A carriage house in Barcelona, a cigarette packing facility in NYC, and a car shop in San Francisco—lofts come in different shapes and sizes all around the world. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite projects where designers pushed industrial spaces to new heights with stylish—and often surprising—results.

A Gut Reno Restores Gatsby Glamour to This Art Deco Brooklyn Loft

After a leak caused water damage to this top-floor apartment in downtown Brooklyn, FIG Interior Design and JAM Architecture were brought in for an overhaul. Although the unit is located in a landmark 1929 building, the apartment had none of the period’s stylistic flair. “The clients loved the fact that it’s an Art Deco building, so they were quite eager to have the redesign reflect that,” says interior designer Nina Garbiras. “At the same time, they didn’t want to do vintage Deco—they wanted to do a more modern, contemporary Deco.”

Garbiras and architect Joseph McGuier redid the layout, instituting a palette of lush colors and finishes, underscored by sweeping curves everywhere. A serendipitous discovery made it possible to lower the floor level in the main living room, and install a showstopping staircase that sums up that entire approach.

An L.A. Loft in a Former Nabisco Factory Gets a Japanese-Inspired Makeover

Picture a loft, and what probably comes to mind is a cavernous space rife with industrial elements. This 1,620-square-foot loft in a former Nabisco factory in L.A. was no different, until architect Amanda Gunawan of OWIU Design initiated a 2019 remodel. Gunawan introduced a Japanese-inflected material palette to complement the industrial edge, including wide-plank wood floors, a sculptural staircase and built-ins made of birch plywood, and a room for tea ceremonies inspired by Japanese ryokans (traditional inns).

“Given the typically brute nature of exposed beams and heavy structural elements, one would not usually correlate an industrial building with the minimalist and non-imposing nature of a Japanese-styled home to create a harmonious look,” says Gunawan.

A TV Writer’s Chelsea Loft Is Saved From a Hodgepodge of Outdated Remodels

Despite there being not one, but two, double-height living rooms in this Chelsea loft, the home still managed to feel cramped and dated due to a series of remodels from different owners and eras. Enter the Brooklyn-based firm E.G. Projects, who were tasked with creating a unique live/work space for the loft’s newest owner, a TV writer.

The firm opened up the mezzanine level and turned it into a chic office overlooking the living areas below it. The design team also embraced the “compressed space” of the kitchen by outfitting it with dark colors and steel elements, and they introduced a sense of “urban nature” throughout.

A Classic NYC Loft Ditches Its ’90s Look for Refined Minimalism

“It had beautiful brick walls and piers and beams—it was just an iconic old New York loft space,” says architect Evan Watts of this West Chelsea property. “But it was also immediately apparent that it was dated. And it wasn’t really optimized in terms of a layout. We knew very quickly that some simple moves could really make the space into a beautiful home.”

Watts, a partner at D&A Companies, and architect Ravi Raj, who leads RARARA, teamed up to help out the owners, who are friends of theirs, on a remodel. Now, bleached walnut and concrete plaster soften the industrial vibe of the exposed brick and scarred wood structural framework, and a new layout adds space for an additional bedroom and bathroom.

A Light-Catching Glass Box Brightens Up a Tribeca Loft

While redoing her Tribeca loft, interior designer Nina Blair came up with a striking solution to the lack of natural light. Blair removed several walls and installed a glass box in the Southwest corner. Not only did this liberate two windows, but the process also revealed several original Corinthian columns hidden in the walls. The renovation deftly merges a new living space—one that leans into flexible use, as the glass room has been used as a bedroom and office—with the building’s history.

An Art Nouveau Carriage House Is Reborn as a Luxe Barcelona Loft

In remodeling this former heritage site in Barcelona, not only did architect Kirsten Schwalgien have to wrest control of the design from a condo developer, but the architect also had to get approval from the city’s heritage department for every move. “They didn’t like the fact that some rich expats were going to come and live in it, so it was a bit challenging to get them to agree to things,” Schwalgien says. “But after a while, they saw that the renovation went very well, and they got very excited about it.”

