According to Clay Coffey, founder of the architecture and design firm Isaac-Rae, his first tour of this spacious loft was a bit blinding. "As the elevator doors opened, you were overwhelmed by a dated and severe design—a lot of black, red, and silver," he notes.

Located in an 1890 garment factory that was converted to lofts in the 1980s, this particular unit had undergone a misguided remodel before being bought by the current owners in 2013, when Coffey first saw it.

Before:

Not only were the fixtures and finishes out of sync with the building's bones, the 3,100-square-foot home was "underutilized" with "a good deal of dead space." "But the building had natural attributes and bones worth uncovering," said Coffey.

"The large volume of the space provided opportunity for open, fluid living with good proportions. Finding/tapping into a place's best proportions is an essential priority in our designs."

The team gave the loft a complete overhaul, reconfiguring the layout to fit two more bedrooms and upping the bathrooms from one and a half to three. They then incorporated an "un-fussy" aesthetic throughout.

"Once the space was gutted, we could simplify detail and let the space breathe," adds Coffey. "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, the space now feels united."

After:

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Project Credits:

Architect: Isaac Clay Coffey/Isaac-Rae

Builder: Christian Bunce Design

Lighting Design: Isaac-Rae

Stone Source: ABC Stone

Flooring: Wellborn and Wright

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Before & After: An Outdated ’80s Loft Is Rescued From a Flashy Color Palette