Kitchens and Baths Always a Priority

Every condominium developer knows that kitchens and bathrooms are the most important selling features in any design. Today's designers are stepping up to the plate with kitchen and bathroom features and finishes that are simply spectacular, and developers are sourcing out suppliers that offer out-of-the-ordinary choices.

All condominium purchasers benefit, from entry-level buyers to owners of luxurious penthouses. Across the board, today's kitchens and bathrooms are more than functional rooms; they are sanctuaries from the hectic outside world. The kitchen remains the heart of the main living area - the place where people interact and chat while preparing food. In most cases in condo suites, the kitchen is open to the living/dining area, so particular attention is paid to making it as beautiful as it is practical.

I am astounded at the variety of kitchen appointments available today. Just look at what condominium developers are offering in the way of cabinets, countertops, backsplashes, fixtures and appliances. We're seeing granite counters as a standard feature more and more, even in modestly priced suites. Some condominium kitchens are from European suppliers, in a stunning style that incorporates cabinets as furniture. Fixtures are available today in every imaginable style, from Victorian to extremely modern.

And appliances! The choices are truly remarkable, from stainless steel to paneled fronts, single units to components. Do you want your freezer on the top or on the bottom of your fridge? Do you want one freezer drawer or two? It's your call. With some top-end appliances such as Miele, which is standard in The King & John Corporation's Festival Tower for example, you almost don't need to know how to cook! They do just about everything. 

As for bathrooms, these truly are restful havens that provide a retreat from the stresses of modern living. Developers are going all out to make baths striking, with gorgeous vanities that are like pieces of cherished furniture. Even in condominiums catering to first-time buyers, there are often custom vanities designed exclusively for that building.

Flooring is another area where condo designers are excelling. We're seeing more patterned ceramics and porcelain that give the bathroom an enhanced level of elegance. Then there are other bathroom features. Spa-like showers, opaque glass block walls, glass shower enclosures, deep soaker tubs - the list of items that are being incorporated to make bathrooms special is long and exciting.

If you buy a condominium suite in today's market, you're sure to get a kitchen and bathroom that will make your friends jealous!

Pat Baker is CEO of Baker Real Estate Corporation, one of the world's most respected and successful condominium sales and marketing firms. Through an international network of top-performing associates in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe (including Dublin), the company works with many of Toronto's prestigious developers to represent the city's hottest-selling projects. Visit www.baker-re.com to find out more about the city's most important condominium projects.