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Lofty Elements
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
I don't think I ever write anything about lofts without mentioning Flashdance. I was ten when I saw that movie and it was the first time I ever encountered a loft (it was also my first rated-R movie; I think it would probably be rated-G by today's standards). It's made an indelible impression. So have the lofts in every other Adrian Lyne movie (think crazy Glenn Close in her rough-around-the-edges all-white loft in Fatal Attraction; the book-filled sublet where Diane Lane spends her afternoons in Unfaithful. These places always seem to have really sketchy or broken elevators too. Perhaps that could be a theme for one writing a paper on Mr. Lyne's work. But I digress...
Sometimes I wonder if it's the movies that have made lofts so popular with the masses. I mean, they are so popular now that developers are actually tearing down factories and warehouses that could have been turned into true lofts, and building new buildings that they call "loft apartment buildings" which really makes no sense, but don't even get me started, seriously. The styles of lofts range from paint-spattered, raw spaces of art studios to elegant multi-million dollar refinement. Here's a fun group that range from one end of the spectrum to the other, and a few comments about what's lofty about them.
Sometimes I wonder if it's the movies that have made lofts so popular with the masses. I mean, they are so popular now that developers are actually tearing down factories and warehouses that could have been turned into true lofts, and building new buildings that they call "loft apartment buildings" which really makes no sense, but don't even get me started, seriously. The styles of lofts range from paint-spattered, raw spaces of art studios to elegant multi-million dollar refinement. Here's a fun group that range from one end of the spectrum to the other, and a few comments about what's lofty about them.
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MINIMALISM: Exposed brick, large windows, and minimalist decor keeps this loft space open and light.
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by Global Living
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| LARGE WINDOWS: You just cannot beat large factory windows as reminders of the building's history in a loft. |
by Living2Design
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ROOM DIVIDERS: While lofts should be large open spaces, clever dividers like these repurposed windows are a great way to define different zones within the space.
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| The glass wall here is rather ingenious - it lets the view through remain, while blocking noise and odors from the kitchen from entering the sleeping/study space. |
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EXPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE: Lofts should have some raw, unfinished elements. For example, leaving pipes and conduits exposed is part of the look.
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| OPEN SPACE: Here, all of the raw elements of the loft have been covered up, but the open feeling and light remain. |
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It's typical to have your kitchen, study, living room, dining room and even sleeping area open to one another in a loft space.
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by Habitar Design
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| HIGH CEILINGS: High ceilings are a must in a loft. It's kind of a trade off for sacrificing so many interior walls. |
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by decordemon
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| COMMUNITY: I love the communal space that the residents of this loft worked on together. |
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| UNIFORM FLOORING: A loft should have the same flooring throughout. It keeps all of the different areas connected. |
BALANCING HISTORY WITH MODERN FURNISHINGS: This is one of the most perfect blends of refined and raw I've seen. The place is full of elegant furnishings, appliances, and cabinets, yet the conduits and beams remain exposed. Everything is harmonious.
by CIH Design
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This is about as luxe as lofts get.
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Ideabook updated on Aug. 21, 2010.
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