“We have to move!” was the 2nd thing I said when I found out I was pregnant with twins. (The first was, “How are we going to afford university??” but that’s another story 😂.) Most of our family and friends thought that surviving newborn twins in an 800 square good 1-bedroom condo couldn’t be done, but staying in the city in our cozy space was one of the best decisions we made for our family.
Simplify, Simplify, Simplify
It’s funny how you might automatically think that space would be an issue with two babies but, honestly, it wasn’t. The twins slept in their certified sleep-safe stroller bassinets right beside the couch (which is a luxurious 50″ deep and basically the size of a single bed) or in the doorway of our bedroom — we have extra wide sliding barn doors — and then once we got past the phase of not needing to watch them while they slept to make sure they were breathing, they shared one crib for the first 5 months.
We just didn’t buy a lot of the baby crap things that most people with multiple floors might. We didn’t need extra change stations, or diaper pails, or free-standing bassinets, or many of the other items that rookie parents of multiples are sure to get. We simplified our wish list and tried to only bring in furniture and appliances that served multiple purposes.
That Condo Life
Because I had an emergency C-Section, I had issues with stairs, but guess what doesn’t have stairs? Our condo, whoop whoop! Honestly, the benefits of condo-living made my life so much easier after the babies were born, especially through these never-ending Canadian winters. That meant no shovelling, no cleaning off the car, no getting the babies in and out of the car in bad weather, and no yard maintenance. Instead, I was stroller to street in under two minutes, another 2 minutes to walk to a major transit stop, and less than 10 minutes by car to get into the downtown core.
Now we have two full-blown toddlers and actually do need to move in the near future, so we’re constantly looking at downtown listings to find something that works for our busy and energetic lifestyle. And *ahem* budget. (GTA houses are no freaking joke 💸.)
Daniels Family Living
New developments like DuEast by The Daniels Corp have recently caught my eye: 2 and 3-bedroom + den layouts, family-friendly amenities like kids play zones, mega gyms, co-working spaces (!!!), arcades, climbing walls, and expansive green spaces that really foster a sense of community.
Daniels has a number of impressive buildings across the GTA that are perfect for growing families. Located in community-focused neighbourhoods, these buildings offer innovative family-friendly amenities that are actually useful and, for lack of a better word, awesome.
I mean, look at these artist renderings of Daniels’ upcoming DuEast development:
I don’t know about you but I am all for this kind of city-living! Be sure to check out Daniels Homes and Daniels Family Living for more info on these innovative condo communities.
What would be on your wish list for a family-friendly condo experience? A rock climbing wall for the kids? A co-working space for yourself? Share with me in the comments!
*Disclosure: I received compensation for this post but, as always, the opinions are my own.
Huda
Looks like an awesome space! I think it might be hard for a lot of people to simplify but thats definitely a great tip!
Kelsinwonderland
HudaIt can be tricky at first, but once you start you can’t stop!
Cindy
Well done! There were so many advantages, staying in your condo. You’ll make the next move when the time is right. Love the look of the Daniels Complex! It seems perfect for your family.
Kelsinwonderland
CindyThanks very much for reading, Cindy. Staying in a condo was absolutely the right move for us; can’t wait to see what happens next!
Amberly
Good points! We have so much space and I already feel like we’ve outgrown it, but I know we could consolidate if we needed to.
Kelsinwonderland
AmberlyThanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment!
Christa
I grew up in NYC so I understand the many benefits of condo or apartment living. I love not having to worry about maintenance!
Kelsinwonderland
ChristaOmg, from what I’ve heard about NYC condos, those can be a really restricted space which leads to awesome design and storage creativity! You can probably teach me a lot about how to use space, lol.
Lily
We don’t have any condos where we live. They sound like a great place to live at. I love all of the amenities!
Kelsinwonderland
LilyThe amenities can be really amazing, and can totally make or break your living experience! The Daniels amenities are insane — I can’t wait to see them in real life.
Krystin
Looks like a gorgeous space! So bright and welcoming!
Kelsinwonderland
KrystinAren’t they! I can’t believe the aesthetic; it’s a blogger’s dream 😉