BURNABY
WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY,JANUARY AUGUST 20, 31, 2016
TRI-CITIES
info@rew.ca • 604-435-7977
REALTORS® in Real Estate Weekly are working hard for you. Whether buying or selling, check out the newest and most amazing homes listed in your neighbourhood.
R E A L E S TAT E W E E K LY
Storage Solutions for Kids’ Small Bedrooms L
ike many baby boomers, Mila Cotic grew up in a large suburban home with a big backyard. Meanwhile, her European-born husband, Les, was raised in a city apartment. When it came time to have children, Cotic expected they would sell their 870-square-foot condo in the West End and buy a house in the ‘burbs. It didn’t happen that way. “We grew to love and appreciate the convenience of living in the city, so we decided to raise our three kids in our three-bedroom condo,” she explains, adding their two daughters shared a room, while their son had his own bedroom. That was 22 years ago. It would seem that this couple was years ahead of what is now called the growing “new normal” for many young families in Vancouver. Today it isn’t unusual to raise children in condominiums because for many people buying a single detached home in Metro Vancouver is out of their reach.
Pros and Cons of Family Condo Living Although
Cotic
concedes
GO TO
REW.CA /NEWS TO READ THESE STORIES AND MUCH MORE REAL ESTATE NEWS AND ADVICE
there
are challenges – a lack of storage and bathrooms were definitely two of the biggest – the benefits are many. “We became really innovative when it came to storage solutions, but we also didn’t collect as much superfluous stuff as we might have had living in a traditional home.” But kids also need space to run, play and climb. “My kids’ backyard was the school yard, Stanley Park, the beach and Science World,” Cotic says. “My children didn’t sit round watching television; we were always out exploring.” With the condominium building boom of the past few years, the increased density is attracting everything a family needs: grocery stores; restaurants; green space; events; libraries; schools; and easy access to transit.
Gallop, principal at Sarah Gallop Design Inc., is experiencing an increased demand for storage ideas from clients living in condos with young children. First off, says Gallop, decorating a small bedroom doesn’t have to be daunting if you choose a peaceful palette, great lighting and simple, yet smart, storage solutions. These allow you to meet the challenge with style and ease. “Also, it’s a good idea to design a space that your child can grow into rather than just for the present,” she says. “Choose a design that is flexible and can adapt to their changing needs.” Ask yourself how they will use the space as they grow older so you avoid redoing it over and over again. Choose larger storage containers for your toddler’s toys that can convert to games storage as they get older.
Built-in storage is a great solution. “Many of my clients are asking for builtins to add extra storage space by taking advantage of all the nooks and crannies,”
says Gallup. She also recommends: ■ Buy multi-functional furniture. ■ Look for bunk beds with a desk underneath or captain-style beds with built-in drawers. ■ Build a window seat so your children have their own private little reading space. ■ Look at all the other under-utilized areas that you might be missing – the backs of doors, the sides of bookcases – and use them for additional storage space. Fold-up, retractable furniture is also on the rise, notes Gallup, mentioning that her company has just created a table that comes out of the wall. Additionally, she suggests putting beds on risers to give more space to place things underneath. Meanwhile, to help your kids stay organized, keep things at their height. That includes installing pegs or hooks in the closet at child height and putting a basket for shoes on the closet floor. To read the full version of this article, go to REW.ca/News/Inspiration
BC Continues to Lead Country for New Home Price Growth: StatCan
Strata Solutions: Does Your Condo Building Have an Annual Maintenance Plan?
Tips from a Pro But Where to Put all the Stuff? However, anyone who has had children knows they accumulate lots of stuff. And when it comes to small bedrooms, Sarah
Editorial: How Can People Possibly Afford Vancouver Real Estate? Hereʼs How