Apartment living suits former homeowner

Diana Stephenson had always wanted to live downtown, but with a husband and three kids, Spokane’s urban jungle didn’t seem like the right place to raise a family.

Now, after two decades of quasi-rural living on the outskirts of town, her three children are grown, and the recently divorced Spokane native is ready to live her dream.

“Given the choice to relocate, this is where I wanted to be,” Stephenson says, her eyes scanning the soft green walls and stylish furnishings in her new living room in Browne’s Addition. “I’ve always loved Browne’s in particular, because it’s close to downtown but you don’t have to deal with parking.”

Stephenson says she looked at three apartments before taking the plunge in late June, opting for a river-view unit in a historical Mediterranean-style building on West Riverside Avenue.

The spacious, two-bedroom unit was updated earlier this year, though much of its historical charm remains. Birdseye maple floors, numerous built-ins and the original kitchen cabinets add character to the space, while tumbled marble tile, granite and stainless steel appliances give it a contemporary feel.

Stephenson, who works in Deer Park, says one of the best things about living downtown is walking to the many nightspots – and walking home after a couple of glasses of wine.

“It’s nice to not worry about driving,” says the petite blonde, adding that she also frequents the Elk Pub in the heart of Browne’s Addition. “I’ve eaten there five times and that’s a lot for living here only a little over a month,” she laughs.

But Stephenson also enjoys entertaining at home, something for which her apartment is uniquely suited.

The gourmet kitchen – complete with a sleek commercial range hood and stainless steel appliances – offers a view-through opening to the formal dining area and living room beyond.

Then there’s the “family room,” an enormous master suite at the back of the unit with unusual arched built-ins and numerous windows overlooking Peaceful Valley, the Spokane River, the Maple and Monroe street bridges, and the downtown skyline.

The views are so striking that they all but eclipse Stephenson’s enormous flat-panel television housed in one corner.

“I love my TV,” she says sheepishly, though despite its large footprint the behemoth leaves ample room for other forms of entertainment as well.

“The plan is to put a bar here,” she says, running her hands along the imaginary edge of a liquor cabinet that will stand before one of the gothic-looking arches in a corner opposite the TV.

But as much as she Stephenson is enjoying her new digs, one of the aspects she appreciates most is the fact that she rents, rather than owns it. Although she considered buying a house or condo, Stephenson says she wants to keep her options open.

“I’m not sure where I’m going to go,” she says, adding that her two daughters now live in the Seattle area. “I wasn’t interested in buying because I may go to Seattle to be with my girls.”

In the meantime, Stephenson says she will relish every moment of her lease.

“It’s such a beautiful place,” she says. “It was meant to be.”