The couple is not afraid of light; they didn’t use a single window covering in the entire space. Their office hides behind the half-wall abutting their streamlined Italian-made bed. The balcony off the living room faces west for sunset views over the James.
often finds Scudder, the resident chef, preparing meals on his Wolf induction stovetop. “We have somebody over for dinner at least once a week, whether it’s a planned dinner for several couples or just inviting a neighbor over to eat with us,” Scudder says. “We probably have more cocktail parties than the average couple. We love to entertain.” With condo living, spur-of-the-moment guests are always just a door or floor away. “There are times when we have too much food,” Bowman says, “and we’ll just go knocking on people’s doors and have impromptu dinner parties.” To create a welcoming space for their guests, they dedicated one unit to an open living area, delineating
spaces – dining room, living room, etc. – by varying the ceiling heights rather than putting up walls. The effect is paradoxically airy, but cozy. “We refer to our home as ‘warm contemporary,’ ” Bowman says. “It was very important to make sure that everyone felt warm and comfortable here.” She happily gave up her traditional furnishings and Oriental rugs in favor of Bob’s more streamlined aesthetic, finding serenity in the simplicity. The condo’s overall palette is mostly neutral, save for the brightly hued artwork that injects vibrant color into the space. “Nothing is busy,” she says. “Now I go back and look at pictures of my wingback chairs and heavy wood furniture and ask, ‘What I was thinking?’ ” Bowman also left behind some of the headaches that home ownership can incur. “In my lifetime I’ve cut enough grass and raked enough leaves,” she says. “Here, it’s zero-maintenance.” The couple enjoys the condominium’s amenities, including four parking places in the garage — a boon in downtown Richmond — and a large storage room that Scudder uses for working out. When grandkids visit — the
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