown Saskatoon Penthouse Into A High-Fashion Escape
Saskatchewan natives and designers Curtis Elmy and Trevor Ciona couldn’t believe their luck when they nabbed a penthouse at coveted No. 1 River Landing in downtown Saskatoon — the condo development completely sold out the first weekend of sales. “We always dreamed of living in a high-rise,” says Curtis, “but Saskatoon is such a small city.” Situated along the bank of the South Saskatchewan River with views of the intricate bridge system that lends Saskatoon the moniker “Paris of the Prairies,” the residential tower is part of the River Landing development that has helped inject new life and energy into the riverfront.
In 2016, after purchasing during preconstruction, the two principal designers of Atmosphere Interior Design spent the next three years working with the developers’ construction team to customize their dream home. “We didn’t want to go through the process of picking from the builder’s finishes only to turn around and renovate, so we negotiated to use our own trades and finishes,” says Trevor. “It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” says Curtis. Challenges did come up: “We had to redesign the cabinets a bunch of times and create different diagrams to make sure we could fit slabs, counters and even the furniture in the elevator,” he adds.
Why They Chose It:
The Location: “This part of downtown has really come alive over the past few years,” says Curtis. “There are festivals and lots of families going for walks along the riverfront.”
The Terrace: “We did a custom fire table, and with the heaters and overhang, we’re really protected from the elements,” says Trevor.
The Flexibility: “Not only were we able to bring in our own trades and custom finishes, but the developers also let us completely customize the layout of our unit,” says Curtis.
“We can see all of Saskatoon from our suite, including downtown and the river,” says Trevor (pictured right with Curtis). “And we have a west exposure that lets us enjoy the sunset.” Low profile furniture was chosen to allow for unobstructed views.
In 2019, they moved in to the sprawling 1,900-square-foot, open-concept space accented with blond herringbone floors throughout and punches of metal and black.
The 11-foot-high exposed concrete ceilings were dropped by 12 inches to allow the designers to mask ductwork, and run recessed lighting and speakers. “High ceilings are really dramatic and grand, but lowering the ceiling by one foot gave the space a much cosier feel,” says Curtis. Some of the best views of Saskatoon can be seen while sitting around the dining table.
“We always start the design in the kitchen because it tends to sets the tone,” says Trevor.
Images of the Calacatta Capri marble were added to the rendering for a realistic representation.
With walls of windows everywhere, Curtis and Trevor enjoy the views from almost every room. “It’s so powerful to see how the city changes throughout the day and the seasons,” says Trevor. “It’s almost like living art.”
Fluted drawers and brass accents are the finishing touches in this elegant powder room.
We initially selected a different wallpaper for the principal bedroom, but a last-minute switch led to this beautiful graphic by Kelly Wearstler,” says Trevor. “It worked out even better than we intended.”
We’ve always liked the idea of shopping our closet and spared no expense on making this our dream space,” says Curtis of the dressing room.
“I loved my old tub so much that I had to order the same one for this condo,” says Curtis. The designers created extra space in the floor plan to accommodate the large vanity.
The cosy guest bedroom has a softer palette than the rest of the condo.
The soft tones from the guest bedroom are carried into the ensuite bath
It’s the 1,300-square-foot terrace that’s truly unique to the condo. “Outdoor condo space like this just doesn’t exist in Saskatoon,” says Curtis. “We have so much privacy up here. At night, we sit around the fire with music and nobody can hear us. It’s like an oasis in the middle of the city.”
House & Home
Curtis Elmy and Trevor Ciona