As condominium living becomes a more popular option, builders are looking for innovative storage solutions and unique cabinetry design to increase functionality and optimize space. More and more new home projects are stepping out of conventional design solutions by offering features that add a little more convenience to your everyday living.

In the Kitchen

Having enough space to store everything you need to suit your cooking lifestyle can be tough, but a few notable features can make a big difference. When shopping for a new home, keep an eye out for the following:

• Full height upper cabinetry – vertical storage is a must, especially for smaller homes
• Pantry solutions - Meccanica in False Creek includes a pull-out pantry system for most homes while Concord Gardens in Richmond offers the “Magic Corner” as an upgrade option
• Pot storage – check the height of bottom drawers to ensure your pressure cooker and crock pot will fit

In the Bathroom

Features such as built-in medicine cabinets and shower niches are simple ways of adding more storage to the bathroom without the clutter. Bathrooms designed with a ledge along the mirror provides extra shelf space in addition to the storage below the sink.

Closets & Storage

Having your storage areas organized and easily accessible makes a big difference. Some projects include closet organizers such as Boulevard by Redekop in Kerrisdale and Meccanica by Cressey in False Creek; however, many leave the closet and storage rooms up to the homeowner to customize on their own. So as you shop around, take photos of closet storage systems that inspire you and work for your lifestyle. Solutions can range anywhere from DIY through stores like IKEA and Home Depot to hiring a professional installer from local companies such as California Closets or Elite Closets.

Built-in storage in the bedroom and laundry room at Meccanica by Cressey make it easy to keep your home beautiful and organized.

Space Saving Upgrades

In Chinatown at Keefer Block, buyers have the option of adding in an Italian multi-function murphy bed that neatly swivels from a queen bed to office shelves and folds out to a dining table. At Bosa’s Uptown project in Coquitlam, select one-bedroom homes have the option to add in BosaSPACE™ which includes an 8-seater dining room table hidden in the kitchen island and their Sleep Theatre system which turns the bedroom into an entertainment lounge.

With all these options and unique features becoming more popular, it makes sense to not only invest in a new home based on location and size, but also based on functionality and design.