Let’s all go to the lobby…

If you have a chance to come by and tour the condo, the first thing you’ll see is the lobby, complete with tile floor and water fountain.  The elevators and mailboxes are located just beyond the archway, and there is also a door to the garage back there.

I had an interesting conversation today: I mentioned to someone that I have a Pioneer Square condo on the market.  She immediately asked if it was the Florentine — it turns out she remembers touring it a number of times five years ago when she was house-hunting.  The funny part was that she couldn’t stop talking about how cool the lobby was!

And, as an added bonus, I thought I’d throw in a picture of the front entrance.  The lobby picture above is taken just inside the front door.

The Kitchen

Another great feature of the condo is the kitchen.  Before we bought this place, we looked at a couple of other units in the building.  They had these odd little kitchen spaces, where stuff was tucked into a corner.  In contrast, this unit has a nice large kitchen, with plenty of counter space and a ton of storage in the cabinets.

We’re both enthusiastic cooks, and the kitchen has served us well.  There is plenty of room for prep and cooking, and it is an easy space to move about in.

As an added bonus, the kitchen has a large counter in the pass-thru area to the living room.  We’ve used this as a buffet area for parties, or you could easily put a couple of stools there and use it as an eating space.

Neighborhood: First Thursday

Today is the first Thursday of the month, and that means it is time for the First Thursday art walk.  This is the night when all the art galleries open their shows, and the whole neighborhood is alive with people.  It is a great opportunity to mix and mingle and see some great art.

Oh, and if you’re an arty type, let me just point out that this condo has some spaces that are just perfect for displaying artwork.  There are four “niches” along the main wall of the condo that would work well to showcase paintings, in addition to the space in the living room and bedrooms.  You could really have fun with it!

FAQ: Is there anything new in this place?

Yes — the carpets in the entry way and bedroom are new. The unit just got a fresh coat of paint — all low- or no-VOC paint. We replaced the water heater last spring (the old one was original to the unit!). And, we installed a new over-the-range microwave.

About a year ago, the fifth floor of the building (which acts as the roof, in part) was completely re-done. As an added bonus–to you–we paid for it, so you don’t have to! Also, in there are plans to re-surface the deck spaces on floors 2-4 (as a part of the normal maintenance program). I’m not sure exactly when this work will be done, but you’ll get the benefit of a brand new deck surface.

Office Space

This unit has something that is, to my knowledge, unique to the Florentine: a custom-built office. The office features a desk with two workspaces, as well as built-in cabinets that go up to the ceiling. There are even a bunch of file drawers built in, too. This is perfect for anyone who is looking for a serious home office. If you work from home, even on occasion, you’ll really enjoy this space.

And, the entire entryway is storage heaven, as there two large built-in cabinets in addition to a number of smaller storage spaces and file drawers.

I’ve included a bunch of photos that should give you a better idea about what the office space looks like. Or, you can grab the nearest real estate agent and come on by to take a look for yourself!

(One half of the office space.)

(The other half.  No, we don’t use the typewriter on a regular basis.)

(A view looking up to give you an idea of what the storage looks like.)

(A shot of some of the built-in storage in the hallway.  There is more just out of view on the right of the picture.)