Townhouse living - compact and secure
Townhouse developments continue to lead the way in the property market and many previous house property owners are downsizing to townhouse living, not only for increased security but also for the complete lifestyle that many developments offer to residents.
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One only has to look at new townhouse developments to see the 'extras' that are being included to make this type of living more attractive to buyers.
Many golf estates not only cater for the golf enthusiast, they offer a fully kitted out clubhouse for casual or informal get-togethers, and more than a few townhouse developments offer a full-on lifestyle experience with shops, health and beauty stores and day care centres. But townhouse living does, in many cases, come with downscaled living unless you can afford the most expensive options.
Open plan living areas that combine living, dining and kitchen allow you to be creative and make the best use of available floor space. Move from an environment that has separate rooms to something that’s really open and flowing to get that wow factor.
DESIGN TRICKS FOR SMALL SPACES
Don't be tempted to think small
A tiny room doesn’t have to hold only tiny furniture.
Sometimes with a small space, people avoid large furniture thinking it will dominate the room. Not true. A large sectional can often be better than a small sofa and chair. You can make a compact room feel much bigger by choosing a few large, bold pieces rather than several smaller ones. And keep the main furnishings in proportion to each other.
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Be an illusionist
Open up the space by selecting furniture pieces with legs rather than skirts. If you can source furniture that incorporates glass or mirror, these will serve to amplify available light and space to create an expansive feeling. In rooms that need to be dual-purpose, such as a living or dining space that also serves as a home office, carefully select furniture pieces that serve both requirements. A pair of
side tables that can be pushed together to form an impromptu dining
table or desk space.
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Decorative mirrors, whether small or large, help to maximise the amount of light in a space, which works extremely well when brightening up a dining space that is positioned between a living area and kitchen, and that lacks natural light. Do hang mirrors to reflect good rather than bad points - even if you need to tilt ever so slightly.
Let in natural light
While privacy is essential with townhouse living, where your neighbours may be just across the walkway and can stare directly into your lounge or bedroom, hang curtains so that when they’re open, the entire pane is clear. Window treatments should be mounted to that curtains drape down each side of the window and not block out any natural light. If you can, consider hanging curtains from the ceiling, rather than from the top of the window, which will add height (and some drama) to the space.
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Think vertically
Built-in or free-standing wall units make full use of vertical wall space. Whether you’re hanging art or shelves, or placing furniture, don’t let vertical space go to waste. Using it is practical, providing a display space for art, for example, and it also draws the eye up, making a space feel more expansive than it actually is.
Floor-to-ceiling cabinets with open shelves or glass-front doors also serve to brighten and lighten a space, and if your storage needs grow, you can easily add more shelves.
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