Belmont House

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Belmont House

Multi-Family
A woman in a long red dress descends a grand staircase in an elegant, spacious room with high ceilings, large wall art, and modern furnishings.

New Palette, Hotel Soul

When Preferred Living brought Crimson in on Belmont House, the brief carried two challenges that didn't usually travel together. This was a luxury PL community on Columbus's west side, at the corner of Trabue and McKinley, and it had to read unmistakably as Preferred Living. But Belmont was also the first PL clubhouse where Crimson stepped off the brand's signature navy and built a new palette from the ground up with deep greens in Sherwin-Williams Billiard Green and Dard Hunter Green, warmed with golden yellows and red-orange accents. And the clubhouse wasn't meant to read as amenity space at all. It was meant to read as a boutique luxury hotel, every room feeling like a property a resident might check into for a long weekend, not just pass through on the way home.
The key design move was the two-story lobby. Crimson designed a grand wall punctuated by five arches in light, natural-oak-toned wood with applied moulding — built, like the bar, by Fairfield Woodworks — anchored by a sweeping open staircase and a checkerboard marble floor in soft gray and deep onyx, bordered in warm beige (Hamilton Parker's Atlas Marvel). Across two of the walls, muralist Sarah DeAngulo Eberly, a longtime Crimson collaborator, hand-rendered black-and-white nature scenes that reimagine an earlier sepia landscape and turn a traditional architectural moment into something distinctly modern. Custom resin-and-metal pendants by Spike Lighting fill the void overhead, and the open staircase carries the curve language through. Off the lobby, the bar takes its cue from Soho House New York, long admired by Crimson's principals and Preferred Living for the rug-fronted millwork at its front desk — and the Belmont version is fronted in vintage-style rugs that Cheryl sourced piece by piece and hand-cut to fit, their rounded edges echoing the arches above. Inside, custom U-shaped banquettes by Fortner define the social zones. Fifteen-plus custom pieces in all make Belmont feel less like a clubhouse and more like a hotel floor that happens to have apartments above it.
The Red Glove moment was the floor plan and the void. A two-story lobby is a designer's gift and a designer's trap because the height makes a room feel grand and also makes it easy for the eye to land nowhere. Crimson took the void as an opportunity instead of a problem, layering ceiling detail, lighting, the open staircase, the railing line, and the muralled wall so that every plane gives the eye somewhere to go. At the same time, the team rebuilt the brand: a new palette without the safety net of PL's navy, balanced carefully enough that Belmont still reads cleanly as a Preferred Living property. New plan, new palette, new category — all on one project, and the building still feels of a piece with its sister communities.
Client happy, residents happy, and a luxury-hotel clubhouse on Columbus's west side that opened the door for everything Preferred Living and Crimson have done together since. Belmont House is the project where the navy came off, the arches went up, and the brief got bigger and the building tells you so the moment you walk through the front door.

 

Project Partners:
Upholstery: Fortner Inc.

A modern living room features a patterned chair with green and gray pillows, a green sofa, a side table with a lamp, and a coffee table on a rug with a tree mural in the background.
A modern lounge area with beige armchairs, patterned cushions, small round tables, and a black metal staircase against a light-colored wall.
A spacious lobby with a checkered tile floor, reception desks, seating areas with chairs and a green sofa, large windows, and neutral-colored decor.
A close-up of a bar with upholstered orange patterned panels, wooden chairs, and sunlight streaming in from large windows in the background.
Two green cabinet doors with gold rabbit head-shaped handles and a light-colored marble countertop above.
A modern, well-lit living space with a green bar, upholstered chairs, wood accents, a wall of art, and large windows allowing natural light inside.
A ceramic vase with a dark matte finish and geometric beige and orange patterns, featuring three ring-shaped handles on each side, standing on a dark surface.
A lounge area with olive green armchairs, tan tufted banquette seating, pillows, small tables, and two ceiling chandeliers.
Fenced outdoor pool area with blue and white striped umbrellas, lounge chairs, two cabanas, and a central swimming pool surrounded by greenery.
A row of empty lounge chairs with blue cushions and striped umbrellas beside a black metal fence on a sunny day.
A close-up of a swimming pool with blue mosaic tiles, featuring a waterfall edge and a poolside cabana in the background.
Lounge chairs with blue towels and striped umbrellas by a poolside cabana on a sunny day.

