Toronto Condo and Real Estate Blog

For anyone whose taste runs to hip downtown or urban sophisticated, the exciting new condo presentation centre at Absolute (the “Marilyn Monroe” building) in the heart of downtown Mississauga has become a must-see event.

The 7,000-sq.-ft. centre features a pair of fully furnished and equipped model suites. The interior designs by Carmen Dragomir of Esqape Design Inc. are certain to impress. Better yet, Dragomir has created her design masterpieces using furnishings from easily accessible stores like Ikea, Casalife and Up Country.

“Model suites have to both capture the lifestyle of potential residents and be easily affordable at the same time,” she says. “What I have tried to do is create comfortable and inviting homes with a little imagination and an average budget.”

The pair of model condo suites includes the 670-sq.-ft. Meridian, a one-bedroom-plus den unit and the 1,050-sq.-ft., two-bedroom plus den Absolute. The one-bedroom Meridian has been decorated and equipped to suit the needs of first time buyers - an urban single professional or young couple, while the larger Absolute reflects a more sophisticated couple who also enjoy the excitement of living in the heart of the city.

“Both reflect the excitement of living right in the heart of one of Canada’s largest cities,” says Dragomir. “These are homes for people who appreciate design and simplicity of line and function. They are also both easily achievable. Anyone looking to stamp their own personal taste on their home can probably pick up a few tricks each time they visit the presentation centre.

“The smaller one-bedroom-plus den suite uses a monochromatic pallet – high-gloss white kitchen cabinets and white furnishings with orange accents. Soft and bright tones of intense fruit shades are hot for the 2004 colour palette,” says Dragomir. Set against white walls, cabinets, wall-to-wall full height sheers and curtains on the floor-to-ceiling windows, the splashes of vibrant orange, draw the eye to conversation pieces like the orange ottomans and the throw pillows in the seating area or the Japanese-style dinnerware, orange chopsticks and orange decorative candles. “Orange stimulates sensuality, emotions, physical energy and lifts the spirit which makes it perfect for a single, young professional setting,” adds Dragomir.

Engineered, high-gloss hardwood floors in kitchen, living and dining areas help to tie the open concept living rooms together. White leather dining table chairs and sofa continue the colour scheme and reduce the profile of the major furnishings making spaces seem larger.

The two-bedroom-plus den Absolute condo suite also uses one style of hardwood flooring to tie together all living spaces. But its colour scheme is softer, using earth tones of cream and beige with hints of green and touches of deep chocolate brown. Bedrooms are especially striking. Dragomir has used a striking combination of rich, dark wood in an espresso shade contrasting with white and cream bedding to achieve a richly textured escape from a fast-paced lifestyle.

“Condominiums are very different from detached homes and must be treated as such,” she says. “The overall space is smaller. That means treating living areas as multi-functional spaces. I have tried to create inspirational, classic, sophisticated spaces that also offer flexibility when entertaining. You start with cocktails in the den, then the main course in the dining room and desert and coffee in the living room.”

She also advises taking advantage of the GTA’s plentiful supply of affordably priced furniture stores for most items, reserving bigger-ticket spending for accent pieces or small, striking art works.

Absolute, when complete, will be home to 1,800 families and five high-rise towers. The centerpiece will be The Absolute Club, the largest recreation centre of its kind in Mississauga.

The Absolute presentation centre is situated at the north east corner of Burnhamthorpe Road and Hurontario Street, just west of Square One, in the heart of downtown Mississauga.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information

There’s a new wave of homebuyers that won’t settle for less; they want more.

More space; more style; more like the comforts of home that you’re used to. More is what you’ll find at The Clairmont. Designed with an upscale lifestyle in mind it puts you at home on Yonge Street just south of St. Clair at Balmoral. The neighbourhood has everything; there are boutiques and businesses, services and restaurants that range from the necessary to the specialty to the divine. The subway is just a few steps up the street making it easy to get to the office or pop by Yorkville for lunch.

The manicured side streets are lined with gracious residences, and this neighbourhood’s reputation of refinement and elegance is well-deserved. The neighbourhood is a big draw to a wide range of condo shoppers, and will have great appeal to those who would like to downsize, have the ease of a maintenance-free lifestyle or have the ease of single level living but don’t want to leave the area.

