Penthouses: What Happens in Vegas Really Does Involve Mirrored Ceilings

× Like us and you'll find top breaking news in your Facebook newsfeed. Sign up for our daily email newsletter and get top stories and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Tuesday, April 19, 2011, by Sarah Firshein

For those with a footing in the strange, strange world of interiors and architecture, there is no greater feeling of Nirvana than when the design of a space melds seamlessly with its surroundings. And so such a feeling came to pass when we stumbled upon this penthouse in Veer Towers, one of the condo buildings in the relatively new Las Vegas mixed-use development CityCenter. Designed and recently completed by Mark Tracy of local firm Chemical Spaces, the space looks like what would happen if someone tried to stuff the entire strip inside a glassy aerie, complete with shimmery blue mosaics on the floors, walls, and ceilings; 120 linear feet of RGB LED lighting that runs around the penthouse's entire perimeter; a custom triangular-shaped mirrored ceiling designed to accentuate "the neon shining through the windows"; and "a chandelier encased in a blue glass cube." Plus, here's something one doesn't ordinarily see mentioned in project descriptions: a "main party area."

· City Center Penthouse by Mark Tracy of Chemical Spaces [Contemporist]
· Chemical Spaces [official site]

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A Gallery of Painted Ceilings

As we've seen from the Small Cool contest entries, color can enliven and personalize a home, from a burst of color in an exuberant room to a mellow wash of color in a serene one. But walls aren't the only potential canvas in your home — as these rooms show, sometimes the best option is to look up.

Painted ceilings look best paired with muted walls — otherwise, you might end up with a room that feels overwhelming or claustrophobic. That said, with the right hue, adding color to your ceiling is a creative and easy way to redecorate without buying new furniture or accessories.

1. A mustard-yellow ceiling compliments a bright pink couch in Chris & Steve's Colorful Gothic Family House.
2. A bubble-gum pink ceiling accentuates the architure of this gorgeous room from The Marion House Book.
3 . A shiny, pale blue ceiling looks almost ethereal against the lake views of this home from Sköna Hem.
4. Jeffrey Bilhuber plays off the Hermès box trend with this lacquered orange ceiling.
5. A blue ceiling pops against white walls and orange accents in this room from House Beautiful.

Image Credits: 1. Apartment Therapy 2. The Marion House Book 3. Magnus Selander for Sköna Hem. 4. Bilhuber & Associates 5. House Beautiful.

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House of the Day: Towers and Towering Ceilings For This Lopsided Compound

Like us and you'll find top breaking news in your Facebook newsfeed. Sign up for our daily email newsletter and get top stories and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Tuesday, December 14, 2010, by Rob

Have a nomination for a jaw-dropping listing that would make a mighty fine House of the Day? Get thee to the tipline and send us your suggestions. We'd love to see what you've got.

Location: South Dartmouth, Mass.
Price: $10,000,000
The Skinny: Set on 97 acres, and adjacent to 600 acres of conservation land, this shingle-style construction affects an air of genteel isolation. Completed in 2004, the estate is really two grand houses in one. The three-bedroom main house enjoys voluminous entertaining spaces, with 21-foot ceilings, a lofted billiards room, and sweeping views of Buzzard Bay from a tower turret. The guest house features an additional six bedrooms, an indoor pool, a sauna, an exercise room, and a fully equipped kitchen. Hard to believe the guests might have it better than the owner, considering the next one will have to fork over $10M for the pleasure, but those views might just be enough to compensate.
· 740 Horseneck Road [Landvest]

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