Loft Living... Where Did It Start?

Hi All,
I have to say that I have been excited for the last few weeks, as I have been working on a potential loft development in Tempe, AZ. Now... Lofts... they are my thing. I use to do them all day, every day when I lived back in the East Coast. Not only is Loft Living a way of life for those living in the typical factory conversion, but most inhabitants of the five boroughs of NY and the brownstones in MA also enjoy what minimalist style urban, contemporary living has to offer. When I left the city over there to live in the city over here I left weeks where I would crank out several lofts or Metropolitan style home designs to come here and do week after week of Tuscan or Traditional interiors with an occasional Transitional home thrown in for good measure. I noticed, after a year or so, that the lofts were coming! (I moved here in 04') Now they are here, and after several years of playing with the same thing over and over, I am refreshed to think of working on a loft space again. I giggle over the clean lines, I am enamored by the plastics, the exotic woods, the low profile sofas and bolder colors. My heart goes pitter pat over the stainless steel, the concrete block and counters, the glass... oh, the glass!

One of the funniest and saddest things that I have learned after doing my research in Arizona, is how ill-equipped the majority of the "Interior Designers" here are when it comes to designing or decorating a contemporary home in the Valley. There are rules that apply to a contemporary home. I laugh at the mish mash of "straight backed sofas" that they combine with an oriental rug ???, one piece of abstract art and their idea of the "modern" coffee table! I go into hysterics when I see their interpretations of an ultra-modern kitchen with a shaker style door and stainless steel appliances, or maybe they go as far as a drive to Ikea to get the truly "modern" stuff, ooh, ah! These effort are substandard when it comes to true Loft Style Design. Let me start from the beginning and show you the art of Loft Living...

In the 80's at the height of the conversion from old fashioned, massive machinery to more modern technology, huge factory buildings in the industrial sections of urban cities became abandoned. Selling for less than the average apartment building, some were bought by commercial property owners who figured they could make a small chunk of change renting these large open spaces to starving artists and other creative types who could use the apartments for both work and a home. With 10,000 square feet of barrier free space, renters had to get creative with furnishings to delineate spaces, separating one room from another. Furnishings were simple and sparse, as who could afford to stuff so much into a massive open room for one person. There was simply no need- the style necessary here was more utilitarian in nature. Thus, the birth of Loft Style took place.

Throughout the decades, owners became more intelligent and business savvy, breaking down one floor of a building into several loft spaces and investing in accoutrements to lure in those who might not otherwise choose to live in such a complicated space, not always in the best part of town. After the artsy sector moved into these neighborhoods, businesses began to notice how full they were and then they began to move in too. Jazz clubs and art galleries and cool boutiques soon followed. Before long, they became the center of town, attracting all to the convenience of living a walk away from everything.

Not everyone can live in a loft space. You have to be able simplify your life, your furnishings and adjust to the many deficiencies that others consider to be decorative accent- like exposed plumbing and chase pipes for electricity, concrete block walls or bricks in some areas. Cold hard surfaces are a staple for loft style homes and even those that are built in modern times boast them. On the one hand builders seek to replicate the wheel, not reinvent it and on the other hand, not having to bust through walls to lay plumbing and electricity saves lots of money in construction costs!

The largest problem that most loft owners have to contend with is understanding the proper style and placement of furnishings and accessories that fit in with the loft lifestyle. Those who are truly fans of this style understand it, but even still might not have the eye to select the right pieces for their space. The scale of each piece, as opposed to the space is imperative. If your sofa is too wide or too deep it can crowd even the most open of floor plans. It will steal space away from another "room" which is merely another section of the same space. Rooms are not cluttered by multiple vases and boxes and accent pieces of various sizes, staggered closely together in rows on shelves and cubbie holes and atop kitchen cabinets. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE NO, NO! Placement of accessories long and slender or short and chunky in bold colors are random and sporadic or based on function alone. A sideboard is not sitting in the hallway to hold a decorative plant or a vase, it is there for when you first enter your home for you to throw your keys and eyeglasses. In this style of home the rule is form follows function, not Arizona's traditional function follows form. Looks are sleek and purposeful and that's not easy to understand, but can look stunning if handled by the right designer.

If you are considering moving into a loft space or want to learn more about them, please don't hesitate to call me! I'd love to help you design your space. I look forward to once again filling my portfolio with the many loft projects I take on. if you are not ready yet... stay tuned for my next blog post, where I will go into the style a bit more in depth. Lofts are here, love them or hate them. Maybe, through education and a good laugh, I can create a few fans!