Tour a Warm Industrial Condo High Up in a Former Grain Silo

A designer helps a retired couple add warmth and softness to their concrete-and-steel dream home in Baltimore

Mitchell Parker January 29, 2025

Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.

Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More

Comment8

Click "Embed" to display an article on your own website or blog.

When retired lawyers Jim and Sheila Vidmar’s dream condo came on the market in Baltimore, the empty-nest couple knew they had to jump on it. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom corner unit on the 11th floor of a 24-floor former grain elevator built in 1923 offers sweeping views of the Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay.

To help maximize the views and cozy up the industrial concrete-and-corrugated steel interiors, the Vidmars hired designer Brigid Wethington, who had worked with them on their previous home. Wethington, who used Houzz Pro software to manage the project, took inspiration from sunsets to bring in a palette of blues, whites and oranges. Durable fabric furnishings and multiple area rugs also soften the rooms, while walnut flooring in a herringbone pattern and other wood details add warmth. A layered lighting scheme enhances design elements without taking away from the stunning views.

Condo at a Glance
Who lives here: Empty nesters Jim and Sheila Vidmar, both retired lawyers
Location: Baltimore
Size: Two bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Designer: Brigid Wethington of B. Chic Interiors
Contractor: Clarksville Construction Services

The Silo Point condo building in Baltimore was originally built as a grain elevator in 1923 by the B&O (Baltimore and Ohio) Railroad. The Vidmars’ corner unit sits about midway up on the right. Their patio extends onto the roof of the large rectangular portion of the building. They enjoy sweeping views of the Baltimore skyline, the Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay. “Being up here, you’re just so much more connected to the air and the sky and the water. It’s magical,” Jim says.

Watch now: Step inside this modern industrial condo in the latest episode of Houzz TV

B. Chic Interiors

The interiors feature a mix of concrete, drywall and steel. “Some of the concrete has been refaced or refinished but some of it is original,” Sheila says. “So you get rust stains and breakage and exposed parts.”

In this sitting room, you can see concrete columns, drywall, steel beams and a bit of the corrugated steel ceiling in the living room on the right. This room is double-height, offering expansive views of the water and skyline, so it’s no surprise it’s everybody’s favorite room to sit in. “Not only because you have the two-story ceilings and the tall fixtures. It just feels really social and fun,” Wethington says.

The designer drew upon sunsets to create the palette of blues, whites and rusty oranges. Here, four blue swivel chairs surround a cast-aluminum coffee table. A blue-and-white area rug complements the chairs. Accent pillows bring in warm orange tones. “Brigid totally got what we were trying to do,” Sheila says. “We were looking for a much more modern design but comfortable.”

Find an interior designer near you

B. Chic Interiors

Photo by Jason Siemer

The dining room sits off the lounge area beneath a corrugated steel ceiling. A spalted oak table adds a hefty dose of warmth. A linear crystal chandelier spans the space and introduces a touch of elegance. Beyond the rug is a glimpse of the walnut flooring laid in a herringbone pattern that “just upgraded the entire floor,” Wethington says.

Watch now: See more of this remodel on Houzz TV

B. Chic Interiors

This view toward the dining room shows the kitchen at the back, a mezzanine home office above it and large concrete pillars. “Grain dust, I’m told, is explosive, so it has to be very serious concrete,” Jim says. “So we have these massive pillars throughout the building. You are reminded every day of the fact that it’s an industrial building. There’s texture everywhere.”

Shop for your home

B. Chic Interiors

Photo by Jason Siemer

Wethington and the Vidmars took a minimalist approach to the kitchen. “With the kitchen we were really challenged with an extremely small space,” Wethington says. “Not only in the width but also in the height.”

“I can touch the ceiling without even standing on my tiptoes,” Sheila says. “But because the counter is open to the dining area it works really well.” A two-tone cabinet scheme combines white uppers with deep blue lowers and a blue fridge. Engineered quartz forms the countertops, backsplashes and a waterfall end at the peninsula. “It’s also a matte finish,” Wethington says. “We really didn’t want to have it be too reflective. Because of so much natural light coming in we really wanted to focus on the view there.”

Walnut paneling covers the exterior portion of the peninsula and is downlit by undercounter lighting. “That’s a way of adding a layer of warmth to the kitchen,” Wethington says.

See the Top Trends in Kitchen Cabinets, Countertops and More

B. Chic Interiors

The living room has hits of warm wood and tan tones. “It’s a really comfortable space,” Sheila says. “The ceiling is lower, so that’s got more cozy lighting.”

Wethington ran conduits along the steel ceiling beams to supply power to the lighting. The black cylindrical surface-mounted fixtures can be angled toward different areas and features as desired.

Watch now: Go inside this modern industrial home on Houzz TV

B. Chic Interiors

Photo by Jason Siemer

For the entry landing, Wethington persuaded the homeowners to add a large mirror that helps bounce light around to give the appearance of more space. “It was really important for me to work with a professional not just for design ideas but to push us a little bit too,” Sheila says. “So when you first come in, there’s a relatively small but tall entryway. To open that up we have this giant mirror and beautiful light fixture. I don’t think we would have thought to put a giant mirror in the entryway.”

New to home remodeling? Learn the basics

B. Chic Interiors

Up the stairs is Sheila’s mezzanine office, which overlooks the lounge area and enjoys views out the double-height windows. “I get all the light from all directions,” she says. “We’re on a corner, but I have the views in both directions from up there, so if I need inspiration — if I’m sitting there thinking about something — I can look out the window.” The Vidmars bought the rug during a trip to Morocco. The desk on the left is the couple’s former dining room table.

Watch now: Check out more of this home in the latest episode of Houzz TV

B. Chic Interiors

Photo by Jason Siemer

Here’s a look from the loft at the lounge area lit up during dusk. “The light fixtures that were here before they moved in provided one light bulb for each fixture,” Wethington says. “Now we’ve got eight lights that are integrated LEDs. And they’re 42 inches tall, so they also draw your eye up. And you can see right through the fixtures so they don’t obstruct the view but they provide a nice amount of light.”

“I really wanted great lighting,” Jim says. “Not to have brightness but to have richness and depth to the lighting.”

Tour a Warm Industrial Condo High Up in a Former Grain Silo

Jim and Sheila sit on their expansive patio, which features a lounge area and an outdoor dining table. “We sometimes pinch each other a little bit,” Jim says. “We’re lucky to be up here.”

Wethington uses Houzz Pro software and introduced the platform to the Vidmars. “It was great,” Sheila says. “Brigid … would put together selections and Jim and I could look at it together. It was like being in a good store where only the things we liked were in front of us.”

The couple love to travel and they were able to take trips while managing their remodeling project with Houzz. “That didn’t interfere with our project because we used Houzz wherever we were,” Jim says. “It would pop up on both of our phones. We’d touch base. And move on. Using Houzz was critical to the success of this project.”

Wethington says Houzz Pro “really saves me a ton of time. With the 3D Floor Planner, I use that to help engage with my contractor, my subcontractors and my clients. So we’re able to all look at the same document and collaborate together.” (Check out the Floor Plan, Dollhouse and Walkthrough visuals Wethington created for the Vidmars’ project.)

“It’s so nice when I can work with someone that has the latest technology and everything is crystal clear and selections are approved,” contractor Adam August of Clarksville Construction Services says.

See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software

Watch now: Tour this home and get more details on Houzz TV

More on Houzz
Tour more homes
Get design ideas
Hire a design professional
Shop for your home