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HOMES CONDOS
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ON ON2 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2017 SECTION H
While floor plans and amenities top the shopping listfor condo buyers, each building has another uniquecalling card: the lobby.
“Lobbies are very important when you live verti-cally,” says Jared Menkes, vice-president of highriseand residential development for Menkes Develop-ments, the builders of Pears on the Avenue, a 20-storey condominium in Toronto’s Yorkville neigh-bourhood.
“You don’t have a front porch anymore,so the lobby becomes that social environ-ment for residents. It’s where they meetand talk,” Menkes says.
“It’s also the first impression peoplehave when they visit the building. Peoplewant to impress their friends and family.”
This duality was one of the principlesthat guided the building’s designer, Ales-sandro Munge, principal and founder ofStudio Munge in Toronto.
He created a welcoming and elegantlobby with a stunning focal point: a large,spiral stairway that leads to a gym over-looking the pool, a party room, a theatre, ayoga room and an outdoor terrace.
“I wanted a freshness and a modernitythat was timeless and warm, even thoughmodern design is usually cold and ster-ile,” Munge said.
From left, Lifetime Developments’ vice-president Brian Brown, designer Melandro Quilatan and owners Jacob Plago and Lily Chan at the Bond.COLE BURSTON FOR THE TORONTO STAR
The spiral stairway creates a sculpturalfocus at Pears on the Avenuecondominium.
MENKES DEVELOPMENTS
with purpose and poiseServing the social role of a front porch, a building’sentrance hall makes an important first impression
ELAINE SMITHSPECIAL TO THE STAR
LOBBIES continued on H5
“Lobbies are very important whenyou live vertically . . . The lobbybecomes that social environmentfor residents. It’s where they meetand talk.”JARED MENKESMENKES DEVELOPMENTS
Lobbies> HOW WE LIVE
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H4⎮TORONTO STAR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2017 ON ON2 ON ON2 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2017 TORONTO STAR⎮H5
“If I wanted my home to feel like agallery, I’d go to the AGO (Art Galleryof Ontario), but I want to come hometo something different.
“This has a beautiful residentialfeel, using textures and layers andinviting, gorgeous finishes, and thestaircase is a sculptural opportunityto connect two spaces.”
Munge believes lobbies play an im-portant role in the lives of a build-ing’s residents.
“People in condominiums live in500- to 1,200-square-foot boxes andare confined to them,” he said. “Thepublic spaces are equally importantto them, if not more so.”
The public space was somethingLily Chan and Jacob Plago took intoaccount when they purchased a two-bedroom suite in the Bond on Ade-laide St. W.
“The combination of a nice floorplan, nicely planned amenities andthe location were important to us,”said Plago, 29, who works in financialservices downtown. At the Bond,he’ll have access to a pool, a golf sim-ulator and a play station room.
“The lobby is nicely laid out. It pro-vides a sense of permanence andmakes you feel more at home. It has amodern esthetic and helps you feelcomfortable in your own space.”
Chan, 32, an optometrist, is pleasedto have a nice space where “guestscan sit and wait for us.”
One of the lobby’s notable featuresis a light pillar.
Brian Brown, vice-president ofLifetime Developments, the Bond’sdeveloper, said the pillar adds ameaningful vibe.
“It’s a very cool, hip, young neigh-bourhood,” Brown said. “It’s very im-portant to get the lobby correct andreflect the neighbourhood and who’sliving there. It establishes the qualityof the building.
“We want to feel that the lobby isinviting and welcoming, but it’s also ahigh-traffic area, so the quality of thematerials must be able to withstandthe weather and traffic that goesthrough it.
“Generally speaking, we try to cre-ate something reflective of trends
and styles, but still timeless so thatthe owners of the building won’tneed to revise it.”
At Imperial Plaza, on St. Clair Ave.W., the lobby dates back to the 1950s,when the structure was built as theheadquarters for Imperial Oil. Thebuilding was recently converted intocondos after the company relocatedto Calgary.
The public lobby’s vaulted ceilingsretain the original 1950s light fix-tures; a pair of murals depict the his-tory and the future of oil; a massiveclock’s golden tiles gleam.
