Interiors: Making the most of the dream penthouse

Apr 24 2008 by Debbie Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

Debbie Johnson meets a woman whose temporary home is one of the city’s most remarkable new buildings

AMY DOYLE is currently living a dream lifestyle in a penthouse of one of the city’s most prestigious apartment buildings – but it’s a dream that could come to an end any day!

The 29-year-old works for her family business, Doyle Properties, and is really enjoying one of her current assignments – "watching" a gorgeous Unity Building apartment.

She says: "It came into our hands at the beginning of the year, and I’ve been living here for about three months.

"It is just fantastic – the apartment, the building, the location. I love everything about it, and I’m making the most of it as I don’t know how long it will last!"

The intention is to let the apartment out, but, for the time being, Amy is relishing her time in the city centre.

She says: "I have always lived in Mossley Hill, which is lovely, but is the suburbs – this is my first taste of living in the city and I do really enjoy it, especially the socialising."

Amy’s apartment is over three levels on floors 21, 22 and 23 of the Unity.

Lifts access two of the three floors separately – so you can go straight to the top floor, where there is currently a luxurious living and entertaining area. Painted in neutral shades, it has cream leather sofas and plasma TV.

The room is huge, with a floor- to-ceiling window that shows off the stunning views of the Liver Building and the River Mersey.

One of the apartment’s three wind-protected terraces extends the living space even further, and provides one of the most outstanding features of the property.

Amy says: "There are three terraces, and we have set each one up so that it reflects the room it is set outside.

"This one has comfortable couches and a coffee table; the one from the main bedroom is set up privately with sun loungers, and the one from the kitchen area with dining table and chairs."

The terraces alone make up 1,000 sq foot of space and the apartment a further 2,100.

Amy says her favourite room is the living and kitchen area on the middle floor.

Less formal than the upstairs room, this is very much a space for relaxing, entertaining and enjoying life. The top-of-the-range kitchen comes in high-gloss cream, with black granite work surfaces.

"I love this room," she says, "it’s a focal point when you have people round – it’s great for chilling out in. If you are making drinks or cooking (not that I’ve done a lot of that!), people can sit with you and chat."

The apartment has flexible accommodation that could be adapted to offer two or three bedrooms, depending on how you wanted to arrange them.

Amy uses the master bedroom, which has a sumptuous en-suite bathroom, with cream tiling and multi-coloured mood lighting. The room is large, with all walls painted white apart from one feature wall, which has gold textured wallpaper.

There is a sleigh bed, and again the terrace offers stunning views out to the Mersey – the perfect place to wake up!

Amy says: "Even though you are in the city and near to all the hustle and bustle, it is extremely quiet and calm, especially this high up."

The second bedroom also has an en-suite shower room.

The whole apartment is wired for sound, with a state- of-the-art system that means you can listen to your favourite music wherever you are.

With security in the foyer; two car parking spaces and all the benefits of living in town, you can see why Amy is enjoying her stay at the Unity. She says: "I know that, as soon as someone rents it I have to leave, that was always the plan and obviously that makes sense.

"But there will be part of me that will be gutted when I have to go – although, with all this going out I’ve been doing, my bank balance will probably be relieved!"

* ANYONE interested in the property can contact Doyle Properties on 0151 729 0001 or Castle Estates via mary.king@castle-estates.co.uk