A guest post by Candace Altosino
Hannah and I go way back to our college days at the University of Iowa. When she contacted me about buying a condo last May, I was so excited to work with her. Not only was she one of my closest friends but also a seasoned home-buying pro! After two total gut rehabs in Lakeview with her sister, this would be Hannah’s first solo venture.
We set our sights on condos in Old Town. After touring a number of fixer uppers, we knew we found the one. It was a spacious home – 24 floors up with beautiful sunset views in a full-amenity building. We quickly made an offer and went under contract.
With the help of her dad, Hannah has totally transformed this space to make it her own. She created a separate bedroom by adding a dividing wall in the main living area (big enough for a king-sized bed to fit all her friends), opened up the kitchen and expanded the island to include more informal seating and make the space flow better, painted the kitchen cabinets and installed trendy hardware, installed in-unit washer and dryer for added convenience, and created the chicest bar nook for entertaining guests.
It’s truly amazing seeing a vision come to life!
A few quick questions for Hannah:
How many homes did you look at before finding yours? 3
How did you know this was The One? This is my third time renovating a condo in the city but my first time doing it on my own! I knew this was the neighborhood I wanted to be in and there was an added plus that I have friends in the building. The condo did not give me a “love at first sight” feeling. I had to vision taking an outdated studio and turning it into a junior one bed! I am so grateful for Candace and my family for helping my vision come to life!
What is the very best feature in your home? I love the mini bar that I decided to put in! I feel like it’s the perfect vibe for a single girl living in the city!
Which room do you spend the most time in? I spend the most time in my kitchen and family room! I love having an entire wall of windows and watching the sunset!
Go-to restaurant in your neighborhood? I love living walking distance to Wells! You cannot beat the Spreads at The Vig!
Share your fave memory in your home! I loved showing people my home before it renovated and then having them over once it was completed! It’s so much fun to talk about the differences and see their reactions at the changes!
