Highland Park Modern Renovation.

Soft brutalism, built to the last detail.

This Highland Park split-level went up in 1957, and the outside already leaned midcentury modern — a ledger-stone façade, new entry and garage doors, natural wood-slat soffits. Inside, a recent flip had left builder-grade finishes and no real point of view. The homeowners came to us with a bold plan to change that: a “soft brutalist” interior of monolithic concrete shapes and warm white oak, softened with colorful tile, graphic wallpaper and sculptural lighting.

On the open main floor, custom millwork does the job walls used to. A white-oak entry bench with a slat wall, hooks and a slatted soffit marks the front door, and a steel-and-oak room divider with arched and circular cutouts separates entry, dining and living without closing anything off. The living room is anchored by a Malm Zircon fireplace on a curved concrete hearth, set against hand-glazed tile with built-in firewood storage beside it. The kitchen pairs mauve cabinetry and a sage tile backsplash with reeded-glass white-oak uppers and a full-height oak pantry wall.

The same concrete-and-oak language carries into the primary suite and down to the lower level. The primary bath is built around an arched niche wrapped in patchwork geometric tile over a floating white-oak double vanity, with a built-in sauna alongside and a wet room of deep terracotta tile around a soaking tub and a slatted wood bench. The powder room gets bold patterned wallcovering and a corner sink, and downstairs one open level now works as playroom, home office, gym and guest space. It is the scope our whole-home renovation and bathroom remodel crews take on every week.