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Custom
comfort
Developers
create innovative condo project |
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| By JENNY REBHOLZ |
January 2008 |
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As you
climb the stairwell from street level to level one of Pearson
Bourn, you enter a part of the home that was designed to meet
and greet guests. While a more formal living space is perfect
for entertaining, it also displays Richter’s piano, her most
coveted possession, as well as a library wall beckoning an
avid reader. Brazilian cherry wood floors and millwork
combined with an elegant white marble on the fireplace and a
subtle neutral gray-green hue for the walls creates a
sophisticated materials and finish palette for this formal
welcoming space.
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Like other developers in town, Patricia Richter and Dennis Burgener,
AIA, were interested in tackling a small condo project — a project
that could offer a distinct mix of housing options in one building in
order to attract a diverse group of owners, and that they could reside
in. "We wanted to attract a mix of ages and income levels just
like the rest of the neighborhood," describes Richter. "The
unit layouts had to offer flexibility to suit a variety of lifestyles
and have the appeal of a single family home."
In the end, the Pearson Bourn project was recognized with a Mayor’s
Urban Design Award in 2005.
Each level of this unique development addresses functional aspects
of the couple’s lifestyle while offering an aesthetic that infuses
their personality into this urban dwelling. Fluid architectural
details carry you from level to level, always with a sense of comfort
as well as a commitment to quality. Ample window space provides
natural light even in the most unexpected ways. Tall ceilings and
doorways, subtle roundness to mouldings, satin finishes and other
details create a sense of spaciousness and comfort throughout the
home.
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A spiral
staircase from the first level leads to the pied-à-terre
portion of this home, which provides ample office space for
Burgener, as well as additional guest accommodations. The
sophisticated architectural details are maintained on this level
and serve as the perfect backdrop for Burgener’s work space
and book collection, as well as a lounge area for conferencing,
complete with a kitchenette. Just outside, the patio with its
impeccably groomed landscape sets the perfect scene for a
morning cup of coffee or afternoon cocktail and allows the
couple to engage in the neighborhood activity on the street.
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The second
level of this home is where Richter and Burgener spend most of
their time. This multi-functional area provides daily living
space, a sleek kitchen, elegant dining, as well as access to the
outdoors with a bay window to the front and a balcony to the
rear. This elongated space offers a sense of openness while
addressing defined living spaces. The kitchen offers a division
between the living and dining areas. Display niches on each end
of the marble-topped island allow the couple to personalize
space and create a demarcation between the areas. Accessories
are kept to a minimum in order to maintain a clean aesthetic but
signature features such as a geometric glass chandelier in the
dining room infuse a touch of glamour. A butler’s pantry is
conveniently tucked away, offering space adjacent to the dining
area and outdoor balcony for easy serving and cleanup. Paired
French doors slide open to blur the line between interior and
exterior and create a unique dining experience.
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Luxury
awaits on the third floor. A simple master bedroom continues the
sophisticated details from each of the floors below. Ball-gown
inspired draperies add a touch of glamour as an accent to the
bedroom set with its subtle diamond motif. As you move through
the closet and dressing area, the space opens to a stunning
master bath with a Juliet balcony that once again blurs the
lines between interior and exterior. Radiant heat floors, a
glass enclosure shower and a luxurious bath face the outside and
overlook the city with a tree house-like effect.
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This article was featured in the January 2008 issue of
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