Downtown
The Upside of Downsizing Tricks of the design trade help maximize space in cozy condos
By Pat St. Germain – Photos by Marianne Helm
>> When it comes to comfort, StreetSide Development Corp. design consultant Tammie Bennett says homeowners should think big, even when space is limited. The District Condos bachelor unit at 102- 110 James Ave. might serve as inspiration. The 566-square-foot Parade of Homes show unit was decorated to maximize space without sacrificing coziness. “You still want to have a very comfortable feel where potential buyers come in and they can actually feel themselves living in this space,” Ms. Bennett says. The unit presented the same challenges as any open-concept plan, in that she had to define separate living spaces within one large room. Except in this case, she had to incorporate a bedroom along with the liv- ing room, kitchen and office space. Ms. Bennett says she looked for smaller-
scale furniture with multiple functions. For example, a well-placed dining table can also function as a desk and coffee table. Tall wardrobes with space for extra storage on top can be used in hallways. And cabi- nets can work as dressers. They can also be stacked to take advantage of vertical space, although Ms. Bennett says she’d use that trick sparingly in the District condos. High ceilings and tall windows already make the units feel roomy, and original features add special character of their own. “The large windows, the exposed brick, the beams, the exposed duct work – it’s all wow factor and it goes perfectly with those types of units,” she says. And while she may use mirrors for reflec- tion and texture on the walls, she doesn’t use them to create the illusion of a larger space.
‘The large windows, exposed brick, beams, duct work – it’s all wow factor’
Cont’d on page 96
94 Parade of Homes Spring 2013
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