Size is relative to individual needs, and The Clairmont recognizes that, for some, the alternative to the executive home is a luxury suite, a condominium where every suite is penthouse style living. The Clairmont offers this kind of home. In this 14-storey terraced tower, a combination of upscale appointments finish a superb range of suite designs that span from 535 sq. ft. to over 2,230 sq. ft. There are many unique suites at The Clairmont, there really is a design to suit everyone’s needs; perfect space for luxury living in the middle of the city.

From the moment you enter directly from Yonge Street, you will feel the transition from the city pace to the comforts of home. The boutique-hotel style lobby designed by Toronto’s renowned designer Mike Niven boasts a gorgeous complement of granite wood and stone finishes. A uniformed concierge is at the post in the lobby 24-hours a day for your convenience and security, monitoring the building’s closed circuit cameras and two way intercoms. Passing through the gorgeous lobby, two custom-designed elevators are ready whisk you silently to your home.

A quick stop on the second floor will reveal The Clairmont Club. This is a private, fully equipped exercise facility with men’s and women’s steam rooms, showers and lockered change rooms. Work out on your own time, in your own home, in the elegant and well-designed surroundings of The Clairmont.

Continue on up to the sixth floor to enjoy The Clairmont lounge and terrace. This stylish sixth floor retreat and entertaining area is the perfect place to escape to with a book or a neighbour, or to relax with some friends. The landscaped terrace offers spectacular city views clear to the CN Tower and the lake, and, opening off the entertaining space, will be enjoyed by guests as they join you on festive occasions. Send out the invitations and let the catering staff do the rest. The gourmet kitchen, bar, private dining room, fireplace and lounge seating will accommodate parties in fine style.

The condos have been designed to suit your needs, from space to function, all without compromising style. Kitchens are designed to be the space the chef dreams of, with plenty of space to work and lots of storage in the built in pantries and European inspired cabinetry. Task lighting under upper cabinets are a beautiful way to illuminate the backsplash and the counters as you work on the granite counter top. Stainless steel appliances are a perfect accent in these chic kitchens. The brand-name appliances include refrigerator, multicycle dishwasher, built-in cooktop and oven and a stainless-steel hoodfan on the wall or over the island, as per plan. Name-brand full-sized washer and dryer are furnished with the in-suite laundry.

A gorgeous array of finishes used throughout the condos gives them a fabulous variety of materials, colours and textures. The gleam of steel, the texture of granite, the engineered wood, marble or porcelain tile floors, the stone and marble of the vanity tops in the bathroom and the cushioning softness of high quality 50 oz broadloom in the carpeted areas have been put together in an excellent combination to set each other off exquisitely in The Clairmont condos.

Each suite has its own private balcony, most are furniture sized so that you can enjoy the sunshine, brunch outside or just throw open the doors to allow a summer breeze to waft through your suite. Quite a number of suites enjoy more than one balcony, giving the master suite a private retreat; taking advantage of multiple exposures; flooding rooms with light through wide sliding glass doors. Impressive terraces are available. The Stafford is an spacious 2-bedroom plus den condo that offers an impressive 639-sq.-ft. terrace that wraps around the corner of this suite while placing a 96-sq.-ft. balcony along the kitchen and bedroom with walk-outs from each.

Innovative layouts offer a selection of both contemporary, open concepts and traditional formal rooms. With a variety of interesting features incorporated into different plans, suites will feel customized to your individual needs. The one-bedroom Lanesborough is 635 sq. ft. A perfect pied-a-terre, it maximizes on space, extending a study off of the foyer, separating it from the main area of the suite without enclosing it, while the 949-sq.-ft. Halkin has closed it off affording it a bit more privacy. The two-bedroom 810-sq.-ft. Newton tucks a study into a bedroom alcove, offering a perfect spot for the computer without it taking over the room and a wonderful design for those that would turn the second bedroom into a home office.

The St. Martin’s Lane is a one-bedroom plus den condo that offers a loft-like layout. The bedroom is in the interior of the suite instead of up against a window, giving it lots of extra wall space for decorating. But the bedroom has two doors, one close to the washroom, the other a sliding wall so it can be opened onto the den, joining the bedroom into the living space for wonderful lazy days at home.

