When it comes to condo design features, novelty can sometimes get in the way of practicality. There are features that have appeal just on the basis of being new or unusual. Give it a few years, however, and you might rue the day you fell for them. From the impractical to the downright ugly, here are some of the not...
When it comes to condo design features, novelty can sometimes get in the way of practicality. There are features that have appeal just on the basis of being new or unusual.
As far as interior design goes, unusual, rounded corners can be a challenge. You may end up having to fork out more, for custom design elements to use or disguise the space. Oh, and if you think you’re going to just hack it away, think again: you need to get official approval to do that, if the ledge space was originally exempt from the Gross Floor Area . That can come with some hefty fees, as you’re expanding the GFA.This came about at the same time as bay windows. The reason was that, before 2009, these didn’t add to the GFA of a unit – so developers weren’t taxed for the space. They could, however, charge buyers for that space.
Landlords, take note: if you’re renting your unit to a collection of unrelated tenants, most of them loathe having the bathroom open out into the living room. The main issue though is the lack of ventilation and sunlight. Unless there’s more than one balcony or a clever use of mirrors, these units tend to end up having more dark corners. That can mean more costs for lighting and air-conditioning, and the place can look dreary besides.