When Andy Warhol moved his studio to East 47th Street in midtown Manhattan, the Factory, as it became known, would soon become the most famous crash pad for a very eclectic crowd of bohemian artists, actors, writers and hippies. Since that time in the 1950’s & 60’s, the concept of New York loft living has come a long way.
Lofts typically originate in former industrial, or commercial buildings where large adaptable open spaces can be converted for residential use. They’re unique, they’re cool, and they’re in high demand with a short supply. This makes them a better long-term investment as they represent such a small percentage of the overall condo market.
One of the charming characteristics of a typical loft is the inherent industrial style in the architecture. Exposed brick walls, for example, or ductwork are not uncommon in loft apartments…nor are they unwanted, as these help to create an ultra chic, relaxed vibe within the space. As commercial buildings are converted to loft apartments, typically they will have vaulted ceilings – often 15’ to 20’ or higher. This makes even the smallest loft feel spacious and provides plenty of decorating opportunities. Those high ceilings and tall walls are just screaming to be covered in cool artwork. Due to the loft apartment’s intrinsic nature of combining contemporary, classic, and industrial architectural design, you’ll have free reign to combine whatever design style suits your tastes.
This third floor loft at The Foundry Lofts in Toronto was a fun project I worked on recently. I staged this open concept space to show potential buyers how to configure furniture to accommodate a sitting area, a small office space as well as a bedroom. A mix of contemporary furniture and vintage and retro pieces gives this loft a warm and cozy lived in feeling while keeping with the industrial style of the building. What really pulls the room together for me is this incredible piece of art by Canadian artist Charles Malinsky. On loan from a private art collection, this painting from his series “Final Journey” depicts a man and woman waiting on a platform at a train station. How perfect! Why? This loft conversion was formerly The Canada Foundry Company which was built to fabricate locomotives back in the early 1900’s.
Take a look at some photos below of my staging project at The Foundry Lofts to see if Loft Living is for YOU!