The 1,210-sq.-ft. two-bedroom Grosvenor offers a traditional house layout. Entering, a formal foyer gives you the option of tuning left or right. To the right are the expansive living room and a bedroom, both enjoying the large balcony. To the left is the expansive dining room and master bedroom with ensuite, also enjoying the large balcony. The galley kitchen is in the middle, offering walk-though access from living room to dining room and the suite takes up the entire width of The Clairmont, taking advantage of three exposures.

Looking at the larger suites, there is an amazing variety of suites that offer much more space than most average condominiums, but then again, there is nothing average about The Clairmont. Starting at just under 1,100 sq. ft. and ranging up to 2,230 sq. ft., these suites offer features that parallel the area’s upscale homes. These incorporate the same magnificent finishes and appointments of all of the smaller suites, they just offer more in the way of space.

These are a perfect option for people downsizing from massive homes, who just can’t see downsizing from executive sized homes to under 1,000 sq. ft.; who don’t want to give up their lifestyle or their grand furnishings just to give up the unused space of their current home, now that the nest is empty. These are perfect for those that want the condo lifestyle with an above average home and the ease of single level living.

These are also the perfect accommodation for those that want an inlaw or nanny suite as many designs offer two master bedrooms or a second bedroom with full ensuite. They are also perfect for those who desire the luxury of a truly spacious and open 1- 2- or 3-bedroom suite.

These sprawling designs include formal rooms and elaborate foyers. The 2,140-sq.-ft. Savoy has a Great Room which easily accommodates a grand piano without overpowering the room. One of the two master bedrooms includes a separate home gym within the bedroom. His and hers walk-in closets could easily be mistaken for guest rooms. The lavish ensuite lets him and her get ready simultaneously; better than just a double vanity, the ensuite is actually two separate rooms attached in the middle by the shower. His has a toilet and vanity, hers a toilet, vanity and a deep soaker tub that she might let him visit.

The Hyde Park is 1,600 sq. ft. The flexible design can offer either three generous bedrooms, two bedroom plus a study or den, or you can opt for one incredibly large family/dining room.

The 1,096 sq. ft. Stafford is a two-bedroom plus den that offers very formal space. The kitchen, like traditional eat-in kitchens, is completely enclosed. Preparing meals and hosting dinner parties is ideal as swinging doors lead to the elegant dining room. The kitchen is also accessed form the central hall.

From smallest to largest, whichever design fits your needs best, you can be assured that the comforts of home at The Clairmont are sublime. Prices start from the $190s.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information

Today, environmental conservation is an issue that concerns everyone, and as one of Canada’s largest condominium developers, Tridel is taking the initiative to new levels in the condominium industry.

Through its “Naturally Better” program, the company is working to reduce harmful greenhouse gases, waste, pollution and increasing energy costs by implementing environmentally sustainable design and construction practices, along with environmentally friendly features and finishes in all its new communities.

Verve, Tridel’s newest downtown condo community, will illustrate the company’s environmental policy, with residents seeing the direct benefits of green building through higher performance and efficiency, a healthier living environment and reduced maintenance costs.

Verve will be a new experience in condominium living that will feed off the vibrant energy of the surrounding urban environment, and the spirit of its residents. Offering resort-style condominium living, Verve will provide the comforts of home and the style of today’s coolest boutique hotels. Located on Wellesley Street East, just east of Jarvis Street, this condominium community will anchor a new master-planned community on the former Wellesley Hospital site. Positioned right on the edge of architectural design, this stunning building will also be healthy and energy efficient, taking the lead as one of the first truly “green” condos in the city.

Pushing the boundaries in architectural design, Burka-Varacalli Architects has made Verve a powerful visual statement, in both the local neighbourhood and on the Toronto skyline, with its 39-storey point tower of shimmering glass and concrete elements, and its hip, urban seven-storey loft building linked by a central lobby. Verve’s tower façade has been shaped to take advantage of some of the unique elements of the surrounding landscape, following the curving path of Wellesley Street as it passes by.

Verve – Hip, Healthy Living Spaces

Verve will offer 344 one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den, two-bedroom and two-bedroom plus den tower suites with nine-foot ceilings. Ranging in size from 522 to 1,085 sq. ft., each suite is accompanied by either a French balcony, balcony or terrace. Tower suites are priced from $168,000 to $341,000. A series of large Signature Collection suites will also be released at a later date.