Schwalgien inserted dark-framed glass walls to offset the preserved and painted cast-iron columns, tempered the exposed brick and concrete floors with warm wood cabinetry and built-ins, and installed a verdant atrium for a burst of greenery.

An Outdated ’80s Loft Is Rescued From a Flashy Color Palette

Three words can sum up the “before” state of this New York loft in a former garment factory built in 1890: black, red, and silver. In addition to the dated ’80s finishes, including silver brick and jarring red accents, there was a lot of wasted space. Brooklyn-based firm Isaac-Rae overhauled the layout to incorporate more bedrooms and bathrooms, and then instilled a distinctly unfussy aesthetic throughout.

“Once the place was gutted, we could simplify detail and let the space breathe,” says Clay Coffey, founder of Isaac-Rae. “Even small hidden details, such as latches flush to the door instead of visible door pulls, made a difference in simplicity. By selecting better—and fewer—materials, we made the space feel united.”

A Car Shop in San Francisco Is Reborn as an Artist’s Loft, Gallery, and Studio

Converting this auto repair garage located in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood into the ultimate live/work space was not an undertaking for the faint of heart. Making the two-story, 9,000-square-foot structure habitable was a five-year process that involved jacking up one side of the building, redoing the foundation, and even sprucing up the plaster cupids on the 1923 facade.

Now the building features an art gallery and studio at the street level, a three-bedroom loft above, and a 20-by-20-foot internal courtyard for bringing in more light.

A Dark Austin Loft Becomes a Light-Filled Haven

To make this South Austin loft feel more cohesive, Chioco Design installed a collection of cabinetry in multiple rooms—from the kitchen and living room to the office and principal bathroom. The goal, says the homeowner, was for the 1,800-square-foot warehouse-style loft to feel “curated and orchestrated, much like a tailored suit.”

A Cavernous Chicago Loft Undergoes an Artistic Renovation

At 2,250 square feet, this loft high above Chicago’s Michigan Avenue felt both cavernous and disjointed, and there was little in the way of practical storage. Vladimir Radutny Architects reorganized the floor plan and introduced a refined palette with sculptural accents that play in perfect contrast with the home’s industrial bones.

A Disjointed Loft in Brooklyn Now Luxuriates in the View

This Brooklyn loft had a rarified perch when architects Max Worrell and Jejon Yeung first visited it, as they could see all the way to Manhattan. However, some strange layout decisions by the developer made it difficult to fully enjoy the view. The pair reorganized the floor plan and relocated a main bedroom to give the living spaces windows on three sides.

This Portland Loft’s Pink-Hued Makeover Deserves a Standing Ovation

When Pam Williams, a former public library director in Portland, Oregon, decided to remodel her 1,075-square-foot loft with local firm Jessica Helgerson Interior Design, she fully committed to the process—she only gave a few directives, and she got rid of all her furniture so the firm would have a blank slate.

“She described the kind of home she’d like to live in along with a thoughtful note about her experience working with professionals and learning that the creative process really shines with trust,” explains senior designer Mira Eng-Goetz. “We were really moved by this simple gesture.” The team completely reimagined the home, weaving in plush textures, a serene, pink-hued palette, clever built-ins, and statement-making tile to update the industrial space.

A Loft in a Former See’s Candy Factory Gets a Tasteful Renovation

While this unit in a former See’s Candy factory had a stunning wall of windows, the kitchen and storage situation were not much to get excited about. Síol Studios stepped in with a new plan, plenty of storage, and a material palette that underscores the industrial nature of the existing board-formed concrete ceiling and aforementioned windows.

“The client wanted to bring in as much light as possible, so the palette went toward light woods, light stone, and light floors,” says designer Jessica Weigley. “Obviously, we were going to be working with that existing rough textured ceiling, and we really wanted that to sing as well.”

Related Reading:

9 “Before & After” Cabin Renovations That Will Make You Look Twice

9 Impressive “Before & After” Remodels of 20th-Century Homes in Seattle

10 Stunning “Before & After” Midcentury Renovations in Los Angeles

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Before & After: An L.A. Loft in a Former Nabisco Factory Gets a Japanese-Inspired Makeover