A Resident-Centric Clubhouse That Works Harder

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A Resident-Centric Clubhouse That Works Harder

A decorative bar cart with a dark vase, yellow planter, and plant stands against glossy brown tiles; above hangs framed art of an ornate window. Sunlight from the right highlights this Westerville Ohio-inspired nook.
Modern luxury hotel lobby at Baxter Lifestyle with sophisticated seating and warm ambient lighting
A small marble-top table with a flower arrangement sits by a red upholstered corner bench, patterned pillows, framed wall art, and a single wooden chair in a cozy Westerville Ohio room.

A Resident-Centric Clubhouse That Works Harder

A thoughtfully designed clubhouse that elevates amenities to support rapid lease-up and resident engagement within a suburban multifamily community.

Category

Location

Westerville, Ohio

Community Context

Multifamily | Clubhouse & Amenity Space Design

Year

2021

A modern brick building with large arched windows, metal gates, and a sign reading "Baxter" in front of the entrance.
Three workstations with brown chairs and desktop computers are set in pink alcoves, each with a framed light bulb print above and geometric wallpaper backgrounds.

The Vision

Draw residents into the clubhouse by creating spaces that feel both elevated and livable.

Crimson’s design for the clubhouse was rooted in the idea that amenity spaces should feel like destinations — places residents want to use, return to, and enjoy sharing with friends and neighbors. The clubhouse needed to support a range of social and functional activities while anchoring the community’s identity in a way that distinguishes it from other local rental options.

The Approach

Design intentional spaces — big on experience, smart in execution.

With a clear goal to activate the clubhouse, Crimson looked for ways to make every square foot matter. A standout move was rethinking the business center. Instead of a long desk array where users ended up staring at a blank wall, Crimson designed semi-private cubbies that offer designated workspaces while still feeling open to the larger clubroom. This not only improved function but sparked social interaction and comfort, a design choice that the developer adopted as a new standard for their properties.

The lobby space was also crafted with moments of impact in mind. A cloud mural anchors the back wall behind the leasing station, setting a tone of elevated warmth, while full-height bookcases filled with only cream and white books and accessories create stark, intentional contrast.

The Impact

Spaces designed to be used, not just looked at.

Once complete, the clubhouse delivered what the design intended: amenity spaces that feel special but accessible, elevated yet livable. The overall feel of the space was more refined than typical suburban clubhouse environments, thanks to the thoughtful use of color, finishes, and layout.

Baxter Park continues to compete well within its submarket — a community where residents enjoy not just the private residences, but the shared spaces that support connection, comfort, and everyday life.

Review sentiment highlights the community’s strong sense of community and proactive management, suggesting that the amenity experience is supported by resident satisfaction with staff and lifestyle offerings.

“This clubhouse was designed to be used — comfortable enough for everyday routines, vibrant enough for social gatherings, and full of details that make residents want to spend time here.”

Our Favorite Details

Design moves that make the clubhouse memorable and functional.

  • Semi-Private Work Cubbies: Redesigned work spaces that feel open but purposeful, offering both privacy and connection.
  • Grand Lobby Presence: The cloud mural and curated white bookcases make the lobby feel impactful and welcoming.
  • Material Strategy: Bold use of color and finish supports an elevated feel suitable for the suburban market context.
  • Programming Rhythm: Thoughtful adjacency of spaces allows casual lounging, work, and socializing to happen comfortably in one place.

Bold.
Unexpected.
Memorable.

A small round gold side table holds stacked books, a blue bowl with wooden beads, and tassels in a bright, modern living room with a green sofa and patterned pillows.
Modern living room and kitchen with a bar counter, four stools, two large pendant lights, patterned curtains, and eclectic seating arrangements.

Notes from the Design Team

This project was all about refining standard amenity typologies to better support resident behavior. The improved business cubbies are a great example because they came out of an early review of how residents actually use the space, rather than relying on a template solution.

Even small efforts, like sourcing cream-spined books for the lobby bookcases (which involved countless trips and a lot of online hunting), contributed to the overall elevated feel, showing how attention to detail matters even in areas residents might not consciously register.

Three navy blue bookshelves filled with white books and decorative items stand behind two gray armchairs with red pillows; a potted plant sits nearby on a patterned rug.

