Redecorating for Summer at Bed, Bath and Beyond

Victoria Day weekend was the unofficial kick-off to summer, and even though the weather left a little to be desired we still fired up our BBQ and enjoyed some of Toronto’s parks. Now that it’s summer outside, it’s time to make your new Aura condo a little more sunny and colourful. Out with the boring blacks, in with brightly-coloured accessories and dishes. Whether you have a balcony, terrace, or just want to enjoy a patio dinner on Aura’s outdoor spaces, here are some picks from Bed Bath & Beyond inspired by our favourite spring balcony looks on Pinterest. You don’t have to go far - just down to Aura’s lobby, or order online:

Go zen with your balcony decor

Just because your balcony is small doesn’t mean it can’t bring you a bit of serenity. We love this design because it feels like you’re in a rooftop garden - we can hear the water fountain flowing and the birds chirping already. By adding a porch swing, feature wall, and wood/stone flooring, this balcony has been transformed. Add some colourful spring throw pillows and some planters from BB&B and some plants from your local nursery & you’re all set!

Bed Bath & Beyond shopping list

Mabon Toss Pillow

Napa Round Planters

Go green - astroturf green

This 100 square foot balcony was designed by Toronto’s DesignMaze Interiors, and it all starts with laying down some good old fashioned astroturf. Add a striped rug, a glass & wicker coffee table, and some wicker patio furniture, and you’re all set to enjoy a margarita while getting engrossed in a summer read.

Bed Bath & Beyond shopping list

2-piece wicker loveseat sets

2-piece deep seating sets

Key West cabana stripe rectangular rug

Cork collector serving tray

Dine al fresco

What better way to enjoy your balcony than by having drinks/food with a view? We love this design because it focuses on using the balcony to entertain. It’s easy to recreate this on your own balcony regardless of the size - you just need a great table, some colourful placemats, and great plastic dishes.

Bed Bath & Beyond shopping list

3-piece wood grain resin balcony dining set

Driftwood faux wood hard placemat

Bonus idea: Tim at DesignMaze also recently posted this balcony design shopped entirely from Winners - since there’s one right around the corner at College Park, you can easily shop the look!

Your Top Photos of Our Building

Many of you have probably seen our building rising high into the sky - you know, we’re at Yonge and College, and you can see our crane from almost any point in downtown Toronto? Ya, that’s us. Some of you are so taken with the sight of our uber-tall tower that you even stop to snap a photo. We’re flattered by all the amazing photos we’ve seen and wanted to share a few of our favourites.

Photo taken by Paul Casselman.

Aura at sunset. Thanks to Urban Toronto for the photo.

Photo from Instagram user findtorontocondos.

Photo from Instagram user ohwowkayda.

Photo from Instagram user stevenlou_.

World’s first kilometre-high tower faces unique challenges

It gives new meaning to the phrase “the sky’s the limit.”

Construction of the world’s first kilometre-high tower is now under way in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and one Canadian expert in tall buildings says there are no real physical limitations when it comes to how high skyscrapers can scrape.

“Technically, we can pretty much do anything we want. It’s just that if you were going to build a 20-kilometre tower, and it would take 100 years to build, it becomes unreasonable in terms of management and payback,” says Richard Witt, a principal of Quadrangle Architects Ltd. and the chair of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat’s Canadian chapter.

Read more about the challenges of building tall in this article from The Globe and Mail.

Breathing Life Back Into Yonge Street

"Aura is changing the way we view our city.”

The 78-storey mega-tower, nearing completion on the northwest corner of Yonge and Gerrard Sts., has fast become one of Toronto most recognizable landmarks.

“You notice it from the 401 and Dufferin, or coming down the DVP,” notes Barry Graziani, the architect whose firm Graziani & Corraza designed Aura, Canada’s tallest residential building.

“It reorients you — there’s the financial district and then there’s Aura farther north. It’s expanding our sense of the city and the downtown core.”

Read more about Aura and how we're changing College Park in this Toronto star article.

Grand Opening of The Shops at Aura

This weekend is the grand opening event at The Shops at Aura. We got a sneak peek at the mall, situated at the base of Aura Condos, and the space is amazing! There is a food court, a barber shop, jewelry shops, and it’s all accessible without having to endure the freezing weather - there’s an underground path from the subway!