A Penthouse in the Sky

Located on the 39^th floor of a high-rise overlooking the Los Angeles Country Club, this penthouse was conceived as a sanctuary in the sky for a young beauty entrepreneur relocating from the East Coast. Designed by The Scale Collective, the project establishes an interior language that combines a Southern California relaxed feel with the intimacy and refinement of a Parisian pied-à-terre. The result is a composed yet expressive home, shaped by light, material depth, and a strong sense of place.

Building from a Blank Canvas

The project, led by founder Sara Alexander,  included the complete interior design and art direction of the 240 sq. m. With the apartment delivered as an empty shell, the team sought to create spaces that felt warm and feminine, while remaining modern, tactile, and adaptable to everyday living.

Early conversations revealed a shared admiration for 70s European design, guiding the project toward soft geometries and sculptural furnishings.

The architectural identity of the interior is defined by layers of textures and a calibrated material palette. Shearling, boucle, linen, wool, mohair, and warm woods such as oak and walnut are composed into soft volumes and rounded profiles. These materials provide a quiet backdrop for curated artworks, which introduce controlled pops of chromatic intensity and visual tension.

The penthouse’s raised position and north-facing views were central to the design approach. The surrounding landscape informed an interior atmosphere that is airy, calm, and deliberately understated. While plaster finishes were initially envisioned, textured wallcoverings were introduced to achieve similar depth and warmth, reinforcing the project’s material continuity.

Craft and Customisation

Craft and customisation played a central role in translating the conceptual framework into a coherent spatial experience. For this project, the designers worked closely with Los Angeles galleries and showrooms to tailor key furnishings to the apartment’s proportions and sightlines. The Scale Collective also developed a bespoke chandelier designed to accommodate limited electrical infrastructure.

Among the project’s highlights is the bedroom, “a sanctuary for the client,” Sara Alexander says. The simple design and neutral palette are animated by a bold mural wallpaper and by shifting daylight, particularly during golden hour. Meanwhile, in the living area, a low-profile sofa was selected to preserve long views across the city, reinforcing spatial continuity and ensuring that furniture, art, and architecture operate as a unified composition.

High above the city, this penthouse reads as a carefully composed interior environment that balances softness and structure, offering a refined yet livable framework for contemporary everyday living.

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