John Zayac and Marie Simon's Cleveland condominium is a playful home, packed with whimsy, character and unusual sophistication.

The couple lives in a penthouse overlooking Cleveland's near West Side and downtown that is spectacular based on its architectural design alone. But the art-collecting passion shared by Zayac and Simon elevates this home to the tip-top on the eye-candy scale.

"It was, at that time, the largest light-metal building in the world," he says. "I was drawn to the structure. Then I saw the views."

Zayac purchased three neighboring units, merging them into three stories with nearly 5,000 square feet of living space.

Four separate patios invite spectacular views from the West Side Market to Tower City. The bustle about the Flats and busy Cuyahoga River is far enough away to muffle any noise.

Sophisticated artistic presentation comes naturally to this couple. "So much of my work is artistic," says Simon, a dentist specializing in cosmetic improvements.

Zayac credits his ability to visualize then orchestrate pleasing design details to his background in civil engineering and a childhood spent attending the Cudell Recreation Center art school.

Stepping into the open foyer, a myriad of eye-popping visuals comes into view: maple-paneled walls and red oak millwork, a black granite ball bubbling upward and water rolling down into a river rock foundation, maple-adorned archway and an undulating glass-and-granite bar.

Extensive, eclectic art and sculpture collections are everywhere - on floors, walls, shelves, stairways and furniture, taking up residence on the outdoor balconies and in the museum-size gardens three stories below.

A boulder-size frog lounges spread-eagle in the foyer. Another stands on hind legs poised to dive into the river below.

African masks share wall space with a neon light twisted into a guitar.

Stylized antelope carvings flank a working wall clock that Zayac says was in Ford's Theatre when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.

The art ranges from contemporary to ancient, American Indian to a complete collection of the Secret Art of Dr. Seuss.

Ground-level gardens are built for optimum viewing pleasure from 200 feet above. The large, triangular space offers year-round color and texture. Simon and Zayac both tend to the rolling drifts of ornamental grasses, masses of colorful plants and funky ornamental pieces including a red London telephone booth.

Oversized sculptures in the garden were created by Marie's brother, North Royalton metal artist John Simon, owner of Hot Wind and a Hammer Inc.

Admiring furniture is secondary in this artsy home, with the exception of the couple's recently purchased dining-room table from Carefree, Ariz.

The table is so large it had to be hoisted up on a lift and brought in through a third-floor balcony window, which first was removed. Three Buckeye tree trunks fused together form the base. The trunks are free of bark and polished to a rich caramel shine.

A glass top with smooth, chiseled edge allows for an unencumbered view down into the trees' cavitylike core.

Konys, a master at pushing the boundaries of physically manipulating glass, says his favorite contribution to the home is a mirrored wall in the living room facing downtown. By placing pieces of mirror from top to bottom, descending in size as they move down the wall, Konys created a nighttime piece of art that captures the essence of city living.

"In the evening when the city lights are on," Konys says, "the image of Tower City cascades down the surface and appears to tumble off the wall onto the floor."

Zayac explains how this globe-trotting pair find art.

"Everything has a story in it. Looking at the piece brings us back to the places we've visited and the people we were with. We collect because we love it. But we've created our home to share it with others."

Dani Altieri Marinucci writes frequently about home decor and real estate issues. She lives in Westlake.