8 Examples That Show How Loft Living Goes Beyond Just NYC
When you think of loft living, your mind may flash to the interesting lofted dwellings of New York City's Tribeca or Soho—but this unique type of space isn't just limited to NYC residents.
Loft living is now popular across the country in both urban and suburban settings. Some of them are located in historic properties or in industrial structures that have been converted into modern lofts. Whether they're born from one of these transformations or are part of a new construction, they all have one thing in common—they embrace a wide-open plan that creates a "lofty" way of living while taking advantage of every little square foot of space.
A few of these homes were submitted by members of the Dwell community through our new feature, Add a Home. Add your home to Dwell.com/homes today.
A Loft With Creative Storage
Architect: Merge Architects, Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Loft living presents the need for thoughtful storage solutions. When Merge Architects was hired to upgrade this loft, it was a pretty standard project—renovate the existing lackluster bathroom, add a second bathroom, and build a bookshelf—until Elizabeth Whittaker, firm principal and adjunct assistant professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, saw it as an opportunity to do a little material research on how to create a three-dimensional wall.
Merge Architects wrapped the peg wall around three sides of a bathroom to hide a door and provide a storage for books and knick knacks.
Photo: John Horner
Architect: RODE Architects, Location: Boston, Massachusetts
RODE Architects transformed the former Norbert school in Jamaica Plain into 21 loft apartment units, restoring the historic exterior of the building while creating a contemporary response to the interior.
RODE Architects
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Architect: Chad Oppenheim, Interior Design: Boudreaux Design Studio, Location: Miami Beach, Florida
A complete remodel of a South Beach loft transformed this space into a peaceful modern retreat with organic accents.
Photo: Boudreaux Design Studio
Live/Work Loft
Architect: CHA:COL, Location: Downtown Los Angeles, California
Drawing inspiration from game design and the whimsical geometries of M.C. Escher, architecture firm CHA:COL designed a multifunctional live/work studio for a creative couple that allows them to get their work done between trips.
The Writer's Block is a piece of custom oak veneer millwork that both divides the space and acts as furniture.
Edward Duarte
Former Factory
Architect: Peter Benoit, Location: Emeryville, California
This 1,100-square-foot loft is located in the historic Bester Building, a former steam-engine factory in Emeryville, California. Architect Peter Benoit updated it with a customized storage unit in the middle of the space.
The picture wall is adorned with images collected from family, colleagues, and estate sales. "I kill plants, so cacti are our friends," Peter says of the succulents along the low table behind the Design Within Reach sofa, just over which an Established & Sons Font clock keeps time.
Photo: Drew Kelly
Belmont Street Lofts
Architect: Holst Architecture, Location: Portland, Oregon
Completed in 2004, this 27-unit project is credited with ushering in a new wave of boutique multifamily housing projects into Portland’s historic neighborhoods.
Although the loft is relatively small, high ceilings and an open floor plan give it room to spare.
Photo: John Clark
Santiago Street Lofts
Architect: William Hezmalhalch Architects, Inc., Location: Orange County, California
As Orange County’s first transit-oriented urban development, the Santiago Street Lofts were built in 2007 for creatives who want their life and work to fully coincide. Each 1,885-square-foot loft consists of one bedroom and two-and-a-half bathrooms—which are carefully puzzled together over three floors with a close attention to space.
As Orange County’s first transit-oriented urban development, the Santiago Street Lofts were designed by William Hezmalhalch Architects, Inc. in 2007 and were built for creatives who want their life and work to fully coincide. Each 1,885-square-foot loft consists of one bedroom and two-and-a-half bathrooms—which are carefully puzzled together over three floors with a close attention to space.
Hayden Luscombe of Interior Pixels
Architect: Robb Studio, Interior Design: Studio Gild, Location: Denver, Colorado
This historic building in Denver, which was once a flour mill, was converted to modern lofts in the late-1990s. It features 14-foot ceilings, exposed concrete, and a fireplace that's set within the building's original chimney stack.
Inside the unit, Robb (Robb Studio) and Bishop (Studio Gild) inherited several attractive features: 14-foot ceilings, exposed concrete, and a fireplace set within the original chimney stack of the building. The primary goals included making the kitchen more prominent within the home— it was moved forward to engage more acutely with the dining and living room spaces—and to properly showcase the client’s art collection (much of which, including an eight-panel painting by Matt Mullican that stretches across nearly an entire wall).Add a caption
Photo: David Lauer Photography
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