It's a trend that's sweeping major cities across North America: living in small, strategically laid out spaces that are affordable, yet stylish.
Not to mention livable -- provided the space is used well, and is well-proportioned to begin with. That's the case with unit 25B-778 McMillan Ave., a charming 585 sq. ft. apartment-style condominium that was created by an interior designer, no less.
"It's a freshly designed condominium that would be a great place for, say, a young professional single to live," said Realty Executives First Choice's Eric Neumann. "If you're young, just got your first good-paying job and don't have a ton of possessions -- and not a lot of young professionals do -- this would be a great place to call home for more than one reason."
The first reason is the most important one: Though this is not a huge condominium, the space is well-laid-out. A generous foyer (with big closet to the right) opens onto a hallway that branches off into four distinct spaces: a bedroom, living room, galley kitchen and bathroom.
"The layout is unique in that it works well from a livability standpoint," Neumann said. "It's not a long, narrow space that's been chopped up into different rooms without much thought, as many apartments in older buildings (this one, Banbury Court, dates back to 1912) tend to be. It's actually a relatively open design with all the key spaces branching off in nice order."
Perhaps the best feature of the unit -- aside from the well-used space -- is how bright its interior is. Unlike many turn-of-the-century apartments, the windows aren't tiny, poorly placed slits of glass. Rather, they're large -- there's a big bay window in the living/dining room, and the window in the bedroom is surprisingly large.
"Because the back of the suite faces south, loads of light comes in through the huge windows all day long," said Stacey Repay, Neumann's sales associate. "The bonus is that both the master bedroom and living room are larger than you would expect. The bedroom is 14.67 feet by 11.19 feet, while the living/dining room is also a good size at 12.63 feet by 12.23 feet. The bedroom is actually big enough to put a desk in, and the closet -- you can walk into it -- is huge."
The vendor, who is an interior designer at Two Degrees Interiors, also did a masterful job of blending contemporary design touches into a space loaded with character. Turn-of-the-century design details such as original (natural) maple hardwoods and 10-inch baseboards (the ceilings are also extra-high at nine feet through all rooms) and a clawfoot tub were retained, while other touches were added to ensure the suite has a modern feel and function.
"Take the kitchen," said Repay. "It's brand new, with new grey vinyl flooring (that looks like tile), white cabinets, grey countertops and newer appliances. Even though it's not a big space (it's 8.62 feet by 8.04 feet), it's well-laid-out with ample counter space. It also has a window and door to a shared balcony, plus a cutout on the wall by the (stainless) sink. It's a great feature; it allows light from the living/dining room to flow into the kitchen."
Meanwhile, the living/dining room has room for a dining area on one side and a media area on the other by the bay window. However, because it isn't huge, furnishings have to be well-placed and more compact (rather than stuffed/oversized pieces) to keep the area as functional and clutter-free as possible.
Last but not least is the long, rectangular four-piece bath, a space that, though not wide, is plenty functional.
"It feels larger because of the nine-foot ceiling, pedestal sink and a big window that lets in more light," Neumann said. "The new grey flooring looks great, and the clawfoot tub keeps with the suite's old-style character. Not only is this a distinct character condo with modern touches, it's in a great location (Crescentwood) that's central to everything. It's affordable, livable and stylish -- a great place for someone just starting out to make their first home."
lewys@mts.net
