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Open plan
Lofts
Tall ceilings, one big room and few walls.
Compact
Studios
One room, one bathroom, everything close.
Split level
Mezzanine Living
A half floor above the main room: how it works.
Short stays
Rentals
How to judge a listing before you book.
Learn
Layout Guides
Read plans, ask better questions.
Start here
- New to the words? Read loft, studio, duplex and mezzanine: what is the difference.
- Looking at a plan? Use how to read a floor plan and the layout checklist.
- Curious about a real example? See the Serena third-floor mezzanine, described from the developer’s own published information.
Guides
Layout Guides
How to read a floor plan
Five things to look for, and three questions to ask.
Layout Guides
Loft, studio, duplex and mezzanine: what is the difference?
The words are used loosely. Here is what they usually mean.
Layout Guides
Mezzanine: privacy, stairs and storage
What changes when part of the home sits above the rest.
Layout Guides
Questions to ask before renting or buying a loft
Twelve questions, in the order they usually come up.
Thinking of buying? Our preferred Costa Rica real estate partner, RealtyCostaRica.com, can answer property questions.