Single-level living a big draw at the Residences at Gateway
Mary Frances Hill
The Province
Project: Residences at Gateway
Residence sizes and prices: 1 bed + flex to 2-bed+den, 703 – 1,238 sq. ft.
Price: From the mid $200,000s
Developer and builder: Boulevard Group
Sales centre: 101 – 2031 McCallum Road, Abbotsford
Hours: noon — 5 p.m., closed Tuesdays
Website: boulevardgroup.ca
Phone: 1-604-855-8116
With a layout that is practical, efficient and above all, simple, interior designer Farrah Hague and the Boulevard Group make a strong case for single-level living for downsizers at The Residences at Gateway, the developer’s new condominium community in Abbotsford.
It’s probably no surprise that downsizers are being attracted to the project. As homeowners who seek smaller living quarters after living in homes that have perhaps become too large to manage, they’re often willing to sacrifice space. Yet they still need ample room to store their treasured belongings in an efficient space that has easy access to plenty of storage.
“We believe single-level living is optimal from a design standpoint; no more running upstairs to fetch a forgotten item, or lugging your laundry hamper down two flights of stairs and then back up again,” says Hague, the in-house designer for Boulevard Group. Single-level homes allow homeowners “to utilize every room in multiple ways and fully enjoy the ease of the design,” she adds.
At Residences at Gateway, storage space is directly next to parking spots, and additional storage is provided courtesy of the kitchen pantries.
Hague has fashioned the living room as a warm hub for socializing; her choices of furnishings betray her tastes for a mid-century modern flair. At the same time, she manages to maintain a contemporary ”lightweight” look to the room, as she describes it.
“While mid-century modern is very trendy right now, we wanted to avoid pieces that would make this feel like a time capsule. The layout lean lines and finishes in the suites lend to a very versatile decor. Whether our owners prefer something more traditional and European or trendy and modern, they will be able to decorate with ease.”
A bathroom, meanwhile, shows her knack for balancing brightness (note the generous use of striated marble in the shower stall) with the warm and moody dark green wall and dark wooden cabinetry.
Hague says the Boulevard Group team chose Carrara marble because of its classical beauty, and the way it adds “a touch of timeless luxury to any space.” Marble also contrasts with the warmer texture of bath vanities, wood floor and custom millwork.
“We chose these materials to highlight the interplay between light and dark and to provide a cosy but fresh backdrop for any furnishings,” says Hague.
The kitchen includes plenty of storage in the island and the dining room is placed close to the outside deck—a nice touch in a layout suited to family gatherings, Hague says.
“Let’s face it: nobody likes to bring a tray of food through the living room to get to the barbecue.”
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