Alabaster Homes? development offers ?homey? touch to owners looking to downsize
Mary Frances Hill
The Province
Yukon Residences
Where: 450 West 59th Ave., Vancouver
What: 32 one-, two- and three-bedroom (garden flats); and three- and four-bedroom (townhomes)
Residence sizes and prices: One, two and three- bedroom garden flats: (511 to 1,626 square feet) and townhomes (1,410 to 1,640 square feet), from $600,000 (garden flats) and from $1.7 million (townhomes)
Developer and builder: Alabaster Homes
Sales centre: 301 — 1788 W. Broadway
Sales centre hours: Call for appointment at 604-558-5850
To find inspiration for her work on the design of the spaces at Yukon Residences, Brenda Chiu looked to the features of the building and the community that surrounds it.
“It is important for the interiors to feel home-y, beautiful and timeless. [In this case], it really reflects the building’s architecture and the neighbourhood,” says Chiu of the Alabaster Homes’ development at West 59th in Vancouver. “The interior esthetics were inspired from the exterior architectural style.”
Considering that the building was crafted in a manner reminiscent of Victorian architecture, Chiu and the designers at Area3 Design thought it was befitting to decorate indoors in a “transitional” style. Transitional design brings in some elements of the contemporary, but in an understated way, blending it with a decidedly traditional look. This style appeals to many of the home buyers attracted to Yukon Residences, who are downsizing from larger houses.
Chiu describes the method behind creating a traditional vibe, with a touch of contemporary upgrade: she and Area3 Design designers started by setting the tone and colour scheme with the hardwood flooring and cabinetry colour. One scheme, comprising white cabinetry with warm taupe oak-stained engineered hardwood, “is classic and timeless,” she says. Chiu chose the second theme, which includes grey cabinetry with coordinating grey stained oak engineered hardwood flooring, for its “modern transitional” characteristics, she adds.
Area3 Design then created interest through layering contrasting finishes and materials, such as the chevron marble backsplash and contrasting colour quartz countertop. The transitional appeal can be found in the details.
“Transitional details can be seen on the shaker cabinetry, crown mouldings, interior door panelling, and the wide-set lavatory faucet with cross handles,” says Chiu. “Every design detail has been selected carefully to enhance the transitional characteristics and to give the home owners an exceptional quality-built home.”
Chiu and her colleagues are experienced in designing for homes that appeal to older buyers looking to sell their larger homes for smaller suites that are easier to maintain. She says these buyers would do well to arm themselves with a plan to purge, and, importantly, to gauge the layout of the new space.
“I think the worst thing is moving all the your furniture and finding out that it won’t fit and you just live with it,” she advises.
“This makes the rooms not functional and creates stress. So, it’s a good idea to come up with a furniture plan before moving into a new home.”
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