Energy and people fill the spacesince the lobby houses an LCBO out-let and a Longo’s grocery story, con-veniences most condo dwellersyearn to have in their building.
“It’s grand, impressive and distinc-tive,” Joseph Feldman, developmentmanager for Camrost-Felcorp’s Im-perial Village project, says about thelobby.
“There is marble, granite and theamazing clock. In the 1950s, theyoverbuilt everything and spared noexpense.”
The result is an active lobby thatsees a working crowd during lunchhour and later “residents in their py-jamas going to pick up dinner.”
There’s also a private, 2,500-square-foot lobby for residents on alower level and 22,000-square-feetof amenity space that includes a golfsimulator, theatre, games room,squash courts and a fitness club.
Feldman, though, sees the publiclobby as the jewel in Imperial Plaza’scrown.
“We received an Award of Meritfrom Heritage Toronto for restora-tion,” he said. “We took a commer-cial, corporate space and created asense of community. Retail bringsshoppers in and it’s always bustling.It’s very different than your standardcondo.”
He notes, however, that the lobbydesign depends on the project, some-thing with which his fellow devel-opers agree.
“You need to cater to the neigh-bourhood and every lobby isunique,” Feldman said. “If you had astandard concept, they would losetheir sparkle.”
Address: 111 St. Clair Ave. W.Developers: Camrost-FelcorpPublic Lobby Dimensions: 8,500sq. ft.Units: 23 storeys, 400 suitesContact: [email protected]
> IMPERIAL PLAZAAddress: 170 Avenue Rd.Developers: Menkes Develop-mentsLobby Dimensions: 2,000 sq. ft.Units: 20 storeys, 175 unitsCompletion Date: OccupiedContact: [email protected]
> PEARS ON THE AVENUEAddress: 290 Adelaide St. W.Developers: Lifetime Develop-mentsLobby Dimensions: Approximately750 sq. ft.Units: 42 storeys, 393 unitsCompletion Date: 2017Contact: [email protected]
> THE BOND
Designers aspire to create timeless style
The Imperial Plaza condo’s lobby stays true to the luxury with which the building was designed with in the 1950s.CAMROST-FELCORP
LOBBIES from H1
>>HOMES & CONDOS
Buildings that make a statement
>>HOMES & CONDOS
Stairs and stairways are often last onthe list when it comes to home reno-vations, even though they are oftenfront-and-centre, the first thing youand everyone else sees after openingthe front door.
Although not prohibitively expen-sive, refurbishing stairs is a messyand skilled job beyond the reach ofaverage DIYers.
The basics, though, aren’t hard tograsp, and with a little planning andhelp, you can take the rights steps toelevate your stairs. Older homes, es-pecially, will need stair repairs andupgrades, says Jordan Spear, a Reno-Mark contractor and featured speak-er at the GTA Home and Reno Show,which runs Feb. 17-20 at the Interna-tional Centre in Mississauga. Spear isscheduled to deliver his presenta-tion, Old Homes: What Lies Beneath,on Feb. 20 at 2 p.m.
When it comes to restoring stair-cases, “the first thing is to look at thestructure for safety,” says Spear, whospecializes in restoring centuryhomes. “You want to make sure thetreads aren’t too worn and ‘cupping,’and that the nosing is secure and thatthe railing is all secure and the com-ponents solid.”
Changing the basic physical designof a staircase usually isn’t an optionbecause it could mean major struc-tural changes that are expensive andtime consuming.
“Don’t go for cheap and easy re-pairs,” advises TV contractor DamonBennett, another RenoMark con-tractor.
“If you can, get in underneath thestairs to see how they’re secured. I’veseen so many things hanging by justtwo nails.”
Refinishing and stainingFirst, assess the wood, says Chris
Palmer, also a RenoMark contractorwho will appear at the Home andReno show.
Stairs made from good hardwood,such as oak or maple, are usuallyworth refinishing. Peel back a sec-
tion of carpet or runner to check thewood. If it’s low-grade pine or spruce(called “builder grade”) then paint-ing, capping or re-carpeting are theonly options, Bennett says.
