Welcome to my blog series, Condo Chronicles where I analyze popular Toronto condo floor plans and offer my professional architectural advice to improve them.
As I sift through luxury listings daily, I come across all sorts of floor plans. Some make me nod in appreciation, while others make me question the very fabric of architectural decision-making. Today, we have two contenders: a sprawling 2,500 sq. ft. suite at the Ritz Carlton Residences, and a significantly smaller unit at the Yorkville Private Estates at 200 Cumberland St., a newer building with a few too many listings that seem to be in no rush to find owners.
Curious about other Toronto condo floor plans? See all of my Condo Chronicles blogs right here.
Ritz Carlton: A Near Hit With a Missed Masterpiece
The Ritz Carlton suite is generally well laid out, but its master bedroom… well, it left me wanting more. And not in a “this-is-a-teaser-for-something-amazing” way—more in a “why-is-the-second-bedroom-so-much-better?” way.
The master is nice, sure. It has ample closet space and a large bathroom, but its proportions felt off. So, naturally, I redesigned it in my head because that’s what I do. Here’s the play-by-play:
- Claiming the Hallway: I extended the bedroom entrance by four feet into the hall, which, let’s be honest, was more generous than necessary. These extra feet went a long way in making the master feel, well, masterful.
- Door Dance: I moved the bathroom entrance to an adjacent wall, unlocking an extra full wall for bed placement, artwork, or furniture.
- Closet Liberation: The original closet layout felt suffocating, narrowing the bedroom’s width in a way that was distinctly un-luxurious. I shortened the dividing wall and replaced it with a built-in dresser, drawers facing the closet, and a beautiful stone counter on the bedroom side for added style and functionality.
- Light & Views: With the new configuration, one could now enjoy a 16-foot glass wall—a 50% increase in viewability. More light, more views, and even space for an armchair and side table at the end of the dressing area.
- Bathroom Glow-Up: The new door placement and vanity shift create an attractive axial view into the bathroom, where the tub can now take centre stage as a freestanding sculptural feature.
The result? A master bedroom that feels bigger, brighter, and truly luxurious—everything it should have been in the first place.
Do you love talking about Toronto condos as much as I do? Here are some more posts you might enjoy:
- What are the Record Condo Sales in Toronto?
- What are the Most Luxurious Condos in Toronto?
- Is it Wrong to Like Older Condo Buildings? Or are They Actually Better?
200 Cumberland St.: A $2.7 Million Hallway
Now, onto our second contestant. I must admit, the listing photos were already setting me up for disappointment, but the floor plan sealed the deal. About 15% of this unit is hallway—yes, you read that right. In a $2.7 million unit, that translates to nearly $400,000 worth of wasted space. That’s a luxury SUV… or four. Or, you know, a much better-designed apartment elsewhere.
Other delightful missteps include:
- A Kitchen Fit for a Bachelor Pad: Tiny. Not luxury-level. More “let’s order in” than “let’s host a dinner party.”
- A Gloomy Welcome: The entryway is less “grand arrival” and more “welcome to the depths of the building.” Dark, uninviting, and uninspired.
- A Patchwork Layout: The overall shape of this unit feels like a Frankenstein’s monster of leftover scraps from the floorplate. You get the sense that the other suites took what they wanted, and this unit was assembled from what remained.
To be honest, I usually enjoy reworking floor plans, but this one? Not worth the effort. If it were a person, I’d give it a polite nod and keep walking.
In some cases, the over-hype is real when it comes to Toronto condos. Keep reading this blog to see how to not be unduly swayed by glitzy condo-rama!
Final Thoughts: The Good, The Bad, and The Hallways
This week, we’ve seen one solid luxury suite with minor improvements needed, and one… well, one that should come with a warning label. The Ritz Carlton gets a pass with some tweaks; 200 Cumberland St. just needs a whole new approach.
Lesson learned: In the world of high-end real estate, bigger isn’t always better, but a well-thought-out layout can make all the difference. Until next time, may your floor plans be brilliant and your hallways minimal.
Looking for an expert to help guide you through the Toronto condo market? Give me a call at 416-824-1242 or email robert@lifeofluxury.ca today!
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