When designing the floorplan of a large home or condominium,the layout possibilitiesare numerous, Buthow many ways are there tolayout an 800-square-footcondominium?

According to two developers,the answer is plenty,if the design is creative andefficient.

Winthrop Properties in Chicagoand Marquette Cos. inthe suburbs say the successfuldesigns of their smaller condominiumsis a combinationof knowing what the buyer willwant and adding some surprisesto set the space apart,Both developers offer floorplans that measure roughly800 square feet and comparetheir designs to show why theyare among the best -selling intheir market.

With a 17-story high risenow complete and ready forimmediate move-in, WinthropProperties says it has signednearly a buyer a week sincethe start of the year, attributingdemand to the smart floorplans.

"Many of the new constructioncondominiums are quitesimilar in their layout and tendto be 'vanilla boxes," said BobHorner, co-principal of WinthropProperties, "That's notthe case at Printers Corner,where buyers can tell a differencethe moment they walk inthe door."

Unlike many condominiurns,where one foot throughthe door and prospective buyersfind themselves right in themiddle of the living area, everyPrinters Corner floor planincludes an entry foyer. "Buyersare pleasantly surprised tofind in even our 769-squarefoot,one-bedroom home,there is formal foyer space,It makes all the difference.

People can take a pause whenentering the home, and hangup their coat or set their bagdown," Horner said.

Another floor plan featurethat makes a differenceis the built-in tech center."Just about everyone hasa home computer, but in asmaller condominium, findinga place for it, along withall the wires, printer, etc., canbe a challenge. So we took afew square feet and built in acomputer desk with overheadcabinets for storage. And allyour hook ups, including aphone line and power source,are right there," WinthropProperties co-principal IbrahimShihadeh said.

Horner and Shihadeh alsosaid that buyers should beconscious of cubic square feet."Nothing opens up a spacemore than having high ceilings,"Horner said. "At PrintersCorner, our units have lO-footceilings, complemented byfloor-to-ceiling corner windows.The sunlight and airyfeeling make the homes feel somuch bigger."

All homes include 1 1/2 inchgranite kitchen countertops,imported Italian kitchen cabinetry,G.E. stainless steelappliances, hardwood flooring,crown molding, a washerand dryer, a tech center, Grohebath faucets, marble baths anda Whirlpool tub.

At The Ponds of Naperville,many first-time buyersare happily surprised to learnthat ownlng a home in a citynarned one of the "Best Placesto Live" by Money magazinecan be affordable and roomy.

"Naperville is consistentlyranked one of the best placesto live in the country, but livinghere usually comes with ahigh price tag," said Art Bettuzzi,general sales managerfor Ryan Hill Realty, the community'sexclusive sales andmarketing agent.

"At The Ponds, buyers canown a horne in Naperville fromjust the $130s.And they're gettinga lot for that price, includingabundant storage spaceand an efficient layout."One floor plan showcasingthis smart use of spaceis the 800-square-foot, onebedroom,one-bath Naper.

With a coat closet off the frontentry, a pantry in the kitchen,a full wall closet in the bedroomand a storage closet onthe balcony, this plan providesdesirable space for first-timebuyers who are most likelymoving straight from apartments,Bettuzzi said.

In addition, many buyersappreciate the convenientand open layout of the Naper'smain living areas, makingit ideal for residents who enjoyentertaining. "Rather than anopen kitchen, living and diningarea, the Naper offers adivision of space with a diningroom adjacent to the kitchenand a separate living room,"Bettuzzi said. "This layout letsbuyers keep their party preparationbehind the scenes whileguests mingle in the mainroom."

Located at 1333 ModaffRoad in Naperville, The Pondsof Naperville is being convertedfrom apartments tocondominiums by MarquetteCos. Measuring 800 to 1,100square feet, homes corne withone to two bedrooms, one totwo baths, balconies or patios,and one parking space.

For information on PrintersCorner, call (312) 880-1800 orvisit www.printerscorner.corn:and for the Ponds of Naperville,call (630) 848-0488 orvisit www.pondsofnaperville.com.