hen it comes to housing, biggeris not necessarily better,particularly when the spaceis meticulously planned. Intoday's housing market, discerninghome buyers realize that what mattersmost is how the space is used.New developments like WinthropProperties' Printers Comer in PrintersRowcater to a new breed of resident.

Offering one bedroom condominiumswith floor plans that measureapproximately 800square feet and twobedroomhomes at approximately 1,100square feet. Printers Corner does notoffer the oversized homes that manyassociate with luxury. Instead, thedevelopers used clever design and emcientplanning of every room to packa luxurious punch into livable homeswith a smaller footprint.

While smaller condos sometimes fallinto the cookie-cutter trap of relyingon a basic layout, creative planningcan give a smaller home all the personalityof a larger home. In breakingthe common mold on smaller condominiums,the developers of PrintersCorner focused on what buyers reallywant. Noting that, "many new constructioncondominiums are quitesimilar in their layout and tend to be'vanilla boxes,''' Bob Horner, co-principalof Winthrop Properties, says thatat Printers Corner, "buyers can tellthe difference the moment they walkin the door."

In many small condos, residents and guestsenter the front door and walk straight into aliving space without a transitional area. Notso at Printers Corner, where every floor planincludes a formal foyer space. According toHorner, "it makes all the difference. Peoplecan take a pause when entering the home, andhang up their coat or set their bag down." Inan environment like Chicago, where wintersnecessitate coats, scarves, hats and boots, acoat closet and formal foyer go a long way toeliminating clutter in the living spaces of asmaller home.

Printers Corner makes the most of thespace of a one-bedroom condominium. Inanother use of creative planning, the building'sunique architectural plan makes everyunit a corner unit. Such innovative designallows all of the units to benefit from viewswith multiple exposures. Not only do thecorner plans make for great views, but bybringing the cityscapes into the homes, theliving areas feel large and open. The use offloor-to-ceiling windows enhances the effect.Also, all of the units feature private balconies,.allowing residents the opportunity to expandtheir entertainment options to the outdoors.The developers also gave a lot of thought tohow residents were likely to use the space intheir condos.

"Just about everyone has a home computer,but in a smaller condominium, finding a placefor it, along with all the wires, printer, etc.,canbe a challenge," says Ibrahim Shihadeh, coprincipal."So we took a few extra square feetand built in a computer desk with overheadcabinets for storage. And all your hook-ups,including a phone line and power source, areright there." Horner adds that having a dedicatedspace for papers and electronics keeps. those necessary items from becoming spacewastingclutter in the living room or bedroom.Both Horner and Shihadeh note that cubicsquare footage is another important aspectto their design aesthetic. While some smallercondos feature standard 8or Moot ceilings, allof the Printers Corners homes feature standardlO·foot ceilings. According to Horner,"Nothing opens up a space more than havinghigh ceilings."

Most buyers today appreciate an open floorplan for living and entertaining, but in asmaller condo, it can be difficult to effectivelyprovide space for mundane kitchen taskswhile also making the home presentable for guests.In the kitchen of the Printers Corner condominiums,every need has been anticipated, making these kitchensnot only efficient, but spacious places to entertainand relax with friends and family. Custom 42-inchcherry or maple cabinets resemble built-in furniture,and the cabinet's self-closing mechanisms keep thekitchen neat and clean.

A more compact floor plan doesn't have to meanless-than-stellar appliances. A well-planned kitchenat Printers Corner includes GE Stainless Steel appliancessuch as a 21 cubic foot refrigerator, a built-indishwasher, built in microwave, and gas range. Pullspray faucets and under-cabinet lighting are practicaladditions to the chef's kitchens. Extra thick 1 V.-inchgranite countertops and pendant lighting over thekitchen islands provide a luxurious touch to a smallerhome. The kitchen islands which open up into the livingspace of the condos provide an open floor plan thatmakes the living areas seem expansive.

Careful planning can make the bedroom of a smallercondo feel larger. The developers of Printers Cornerensured that every bedroom in their one and two bedroomunits featured windows. Horner notes that, "Thesunlight and airy feeling make the homes feel so muchbigger." In addition, all of the bedroom closets in themaster bedrooms feature closet organizers, virtuallydoubling the storage capabilities of the closets."In current economic times, everyone has concernsabout not over-extending themselves." says Horner."Winthrop Properties saw a way to provide peoplewith homes at a smaller price point by creating smallerhomes with the features of larger homes."