Designing a Well-Curated Loft

Open layouts, soaring ceilings, and industrial details are the foundation of lofts. These raw spaces––likely used as warehouses in their former lives––ooze character, but they’re not without design challenges. 

“Lofts are inherently moments of the past, so they require a certain level of respect for their history rather than completely starting over,” said Valmira Gashi, partner and lead designer at Legeard Studio in New York. “It’s imperative for us to celebrate the bones for what they are.”

Designing a loft to be both functional and appealing requires expertise. We asked several designers about their experience curating lofts and they revealed how to make the most of these oversized, industrial spaces.

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Define Seating Areas

“In a loft, it’s imperative to find ways to define rooms without physical walls by creating ‘zones’ or groupings. This can be done through dedicated furniture placement, statement lighting, and the addition of area rugs. Try to arrange your furniture in a way that creates natural divisions between different areas to separate the purposeful living spaces from the rest of your home. Adding multi-functional pieces can also help delineate spaces without disrupting the flow. 

“Scale is undoubtedly significant when it comes to furniture in a loft. Most lofts are typically larger and have more expansive spaces than apartments and condos. We don’t necessarily match this scale difference by placing more oversized furniture. Instead, we strive to create intimacy within these large spaces and celebrate their openness. These private spaces can be created and anchored by items such as an area rug, a large bookcase, flexible furnishings, large-scale artwork, and different (but complementary colors) to further define the area.”

—Valmira Gashi, partner and lead designer at Legeard Studio in New York and Miami

Let the Windows Be

“In a loft, there are utility stacks for plumbing that are structural to the building and cannot be moved, so the space needs to be designed around them. I usually start with the main living space to establish the correct balance of light and airiness. From there, I move to the kitchen and the dining room, and end in the bedrooms and bathrooms, making sure to carry the same tone curated in the living room into those private areas. 

“Each project is different, but I would say loft furniture tends to be more modern, pulling in elements from mid-century and industrial design styles. A sectional works quite well in a loft as it not only defines, but helps to fill the large, open living room. I like pairing the sectional with a stylish accent chair, both of which can be different styles. 

“Windows are pure utility… If privacy is needed, we use privacy shades. If not, then we often leave the windows bare. We like to build shade pockets and hide roller shades when possible. When the shade is rolled up and not in use, the roller is not seen, creating a cleaner look.”

Designer Matthew Miller leaves windows bare unless privacy is required. StudioLAB

—Matthew Miller, principal and founder of StudioLAB in New York

More: Incorporating Antique Rugs Into Your Design Scheme

Celebrate Ceiling Height

”We celebrate high ceilings, especially if there are large windows that let in a lot of light. The high ceilings give us space for a mix of larger [art] pieces and groupings. We also like a mix of paintings and abstract sculptural pieces. 

“We took advantage of the ceiling height in the entry of the Chelsea loft to incorporate an elevated ‘treehouse’––a play area in industrial American style overlooking what you could call the foyer of the loft. It is a very effective use of the space but also highlights how lofty the ceilings truly are.”

Sara Mosele took advantage of the tall ceilings and incorporated a treehouse in this Chelsea loft. Compass

—Sara Mosele of Sara Mosele Interiors in New York, project in collaboration with Matiz Architecture & Design in New York

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Set the Mood

“Open spaces typically have structural elements such as columns, beams, or windows, which we use as a point of reference.

“To make a loft space feel cozy and not cold, use warmer color shades and add a variety of textured materials such as wood, warm colored stones, boucle, velvet and suede. Style these materials with plush pillows and soft throw blankets. By combining both hard and soft textures you can create a layered, cozy and comfortable atmosphere. Additionally, oversized rugs always bring a lot of warmth and make a space feel inviting.”

“With loft spaces and tall ceilings specifically, we recommend the use of technical lighting to highlight architectural elements such as wood beams or window details. Functional lighting, such as recessed ceiling or wall lights in a hallway, is ideal for directional light above artwork or lighting over kitchen countertops, for instance. Floor lamps, table lamps and chandeliers are all decorative layers of lighting that play a huge role in setting the mood or lighting the scene of a space.”

Designer Ahmad AbouZanat chose a contemporary chandelier to set the mood in a NoMad loft. Douglas Friedman

—Ahmad AbouZanat, founder and interior designer at PROJECT AZ in New York

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