Architect Violeta Fiorino-Schwartz and her husband purchased a townhome in Baltimore?s Canton neighborhood, drawn by enviable views of sailboats streaming by in the harbor. However, interiors of the multi-level abode presented a problem: A large, central shaft bisected the north and south quadrants, interrupting openness and flow.
Fiorino-Schwartz quickly remedied the situation. ?We took the shaft out to connect the spaces, which brought in airiness and views,? she recounts. On the third level, she reconfigured a small, south-facing bedroom and adjacent bath to create a bright, modern primary suite (above). ?I used a European-suite concept, with the sink and vanity as part of the bedroom,? explains the architect, who tucked the WC, shower and storage behind sliding glass where the shaft had been.
A spare, modern aesthetic ensures that views take center stage. Wide-plank, white oak floors support low-slung furnishings including an iconic Kartell nightstand; abstract coffee-and-oil-on-paper works by Fiorino-Schwartz?who is also a painter?adorn the wall behind the bed.
Renovation Architecture: Violeta Fiorino-Schwartz, AIA, VAS Architecture, Baltimore, Maryland. 

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