Chai Style Home: High Voltage Condo Stages ‘The Stones’
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Chai Style Home: High Voltage Condo Stages ‘The Stones’

Lori and Ken Cohen chose high rise living, expertly designed by Rosthema Kastin.

By Marcia Caller Jaffe May 2, 2024, 10:46 am Edit

After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.

  • Ken takes great care in selecting rare and unique whiskeys and liqueurs for his custom-designed bar.
    Ken takes great care in selecting rare and unique whiskeys and liqueurs for his custom-designed bar.
  • Lori and Ken Cohen relax with white retriever Lightning // Photos by Howard Mendel
    Lori and Ken Cohen relax with white retriever Lightning // Photos by Howard Mendel
  • The primary bedroom uses a neutral palette on the walls and cabinetry to accent the vermillion tones. The Stark rug lets the Bergamo fabric bed spread shine.  
    The primary bedroom uses a neutral palette on the walls and cabinetry to accent the vermillion tones. The Stark rug lets the Bergamo fabric bed spread shine.  
  • Designer Ros Kastin stands by the dining table under the chandelier of cascading glass stars with pin lights for a floating effect mid-air, adding a note of whimsy. 
    Designer Ros Kastin stands by the dining table under the chandelier of cascading glass stars with pin lights for a floating effect mid-air, adding a note of whimsy. 
  • Kastin designed the foyer in pearlized, leather-covered front doors in grey with mother of pearl walls. The painting of Keith Richards was done by Carrie Pendley from a photo Ken took in Warsaw.
    Kastin designed the foyer in pearlized, leather-covered front doors in grey with mother of pearl walls. The painting of Keith Richards was done by Carrie Pendley from a photo Ken took in Warsaw.
  • This long shot of the main living area captures the streamlined and dramatic effect Kastin sought in the overall design.    
    This long shot of the main living area captures the streamlined and dramatic effect Kastin sought in the overall design.    
  • Lori goes for bold colors and selected this red sculpture, “Lace Female Form,” by Lagemann, standing on a pedestal in the middle of the narrow triangle intersecting like the prow of a ship, and peering over Georgia 400.
    Lori goes for bold colors and selected this red sculpture, “Lace Female Form,” by Lagemann, standing on a pedestal in the middle of the narrow triangle intersecting like the prow of a ship, and peering over Georgia 400.
  • Lori goes for bold colors and selected this red sculpture, “Lace Female Form,” by Lagemann, standing on a pedestal in the middle of the narrow triangle intersecting like the prow of a ship, and peering over Georgia 400.
    Lori goes for bold colors and selected this red sculpture, “Lace Female Form,” by Lagemann, standing on a pedestal in the middle of the narrow triangle intersecting like the prow of a ship, and peering over Georgia 400.
  • Lori and Ros chose “bold blue” for the well-appointed kitchen.
    Lori and Ros chose “bold blue” for the well-appointed kitchen.

The Cohen’s are a dynamic duo who designed their condo with jet set authority and elite designer Rosthema Kastin, who pulled it all together among the clouds in a majestic Buckhead high rise panorama.

Lori is an internationally known litigator at Greenberg Traurig, a firm comprised of 47 offices worldwide. Lori serves as one of the firm’s vice chairs and is the global co-chair of litigation. The couple travels extensively, having been to all seven continents and more than 75 countries.

Ken, a retired dentist, said, “We fell in love with hotel designs from all over the world which drove many of our preferences when the project began.”
They are both devoted to white golden retriever, Lightning.

After acquiring their condo, the Cohens turned to Ros Kastin of Rosthema, ltd, Interiors of Distinction, to “strip down to the studs and redesign the whole unit.” Kastin said, “The process took 18 months. We had multiple discussions about their vision so I could incorporate their preferences. Lori likes bold and bright colors reflecting her personality, whereas Ken leans towards Earth tones, given his love of the outdoors.

Ken takes great care in selecting rare and unique whiskeys and liqueurs for his custom-designed bar.

Marcia: Jump in with your unique design elements.
Ros: My goal was to make the furniture and furnishings flow and streamlined. It needed to be a dramatic arresting space.
The custom designed cabinetry and wall panels throughout are in a high gloss pale grey finish, capturing light which gives life to the woodwork.
In Lori’s study, we used an ombre Zuber wallpaper reflecting the colors of the setting sun. One of my favorite pieces is the custom dining table, with a brushed and polished stainless steel pattern, inlaid in Macassar ebony, framed by a mahogany bullnose. Donghia fluted dining chairs in brushed silver are upholstered in vibrant blue leather. The chandelier captured the Cohens’ admiration for “a sky full of stars.”