Services Provided:

Multifamily Amenity & Clubhouse Design

Space Planning & Layout

Material & Finish Selection

Custom Furniture & Styling

FF&E Specification & Procurement

Installation Oversight

Our Expertise
Two green doors with black handles against a vibrant, patterned, red and yellow rug or tapestry backdrop.
A white cabinet with gold handles sits below a framed bicycle artwork, flanked by potted plants on a patterned carpet in a bright, modern room.
Three navy blue bookshelves filled with white books and decorative items stand behind two gray armchairs with red pillows; a potted plant sits nearby on a patterned rug.
A gray leather armchair with red and striped pillows sits in front of a dark blue built-in bookshelf filled with books, vases, art, and decor items.
A modern kitchen with a marble countertop, three black barstools, a bowl of ferns, large windows, and patterned yellow curtains.

We are proud to say that this client has the pleasure of enjoying his unique space each and every day. (As do the sports cars!)

 

Project Partners:
Upholstery: Fortner Inc.

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Modern Living, Centered on Connection

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Modern Living, Centered on Connection

Multi-Family
A modern seating area with a green bench, colorful pillows, a white table, yellow ottomans, a vase of orange flowers, and abstract art on the wall.
A modern apartment building with orange and yellow window shutters, seen behind a rooftop deck with yellow and gray lounge chairs.
Modern lounge area with green and yellow chairs, white round table, and wall art; a woman walks in the background near large windows.

Modern Living, Centered on Connection

This downtown multifamily community was designed with a younger demographic in mind — residents who are either college-aged or recently graduated and looking for a true luxury experience in the heart of the city. The goal was to create a space that felt fresh, modern, and distinctly different from what downtown apartment living had offered at the time.

Crimson focused heavily on the outdoor courtyard, treating it as the social heart of the community rather than an afterthought. The surrounding amenity spaces were designed as a natural extension, allowing indoor and outdoor living to flow together seamlessly. This continuity helped create a sense of energy and connection, encouraging residents to gather, linger, and make use of the shared spaces.

Behind the scenes, the project required extensive coordination. The development combined new construction with the restoration of an existing building, resulting in a longer timeline and multiple handoffs between design leads. Thanks to Crimson’s collaborative team approach, those transitions were seamless from the client’s perspective, and the design vision stayed intact from start to finish.

Once completed, the impact was clear. The overall feel of the space was modern, bold, and ahead of its time for downtown living — a community that felt fresh and current when it opened, and helped set the tone for what urban apartment design could be.

A modern lounge with a pool table in the foreground, seating area, artwork on a green wall, and a person walking past. Large blue lights and industrial ductwork are visible overhead.
Modern kitchen with wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, white island, four white barstools, black tile backsplash, and three geometric pendant lights.
A modern seating area with a white table, yellow ottomans, teal bench, colorful pillows, orange flowers, and abstract artwork on the wall.
A modern indoor corridor with red doors, exposed brick wall, metal stairs, wood flooring, potted plants, and contemporary seating area.
A person stands in a modern kitchen with wood cabinets, black herringbone backsplash, stainless steel appliances, and white barstools at a countertop.
Modern communal kitchen and dining area with large windows, island seating, built-in bench, colorful pillows, and contemporary lighting fixtures.
A close-up of a pool table corner with the 9-ball and 2-ball near a pocket, set on a geometric patterned rug.
A modern, layered pendant light fixture with blue cylindrical tiers hangs from a gold chain against a green textured wall and exposed ductwork.
A yellow pillow and a multicolored geometric-patterned pillow rest against a teal and yellow striped upholstered backrest.
A modern living space with a blue hanging lamp, abstract framed wall art, a decorative sideboard, a small potted plant, and two yellow glass vases.
Modern lounge area with green and yellow chairs, white round table, and wall art; a woman walks in the background near large windows.
Modern living room with a round white textured coffee table, green armchair with blue pillow, small black side table, and stacked books; a potted plant sits on the table.
Modern lounge area with a pool table, seating, abstract art, and visible gym equipment in the background. Exposed ductwork and large windows add an industrial feel.
Dark teal geometric patterned wallpaper with a yellow baseboard and white hexagonal tile flooring.
Modern bathroom with two rectangular mirrors, wall-mounted lights, white tile backsplash, double sinks, and yellow accents on doors and trim. A plant sits on the dark countertop.