The loft building will be home to 86 one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den, two-bedroom and two-bedroom plus den lofts with ceiling heights ranging from nine to 14 ft. Every design features either a patio, balcony or terrace, and two-storey lofts make up the top floor of the building. Loft suites range in size from 614 to 1,404 sq. ft. and are priced from $230,000 to $535,000.

Sustainable development and environmentally friendly design are two key elements that have been considered throughout the creation of Verve. As such, finishes used in both the Tower and Loft collections are not only premium quality, but also kinder to the environment. Plank laminate floating floors for example, which consume fewer natural resources and limit the build-up of dust and irritants, are found in the kitchen, living room, dining room, den, halls and foyer, creating a healthier living space. Green label Olefin fibre broadloom is used in the bedrooms in place of conventional carpeting, and porcelain tiles are in the bathrooms.

Energy conservation continues in the kitchen, with a black Energy Star high-efficiency, time-delay dishwasher, and a stainless steel Energy Star high-efficiency refrigerator, plus a black, slide-in self-cleaning oven with a ceran top and an over-the-counter microwave with a built-in hood fan. Finishes like granite counters, a mosaic ceramic tile backsplash and Euro-style flat panel cabinetry with extended uppers, designer detailed open shelving and stainless steel handles are other highlights. Most of the kitchen designs also provide an island with breakfast bar for more storage space and an eat-in area.

Each suite’s bathroom is designed with water conservation in mind, featuring low-flow faucets in bathtubs, showers and sinks, as well as a high performance dual flush toilet. In the bathroom, residents will find 36-inch extended Euro-style cabinetry with stainless steel handles, white cultured marble counters complete with a rectangular sink, and a deep soaker tub or glass shower stall with designer detailed mosaic wall tile.

Residents will also benefit from an in-suite laundry area with a stacked Whirlpool dryer and Energy Star front-loading washer.

Each condo also features Tridel’s SoftWire Network Centre, which supports the very latest in communications and entertainment technology, with the flexibility to suit individual lifestyle and communication needs for the present and the future.

Verve – The Urban Resort

In addition to leading-edge living spaces, Verve will offer residents resort-style living with first-rate amenities and outstanding design. Verve’s central lobby and recreation facilities have been designed as fluid spaces that are open, inviting and pulsing with the life of the community. The two-storey lobby, created by Mike Niven Interior Design Inc., has a suspended second floor made of frosted glass, translucent light panels that change colour over the course of the day, and suspended ornamental artwork that also reflects the coloured light.

The design of the party room, with its bar and caterers’ kitchen, is flexible to meet many uses, whether it be an intimate dinner party or a larger gathering of friends. Residents can also kick back and play a game of pool in the billiards room or watch a movie in the private screening theatre. And, residents will no longer need a gym membership. Verve’s fitness centre and aerobics studio will offer state-of-the-art fitness equipment, sound systems and televisions.

Verve will also provide residents with an urban oasis reminiscent of South Beach amid the bustling city. On top of the loft building, residents can spend their hot summer nights relaxing while overlooking the city. The roof is home to an outdoor swimming pool with a water wall, breezy cabanas, sunning decks and patios with barbecues. With special lighting adding atmosphere to the evening, residents will be able to entertain their guests, day or night.

Verve – Toronto at Your Door

As Verve is part of the overall master-planned community, residents will also be able to enjoy a stunning urban park designed by internationally acclaimed landscape architect, Cornelia Oberlander. Oberlander has designed public spaces for many projects including the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, the Canadian Embassy in Berlin and the Canadian Chancellery in Washington, DC. A recipient of the Order of Canada, she believes that it is imperative to provide “green living for city dwellers,” and the theme for the park is “healthy cities.”

Verve is also perfectly located to offer its residents the very best that Toronto has to offer. Just a short walk from Yonge Street, residents can take advantage of some of the city’s best restaurants, shopping and entertainment. A stroll north up Yonge Street leads to the shops of Bloor Street, while a walk south takes residents to College Park, which is home to a large Dominion, the Eaton Centre and numerous restaurants and theatres. To travel further afield in an environmentally friendly way, residents also have access to the TTC at the Wellesley or Sherbourne subway stations.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information