Being a shoe lover, Lori opted for a curved closet, so everything was readily visible.

Marcia: What led to a blue kitchen?
Ros: A client like Lori challenged me to “go bold” vs. traditional. Colors can bring cohesiveness to an interior. In some rooms, bold colors are subordinate to neutrals. Occasionally, we risk making color take center stage. The blue marble became the protagonist to offer a drama against white and silver, grey European cabinetry.
The large center island top is translucent onyx up-lighted and creates a stunning focal point.

Marcia: How did your interests parlay into the mix?
Ken: While Lori was more tuned into design and art, I was interested in populating the bar with my collection of rare and unique whiskeys and liqueurs.
The 10-foot-long by 10-foot-high bar is designed to showcase the unique and artistically designed bottles and glassware we collected from our various travels. The glass shelves are backed with triangular mirrors placed randomly.
I spend most of my time in my study in Carpathian burl walnut with a specially designed high shelf surrounding three walls displaying my Boehm porcelain collection (by Edward Marshall Boehm) of birds and animals in lifelike appearance — which I inherited from my father.  They were well known for President Nixon gifting to heads of state.

The primary bedroom uses a neutral palette on the walls and cabinetry to accent the vermillion tones. The Stark rug lets the Bergamo fabric bed spread shine.

Marcia: From where does this fascination with the Rolling Stones stem?
Lori: The Rolling Stones have been a passion of mine since the late 1980s, and we have seen them 145 times on four continents, largely in the front row of the Pit.  We have close friends who are an international group, and we attend the shows together all over the world. We stay at the hotels where the band stays typically and have been fortunate enough to have met most of the band and their entourage over the years. We have a collection of signed paintings (by Ronnie Wood), signed album covers (by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards) and signed set lists by Ronnie Wood, who is quite the artist in his own right. The piece de resistance is our Andy Warhol painting of Mick Jagger featured prominently in the foyer.

Lori goes for bold colors and selected this red sculpture, “Lace Female Form,” by Lagemann, standing on a pedestal in the middle of the narrow triangle intersecting like the prow of a ship, and peering over Georgia 400.

Marcia: The master suite is very luxurious.
Ros: The master bath has dark red marble on walls and countertops. The floating double vanity with dual mirrors is encased in stainless steel frames for back-to-back, “His and Hers” vanities. The closet features a curved shelf wall displaying one of Lori’s collections – shoes — fabulous high heels and boots. Then, there’s the purses where everything is visible.

Marcia: What is special about the entrance?
Ros: The Cohens’ wanted to extend the décor to include the front entrance and some of the common area in front of their door which I designed with a beautiful silver-streaked marble accenting the black front door with its stainless steel.
The entrance foyer features pearlized, leather-covered front doors in grey with mother of pearl walls. The ceiling has panels graduating in height coming lower towards the entrance to the living room to accentuate the impact of the 13-foot ceiling in the living room. Floor to ceiling mirrors are used for the powder room. The floors throughout are white marble with grey streaks, which unifies the entire condo.

Lori and Ros chose “bold blue” for the well-appointed kitchen.

Marcia: You’re dressed in red …
Lori: I found this scarlet metal sculpture, “Lace Female Form,” by Rainer Lagemann (New York) by chance on the Internet while waiting for a flight. I also have a hot pink skull by Lagemann in our foyer.
On the back wall by the breakfast area hangs a colorful piece by Verbecky with strips of painted glass on the underside, creating an interesting effect which is a wonderful conversation piece.

Marcia: What about the outdoors?
Ken: We have more than 4,500 square feet inside plus 1,000 feet on our three patios, combined with the main patio being the centerpiece of entertainment right off our living room. The main terrace houses a custom-designed, stainless steel and marble unit to incorporate the fireplace, grill and TV, which raise and lower into the cabinet. All are remote controlled. It’s an extraordinary place to visit with friends and drink cocktails. We love our neighbors who have become dear friends and make our lives all the more special.

Marcia: Last word. 
Lori and Ken: We love coming home to our dream home in the clouds which is full of our passions.

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