What do lofts look like

For interior designers or budding DIYers , a loft apartment can be a dream come true. Without interior walls, the space can literally become anything you want it to be. With the obvious exceptions of kitchen space and the bathroom s , you can flip your living space any which way you want. In an apartment with a traditional room layout, you have the luxury of closing doors on dirty laundry and untidy bedrooms.

Not so in a loft, and less so in a studio. Many people who live in lofts will make creative use of walls for storage space think of those tall shelves , and it's not uncommon for people to build out more closets. Aside from aesthetics and organization, there are other upsides and downsides to living in lofts.

Don't want to hear every single step your upstairs neighbors make? You have two options as an apartment dweller -- move to the top floor or move to a loft. While the acoustics inside may be tricky because of all that space, the higher ceilings can keep outside sounds farther away from your ears.

Remember, a true loft is the site of a converted warehouse or factory building, so those original concrete floors work wonders in muffling sound. If you share the loft space with someone, it may be hard to find a quiet space in your own home. If someone's listening to music or watching TV, everyone is listening to music or watching TV. You'll need to set up some rules -- or else invest in noise-canceling headphones -- to catch a break if silence is what you need.

With their industrial roots, lofts are most often found in busy city centers. Expect to find lofts near some of the trendiest restaurants, cafes, entertainment venues, and more. Unless you live in a region that has temperate weather year-round, you're going to have to deal with monster energy bills for your loft.

Those high ceilings mean more space for heat and air conditioning to escape to. If you're thinking of renting or buying a loft, be sure to leave extra room in the budget for utilities. Don't expect a bargain just because there are no interior walls. It's all about square footage, and lofts certainly have it.

Plus, real estate is all about location, and lofts are often found in the hippest, priciest parts of town, where residences are always at a premium. Even if there are affordable downtown areas in your city, steel yourself for sticker shock when you shop around to buy or rent a loft.

Those big, factory-size windows let in all the sunlight -- not to mention all the views. More light is a good thing, as taller ceilings likely mean you'll need a step ladder to swap out light bulbs. Rule this con out if you're living alone, of course. And that pink chandelier glows magnificently like a work of art. Set on the screen of a wooden cabin, this loft takes advantage of the character with beautiful wide planked wood, and an amazing peaked ceiling thats shiplapped.

We love how the visualizer has used real birth trees to bolster up this loft. Their trunks are sleek, thin, and modern like the rest of the space. With scaffolding still up on the right wall, and cables hanging every which way — this industrial space is warmed up with oversized comfortable furniture and bright colors and plants.

We love the mix of modern, retro, and classic style here — from the couch to the lamp and that big Persian rug. Nice crisp bricks, a hanging loft instead of a beamed one, and concrete floors that have been cut into large tiles make this space unique. The windows are slanted, the ceiling then slants back the same way — only to the vault upwards. The rest of the space is minimalistic, leaving the focus on the space itself. This loft is entirely built around a fish tank fit for any aquarium.

Imagine living, eating, and cooking surrounded by such beauty from the sea. The incredible blue hue leaves you feeling refreshed and intrigued, and we love how the water glows against the bricks. Did you like this article? Other related interior design ideas you might enjoy. Let us know.

Topics accessories apartment art asian bathroom beach house bedroom blue colorful contemporary courtyard dark decor eclectic floor plans furniture grey home office house tour industrial japan kids room kitchen lighting living room living room furniture loft Luxury minimalist modern office red russia rustic scandinavian small space studio taiwan tech-office ukraine villa wall decor white wood interior workspace. But you also have updated utilities, modern features, built-in storage, and often a variety of amenities.

A live-work loft is a residential unit that is zoned for commercial use. Each state has its own detailed regulations on what type of apartment building can be used as a live-work space. Before you get your heart set on the idea of purchasing a live-work condo, be aware that the restrictions are often very tight. In Boston, for example, Dickerson has a live-work loft in a building that allows tenants to work from home, but they are not allowed to run a business with multiple people working out of the home.

This is another term you will likely encounter if you spend a lot of time house-hunting, and it has two meanings. A loft conversion can refer to an entire apartment: an industrial space that has been renovated for residential living.

But the term is also used to refer to when a homeowner converts part of their home — usually the attic — into a loft. While converting an attic into a loft can be expensive and complicated, it has become a popular renovation in recent years. Lofts are recognizable for their high ceilings often as high as 10 to 20 feet , floor-to-ceiling windows, concrete ceilings, exposed brick walls, and open-concept layout.

Traditional lofts only have one room, though they have considerably more square footage than a traditional studio. Additional bedrooms are often added during renovations, and the bathroom is almost always enclosed, though in rare cases you may see an open-concept bathroom.

Usually, the kitchen and living area are open-concept layouts. Many lofts also have stairs leading up to extra living space, such as a lofted bedroom or office. For smaller loft spaces, Lorusso recommends choosing a few multipurpose furnishings, such as a dining table that doubles as a workspace or a daybed that doubles as a sleeping and sitting space. Most loft apartments sport character-filled elements that are leftover from their industrial days.

If the ductwork or mechanical elements in the apartment are visually disruptive, Lorusso encourages residents to paint them in a deep, matte finish so they vanish from view. Modern, minimalistic, and chic, loft apartments provide ample material for the decorator to work with.

Capitalize on the tall ceilings with elements that draw the eye upward, such as floating shelves or oversized lamps. Large windows can be left open and minimalistic, or covered with floor-to-ceiling curtains.

Take advantage of the light that flows in through the large windows by incorporating sun-loving plants, pendant lighting , chandeliers, and artwork. You're probably very familiar with standard apartment floor plans. Most comparable to lofts are studio apartments , which have a living area, sleeping space and kitchen, all contained in one room. That is, except for the much-appreciated bathroom door, of course.

In short, loft apartments are similar to studios in concept, but not so much in size, scope and price. Loft apartments came about as living spaces in s New York City.

Artists discovered that abandoned buildings, often with floor-to-ceiling windows, thus excellent light, make great studios. Many such lofts are also historically significant, so be sure to find out what the space used to manufacture or house so that you can wow guests with all kinds of anecdotes. Wondering about the good, bad and ugly of loft life?

Here are some of the things that make these living spaces unique. The most authentic lofts are in spaces that used to be industrial or commercial buildings but have since been abandoned or sold. For the purpose of this article, we'll focus on hard lofts. Back in the old days, industrial and commercial buildings were built primarily in cities close to railroads and such.