If you’re lucky, you might need tojust replace the most damagedtreads. “To match up old treadssometimes you have to make themyourself with an electric planer,” saysPalmer, who was an industrial de-signer before appearing on TV showssuch as Canada’s Handyman Chal-lenge, Income Property, Open HouseOverhaul and serving as Global TV’sresident handyman expert. “Or finda place like Peacock Lumber, in Osh-awa, which has rough stock and willdress it to your needs.”
To refinish, remove the carpet andunderpad, pull out all the staples,then fill and sand before painting orstaining.
“You can’t put water-based stainson oil-based stains, so make sure youget the right product,” says Spear.
CappingAn alternative to re-carpeting is re-treading, or capping with new treads.Sometimes called false treads, theycan sit on top of the existing ones.After that it’s a matter of replacing orrepainting the risers.
Re-treading involves knocking outthe existing treads. Replacing themand capping aren’t as easy as itsounds, warn the trio of renovators.Capping will also change the rise ofthe step and you’ll be short at the topand high at the bottom. Even just ahalf-inch difference can cause astumble. There are veneer tread op-tions in the $20-$30 range but theideal is solid wood, at $30 and up,depending on the type of wood. Also,you’ll either have to make your wind-ers, or have them made.
To have a set of 14 stairs capped withred oak treads and risers, includingthree winders, (plus a correspondingnew banister with new newels andspindles) will cost $5-6,000 — ormore, depending on where you are,who does the work and how muchwork is required.
Still, compared to the time and ef-fort involved in painting stairs, andthe spectacular end result with a setof new stairs, it may be a good option.
PaintingWith worn stairs or low-grade stairs,aside from re-carpeting or capping,the other option is painting.
As with staining, preparation is ev-erything. Pull out all the staples, fill inall the holes — some contractors gofor auto body filler as an epoxy to fillbig gouges and blemishes — thensand, sand and sand again. A shop-vac attachment for your sander willhelp, as will sealing the work areawith plastic sheeting. Remember to
wear a dust mask and eye protection.Check out the pro-level painting
stores such as Dulux, Sherwin-Wil-liams or Benjamin Moore for theirspecial tread paint that’s water basedand designed to take foot traffic. Ifthere’s a previous oil-based stain orpaint on the stairs, you’ll need abonding and transition coat of prim-er, like Bulls Eye.
A good paint supplier can matchthe paint to the trim or to the wall, oreven to a stain if you are installingnew railings. Painting the treads adark colour and the trim and risers inwhite is a popular look. It may takeseveral smooth coats, half a stair at atime or on every other step, if youneed to go up and down while theydry.
Railings, carpet and rodsIf you’re re-carpeting because thewood isn’t worth refinishing, consid-er upgrading the entire look withnew railings. Do you replace woodspindles with wrought-iron or viceversa? Esthetics aside, it’s also ques-tion of skill. Taking a railing apart canbe tricky, notes Bennett.
“You can’t cut them out if you wantto use them again so you’ve really gotto be careful,” he says. “If you don’tdo it right, it will look off. It’s reallybest to get someone in who has theexperience and skill.”
Also, he says, even just painting orre-staining the railing can presentissues. “You’ve got years of skin oil onthe banister so you’ll need a goodcleaner to remove that before youstart sanding or you’ll just embed itdeeper into the wood.”
Stair runners are for both estheticsand firm footing, especially for kidsand seniors. “The finish is smooth sothey can be slippery,” he says. “I’veseen people lay tile on stairs but it’snot my choice — too slippery, toodangerous.”
Runners can be bought by the footand installed. Or you can have carpetcut and the edges bound to createyour own runner, which can alsomatch existing carpets.
> GTA HOME AND RENO SHOW
How to handle a DIY staircase refurbishmentContractors provide tips for what can be a messy and complicated project
IAN HARVEYSPECIAL TO THE STAR
Stairs are often overlooked when it comes to home renovations.DREAMSTIME
Peel back the carpet and you mayfind some treasure worth restoring.
JORDAN SPEAR
Painting is an option for worn orlow-grade stairs.
DAMON BENNETT
Runners can be added for safety.purposes.
JORDAN SPEAR
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