The Pennsylvania Loft

Hello Christine,
My name is Felicia. I stumbled across your blog while searching for ways of decorating my new rental apartment. I am attaching a couple of pictures, in hope of a little bit of output in return. :) I really want that NYC look, but i also want comfy and old/country style. (I want to re- carpet or add wood treads to the staircase- ask your landlord... If your landlord is interested in funding some upgrades- I would also replace your doors and casings and baseboards) You might be laughing now, but i am a mixture of everything and i love a little bit of every design out there. I am originally from NYC but moved to Pennsylvania and is more country style out here. I found some great loft photos to use as inspiration. Mixing styles is more than a possibility- just keep your country more shaker than French. Oh i almost forgot, i have a 19 months old son, and i been thinking that leaving the walls white might not be a good idea. I would just use a magic eraser- don't select your paint color in an attempt to cover finger prints. You naturally have dark floors and a dark brick wall- don't use dark paint. But with them white i can play with color more throughout the apartment. Over all i want a comfortable apartment where i can come home to and relax.
Thank you in Advance,
Felicia.

Hi Felicia,

Looking at your place- I would start with three key items:

1. Oversized Art
2. Super Soft Rug
3. Seriously Long Drapes
   

#1 Oversized Art - When your ceilings are as high as they are in your place- don't go with your typical sized wall decor. Check out this post- where I felt like that was the issue. Forget small wall decor- go large.

#2- Super Soft Rug- I love the variety in the hard surfaces- the brick, the ceiling, the wood floors. To add to that- we need as many great soft surfaces. I would look for some great depth in the rug.

#3- Seriously Long Drapes- Increase the textural variety and softness again with some long drapery panels on the windows. Perhaps a linen- something with an interesting texture.

Don't line the walls with furniture- keep it out in the room. I love the whole idea of a loft- have fun!

The Loft

Hi Christine, I am so glad I found your website. It is great! I have exhausted my search of what to do with this space. We just moved in and are the process of adding a staircase to the first floor for better access to the kitchen. I am at a loss of what to do with furniture placement and paint color with these slanted walls. I am ready for new furnishings for this space. The only thing I have picked out is neutral carmel colored wall to wall carpeting. I guess you could call our style "casual" traditional. I would greatly appreciate any advice you can give.
Sincerely,
Joanne

Dear Joanne,

I want you to do three things as you decorate this space:

1. Define the Space
2. Use Low back furniture
3. Be daring.

First, define the space. When you have the sloping ceiling action going on, it is important to bring the furniture out into the middle of the room. Of course, once you do that, you don't want it to be "floating" out there. That is why you need to define the seating area. Two easy ways to do this are to first of all- use a sectional- by design it really helps to define an area- and #2- use an area rug- go ahead and put it right on top of your carpet- it will help to say- "look- this is the seating area- not a floating grouping of furniture. "

Second- use furniture with low backs. Parts of your sitting area will be beneath your optimum ceiling height- help this to look right by finding furniture that has low backs. The sectional above is from West Elm- this chair is from Anthropologie. Put two of these chairs to the right of the open portion of the sectional- and have a "TV" stand for your TV to bring it into the room as well- not pushed up against the wall- but in such a way that you don't see the back.-

Third- be daring. This area is away from the general flow of your home- why not have a more daring fun look than you otherwise would put downstairs. Break loose! Have some fun! This rug is from Anthropologie.

A few more things-

Keep your paint colors light- Don't forget to add lighting. If you need a ceiling fan- get a darker one- and drop it from a down rod- that white one is way too high. If you don't need one- replace that with a fun chandelier- like this one.

You can bring your low walls a little closer into the room by putting shelves on them- like these from Ballard Designs.

Add some great drapes. Hang them high- make it look like you have larger windows than you do. Add Roman Shades- woven woods- or fabric.

Treat your windows with the same materials- but a little differently- as I have done with my sharpie. :)

There you go- it is going to look great! If you want to go all out- I would panel your ceiling, the slanted part also- and paint it white. You will love it up here- a fun get-a -way!

Brick Walls

Ever since I cared about walls I have loved brick ones. I love the Urban Chic look. I love the rawness of it all. The San Francisco Design Center is in a group of old beautiful buildings downtown. It has some great brick walls. A couple years ago I told DH that I wanted to brick a few walls in our home. We have a brick exterior- it would look great. He doesn't always catch my vision though.... I like the idea of my DH and I selling our home in California when we get old and retiring in downtown New York City. We would have beautiful old brick walls with exposed pipes and ducts- super awesome columns holding the ceiling up. There would always be something to do, and a hundred restaurants that will deliver dinner. Great public transportation when our vision starts to go... DH would probably rather retire to a secluded place- but hey- I still have 30 years to convince him...

What do you think of the brick walls? Would you do it in your home? Which is your favorite?

1. White leather sofas
2. Super fabulous drum shades
3. Silver metal ceiling
4. Copper coffered ceiling

   Photos from Lofts and Condos 2009