Escala Makati 1BR

Here's one I saw while browsing the net today for a decent looking one bedroom floor plan. For years, I haven't liked one bedroom units. Let me tell you why I previously think this is a useless unit in most condominiums:

First, 1 bedroom unit is not a Studio - the obvious selling point is the streamlined, open floor plan for single individuals who like having their own space and can only afford a cheap unit. Second reason is that neither is a 2 bedroom unit - which is again, obviously perfect for starter couples who wants to have their own, and another room for a little one or if not, another room for guests, home office, or where your helper can stay. I find it perplexing sometimes that couples with children and yayas cramped themselves into a studio. Well, of course, I can understand if it's because condo unit prices are climbing up each year and getting smaller and smaller.

So getting back to this 1 bedroom floor plan..

This one is a great example of a 1 bedroom unit. First off, the location of the condominium itself is a (relatively) quiet part of the busy Makati CBD - in Salcedo, near the Park, and, the plan provides ample space for an uprising young executive. I say young executive because as this is an Alveo Land offering, it will be pricey and no regular employee can afford this luxury.

This photo is not mine. All rights belong to the owner.

You will have ample space for entertaining without your guests really partying on your private space. Though this can plan can benefit further if a door is opened up from the main living area to the bathroom to skip going to the owner's room altogether. There is plenty of shelf space (the whole length of the wall) and the kitchen is big enough to work properly as a separate working area from the dining.

I love the space this floor plan allocates for each area, and that each area is defined - giving consideration to privacy and effectiveness of space.

Makati Two Bedroom Ideas

If I will be dreaming of a floor plan worthy of millions of pesos in Makati city, then this one from Federal Land is exceptional.

This photo is not mine. All copyrights belong to the owner.

Foyer leading into the main hall with cabinets and foyer table beside the main door. You can place a table with key hangers, umbrella pot and several baskets to organize your stuff. Also, shoes and slippers at the bottom of the foyer table for easy access when going in an out of the house. Aside from that, a built-in cabinet of shoes can be place near the entrance as well. That may be unconventional for some, but it will surely work for us. My partner and I placed our current shoe stack near the door.

Dining table can be located slightly off-center so the line of sight of the guests can go directly to the living area. I'm not sure if Makati has a building code about balconies, but this layout will benefit more with a bigger balcony. Same as our La Verti floor plan, if you have guests, or holding a small party with friends, you can open up the balcony door and extend the area of your living room to include all guests in the conversation.

Look at this floor plan - it's very efficient, and it does not look cramped and half-haphazardly designed to fit all things in a given box. No, it's designed to give ample area to the two bedrooms that will include walking area around the bed and even for a small nightstand. It has managed to give 2.5 baths and a walk-in kitchen so you do not let guests in see your kitchen secrets - and all the disaster inside.

Love this. It costs around 12-15 million pesos if I'm not mistaken but surely for that amount, you also want your yaya to have her own bathroom, right?

What do you think?

Home in the City

I have always collected floor plans from all over the place. I'm not sure if I'm going to get sued over posting floor plans made and published by different people, but I will always give credit to where I got the plans.

I'm not sure if anyone else will be interested in floor plans, but I am. I like looking at different aspects of a floor plan. What makes one very good and what makes others really bad. I like imagining living in these homes and how effective the floor plan is.

I'm not an architect, I just like what I like.

For starters, I'll post this floor plan of the La Verti Residences - from DMCI. We bought this 2br unit that has a unique floor plan since the rooms are on one side and the living area opens up to the balcony - which is the primary reason we chose this unit. It has a small area, but located just about right at the heart of the metro, and very near Makati CBD area.

I like the idea that if I have guests, I can open up the balcony door as an extension of our living room.

What do you guys think?

This photo is a property of DMCI and I got this from dmciresidences.com