When they first started looking for a home, Calgary and its diverse neighbourhoods were largely unknown to them. The young couple knew they wanted two bedrooms and two bathrooms.  Their realtor showed them “over a dozen other condos” explains Ryan, including some in Marda Loop, Erlton, Bankview and Hillhurst.

The Armstrong’s found what they were searching for in Bridgeland.  What struck them first about this condo was its location, then its light filled airiness and size.  The floor plan was very important to Charmaine: “We saw many converted apartment buildings and they felt like college apartments.  They looked like 1960s apartments and those layouts were not at all appealing to us.  I’ve lived in enough places to know what I like.”

For Ryan, location was vital to making a decision on where to purchase a home.  He wanted something close to his downtown office, allowing him to walk to and from work. The sunny unit faces southwest where Charmaine and Ryan enjoy views of the Calgary Tower and downtown.

Their 24 suite, four storey stucco building was built in 1998 and has been well maintained.  “Everything we saw in this unit we liked,” says Ryan, “except the paint colour.”  When they bought the unit, it had orange and green walls.  With the help of their talented mothers, they painted the walls grey and chocolate brown and it was “done in a weekend”, adds Charmaine.  “We  are going to replace the carpet and lino with hardwood everywhere, except the bedrooms.”  The only alteration to be made in the kitchen will be changing the hardware on the cabinets.

Ryan and Charmaine’s tastefully decorated unit is about 1100 square feet in size.  The living room features a corner gas fireplace – something that appealed to the newlyweds.  Open to the large living room, the bright kitchen with a wall of maple cabinetry is found. The very spacious master suite includes two closets: the first, a walk-in and the other for linens.

The bonus here is the Jacuzzi® tub in their ensuite.  The second bedroom is used as a guest room, den and office.  Charmaine is happy the washer and dryer are conveniently located in the suite. “We spent too many years doing the laundromats.”  A deck is located off the living room through sliding glass doors.

Both Ryan and Charmaine have lived in a variety of rental accommodations in various cities throughout Alberta as students, and then again as they embarked on their careers. Ryan owned a condo in Edmonton, but as a couple, this is their first home together.  “We had to throw out a whole household full of things,” as both had established homes prior to their taking possession of their condo in December 2004.  They saved “only the best from both” adds Ryan, including his couch and much of Charmaine’s kitchen, to create a home for themselves.  They recently purchased a beautiful chaise for their living room and are on the lookout for a new bedroom suite.

They chose buying a condo over continuing to rent or purchasing a house, allowing them “to build up equity”, explains Ryan.  It was the right price and fit with their lifestyle.  “We don’t need the space”, adds Charmaine.  On the other hand, “It’s difficult to entertain as we don’t have the size to accommodate a large number of people for supper.”  Ryan says, “Sometimes it would be nice to have a backyard.”  However, the positive aspects of living in a condo outweigh the negative.  Charmaine likes the security of having neighbours across the hallway while they are away on the weekends, traveling and taking in Canmore and the mountains.  Ryan likes that it offers a maintenance free lifestyle and feels “the cost of maintenance is less” in a condo “than what it would be to maintain a house.” 

Their weekly routine involves “work, exercise and then supper” at home five days a week.   They like to dine out on the weekends, taking advantage of the vibrant restaurant scene close to home, as well as exploring those in other areas of Calgary.

Asked what their favourite thing about their condo is, the Armstrongs have different ideas:  Ryan prefers the location and Charmaine likes the layout.  Both agree the location is great, as they can walk to one of the local coffee houses for lunch on Saturdays as well as walk along the river pathways.  The newlyweds hadn’t realized the benefits to living in Bridgeland until they started residing in the inner city community.

They now know what a great investment buying in Bridgeland has been.  “There are lots of amenities and it’s a cool kind of neighbourhood”, states Charmaine.  “It will be a huge selling feature with all the restaurants and new condos being built.”  They see their condo as an investment to later move up.  Ryan clarifies, “We would probably move to a townhouse or house late next year or early the year after, but still stay in a central location with Marda Loop being a possibility.”

Learning about her newly adopted city, Charmaine finds Calgary to be “exciting because everything is new” to her.   Ryan “loves Alberta and loves Calgary.  It’s a great city.”  All signs indicate they are planning to stay!   CL