In the space once occupied by Molly’s pub at the corner of Market and Milk streets in the Old Port, a faux condo has sprouted. It’s a model of the yet-to-be built 84-unit Bay House condominium project that will soon rise where the Village Cafe now sits. Interior designer Patricia Fortunato of the Simply Home design studio in Falmouth recently gave me a private tour of this high-style space.

“We were asked by Town & Shore to do a pre-fab unit,” Fortunato explained. “Which is a great idea and something I’ve seen before in Boston.”

The model was crafted as an exact duplicate of one of the more than 10 floorplans available in the building and allows buyers to get a sense of what the space will look like even before the ground is broken. Construction should begin in early 2008 and be completed by 2009. Bay House is just one of the numerous projects planned for the eastern waterfront area, which will soon become a bustling part of the city anchored by the new Ocean Gateway terminal.

You enter into a great room, with an open kitchen (black granite countertops and white cabinetry), a dining area and a living room with a fireplace. The design has a decided urban feel, with neutral colors and sleek lines.

“It’s really key that the whole space flows,” Fortunato said. “In a condo, you want it to be one open, fresh space.”

All the furnishings and accessories are straight from the Simply Home store, giving each room a sense of continuity. Jamie Young floor lamps add a retro feel in the living room, while antiques, such as the mirror above a side table, add an eclectic touch. The coastal influence creeps in with the use of black caned chairs, watery blue accents and the choice of sea-themed art work.

A spare bedroom features a fun, modern armchair, which boasts a leaf motif in hues of brown and light blue. The room also contains a white pull-out couch and an oversized black mirror in the shape of a circle.
The guest bath has a clean feel with a white tile floor and white subway tile lining the shower. The pedestal sink is from Kohler. Down the hall is the large master bedroom, where a king-sized bed from Hickory Chair features a headboard with embroidered fabric held in place with nail head trim. It gains a contemporary, comfortable look with linens from Maine-based Cuddledown and a mattress from Portland Mattress Makers.

The adjacent master bath is a gorgeous space with double marble sinks, a marble tile floor and a marble shower with bench. The honed marble makes a sophisticated pair with the dark cabinetry and it all contains echoes of the nearby sea.

“Our style is very simple, clean lines, tailored and no clutter,” Fortunato said. “Our company specializes in coastal interiors. I’ve done quite a few condos in recent years. They’re popping up more these days.”

If you feel a condo popping up in your future, stop by the model unit from noon to 5 pm Monday through Friday, or by appointment. List prices for the condos range from $280,000 to more than $500,000, depending on size and features. FMI about the condos, visit www.bayhouseportland.com, and FMI about Simply Home visit www.simplyhomepage.com.