Houzz TV: Tour a Warm Industrial Apartment 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
18 May 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
When retired lawyers Jim and Sheila Vidmar’s dream apartment 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 maximise the views and cosy up the industrial concrete and corrugated steel interiors, the Vidmars hired designer Brigid Wethington of B Chic Interiors, who had worked with them on their previous home. Brigid, 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 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.
To help maximise the views and cosy up the industrial concrete and corrugated steel interiors, the Vidmars hired designer Brigid Wethington of B Chic Interiors, who had worked with them on their previous home. Brigid, 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 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.
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here? Empty nesters Jim and Sheila Vidmar, both retired lawyers
Location Baltimore, USA
Size Two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Brigid Wethington of B Chic Interiors
Contractor Clarksville Construction Services
The Silo Point apartment 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 halfway 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 apartment in the latest episode of Houzz TV
Who lives here? Empty nesters Jim and Sheila Vidmar, both retired lawyers
Location Baltimore, USA
Size Two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Brigid Wethington of B Chic Interiors
Contractor Clarksville Construction Services
The Silo Point apartment 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 halfway 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 apartment in the latest episode of Houzz TV
The interiors feature a mix of concrete, plasterboard 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, plasterboard, 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 favourite room to sit in. “Not only because you have the two-storey ceiling and the tall fixtures – it just feels really social and fun,” Brigid says.
The designer drew upon sunsets to create the palette of blues, whites and rusty oranges. Here, four blue swivel chairs surround a cast-aluminium coffee table. A blue-and-white rug complements the chairs. Cushions 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.
In this sitting room, you can see concrete columns, plasterboard, 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 favourite room to sit in. “Not only because you have the two-storey ceiling and the tall fixtures – it just feels really social and fun,” Brigid says.
The designer drew upon sunsets to create the palette of blues, whites and rusty oranges. Here, four blue swivel chairs surround a cast-aluminium coffee table. A blue-and-white rug complements the chairs. Cushions 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.
Photo by Jason Siemer.
The dining room sits off the lounge area beneath a corrugated steel ceiling. A spalted oak table adds 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,” Brigid says.
Watch now: See more of this home on Houzz TV
The dining room sits off the lounge area beneath a corrugated steel ceiling. A spalted oak table adds 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,” Brigid says.
Watch now: See more of this home on Houzz TV
This view towards 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.”
“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.”
Photo by Jason Siemer.
Brigid and the Vidmars took a minimalist approach to the kitchen. “With the kitchen, we were really challenged with an extremely small space,” Brigid 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 island is open to the dining area, it works really well.” A two-tone cabinet scheme combines white wall units with deep blue base units and a blue fridge.
Engineered quartz forms the worktops, splashbacks and a waterfall end on the peninsula. “It’s also a matt finish,” Brigid 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 panelling covers the back of the peninsular unit and is downlit by LEDs under the worktop. “That’s a way of adding a layer of warmth to the kitchen,” Brigid says.
Brigid and the Vidmars took a minimalist approach to the kitchen. “With the kitchen, we were really challenged with an extremely small space,” Brigid 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 island is open to the dining area, it works really well.” A two-tone cabinet scheme combines white wall units with deep blue base units and a blue fridge.
Engineered quartz forms the worktops, splashbacks and a waterfall end on the peninsula. “It’s also a matt finish,” Brigid 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 panelling covers the back of the peninsular unit and is downlit by LEDs under the worktop. “That’s a way of adding a layer of warmth to the kitchen,” Brigid says.
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 has more cosy lighting.”
Brigid ran conduits along the steel ceiling beams to supply power to the lighting. The black, cylindrical, surface-mounted fixtures can be angled towards different areas and features as desired.
Watch now: Go inside this modern industrial home on Houzz TV
Brigid ran conduits along the steel ceiling beams to supply power to the lighting. The black, cylindrical, surface-mounted fixtures can be angled towards different areas and features as desired.
Watch now: Go inside this modern industrial home on Houzz TV
Photo by Jason Siemer.
For the hallway, Brigid 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.”
For the hallway, Brigid 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.”
Up the stairs is Sheila’s mezzanine office, which overlooks the lounge area and enjoys views out of 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 of 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
Watch now: Check out more of this home in the latest episode of Houzz TV
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,” Brigid says. “Now we have eight lights that are integrated LEDs. And they’re [107cm] tall, so they also draw your eye up. 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.”
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,” Brigid says. “Now we have eight lights that are integrated LEDs. And they’re [107cm] tall, so they also draw your eye up. 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.”
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.”
Brigid 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 them 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 renovation 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.”
Brigid 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 Brigid created for the Vidmars’ project.)
Contractor Adam August of Clarksville Construction Services adds, “It’s so nice when I can work with someone that has the latest technology and everything is crystal clear and selections are approved.”
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
Watch now: Tour this home and get more details on Houzz TV
Tell us…
What do you think of this home with a view? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
The couple love to travel and they were able to take trips while managing their renovation 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.”
Brigid 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 Brigid created for the Vidmars’ project.)
Contractor Adam August of Clarksville Construction Services adds, “It’s so nice when I can work with someone that has the latest technology and everything is crystal clear and selections are approved.”
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
Watch now: Tour this home and get more details on Houzz TV
Tell us…
What do you think of this home with a view? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Absolutely love it!
I’m not an industrial style fan, but this space is gorgeous! So thoughtful…I’d always have gatherings here!
I must admit my first impression of this home was one of disbelief that anyone would choose to live here but on further reading I can understand the attraction of being part of a community living in such an historical building. The interior space and the views are truly unique. I went on to educate myself on what a grain elevator actually is and it was fascinating reading indeed.