First off, the C-shaped floor plan makes the nearly 1000 square foot home seem much larger than it is. It’s not an open plan where rooms don’t really begin or finish as with most new condos, but rather a separated one where the bedrooms and bathrooms are set off on one end of the unit, and the living room and kitchen areas are on the opposite end. A long hallway connects the two stretching the space of the home and giving it that trendy infill feel. Especially since their previous home was a tiny apartment, the place seems extra spacious because the separated areas help them feel like they have their own space and aren’t continually on top of one another. “It feels bigger to me than it is,” says Andrew. “We don’t feel like we’re always in one room all the time. We can go into three distinct rooms.”

Secondly, their unit is only one of seven, in a building that frankly, doesn’t even look like a condo building. The exterior seems more like a large house, with its attractive cultured stone façade. It’s not until you enter the building that you realize there are separate residences inside. Plus, it’s a really small building, another rarity in the condo market. “I knew I didn’t want to be in a large building,” recalls Andrew, who initially began the condo hunt on his own. “I like the size of the building. I didn’t want it to feel like a hotel where you have to take an elevator up four floors then walk 100 feet to your door. Here, we have windows that are pretty much street-level, so it feels like we own a piece of the street — more like a house.”

However, because of the building’s size, the owners did run into some extra challenges. Because of how small it is, the building isn’t one a management company was willing to look after the maintenance for. So, while they did find a company to look after all the administration, the condo board — made up of owners — still has to organize the maintenance including all the things that go along with that, such as getting insurance and reliable contractors.

As the “de-facto condo board president,” Andrew has taken on the added responsibility of doing the legwork to find maintenance people and to make sure it gets done right. “Even though it’s not as maintenance-free as other condos might be, I think it’s well worth the effort to be involved. I’m learning a lot plus I get a greater say in how the building is managed.”

Another unique feature of the condo is that it was built by a small custom builder. “There was no existing design palate to choose from,” explains Andrew. “We could pick from anything.” So they did. By the interior design stage, the couple had gotten engaged so Kelly got involved with the building process. Together, the couple picked out everything for the interior finishing. “People don’t realize there are a lot of little things that go into a home that impact how it looks,” says Andrew. “We took the time to check out things like hardware, door styles, fixtures and more.”

“We had lots of fun picking everything out,” adds Kelly. “The colours, the flooring, even the bathroom fixtures. We wanted it to be contemporary, yet still warm and inviting.” And that’s exactly what it is. With the dramatic slate tile flooring throughout, stainless steel appliances, eye-catching glass backsplash, cool colour tones, clean lines, distinctive maple cabinetry with a charcoal wash alongside plush rugs — one of which is presided over by their “freakishly lazy” but loveable bulldog, Molly — and various textured and organic décor, the home is both modern and cozy.

“I love the fireplaces the most,” says Kelly. “There are two — one in the bedroom, one in the living room. And I love our neighbours; we’ve met lots of nice friends here and had a lot of fun.” That’s often a bonus of condo living — the built-in community makes for a hotbed of new friendships.

The location also makes up a big part of why Andrew and Kelly love their home so much. Situated in the burgeoning southwest community of Marda Loop, the condo is close to everything. “We wanted to be in a neighbourhood where we got home at night and just parked the car,” says Andrew. “Everything we want to do, we can walk to — restaurants, the gym, dog park, grocery. Plus, I was considering the home to a degree as an investment, and it was a good time to buy in Marda Loop.”

“For us, the most important thing was living centrally,” agrees Kelly. “This home fits well into our lifestyle. We’re not commuting far for work, everything’s nearby, and we’re located in between friends and family.”

While the home is beautiful, it did take a long time to build — which can often be the case with a small custom builder. “Though it did have its challenges, we got exactly what we wanted,” says Andrew. “You do have to be very hands-on and know what you want. If you want it done quickly and aren’t so concerned with the details, it’s probably better to go with a bigger builder. I think we did get better value this route — more condo and quality for the dollars, but it was a bit of a leap of faith. When I signed up, it was based purely on blueprints; there was no show suite.”

But in the end, it was a leap worth taking. They are now fully enjoying the design and location of their condo along with its associated lifestyle. “It’s easy,” says Kelly. “I don’t have to worry about a thing.” Perfect for a couple who is now busy planning a wedding!