Give your loft a lift

By: Julie Young | Times-Dispatch
Published: March 20, 2009

Dividing the space is key to loft decor Lofts bring to mind wide open spaces with massive windows, exposed architectural elements and urban ambience.

They're hip and sophisticated, but can be a challenge to decorate.

One room flows into the next, leaving everything you own within sight of guests. Forget dirty dishes in the sink or heaps of paperwork on the dining room table.

None of that fazed Elizabeth Wall, 33, who bought a 700-square-foot loft in Emrick Flats in Jackson Ward almost two years ago. She was enchanted by the lack of interior walls and only one door -- the bathroom's, which rolls open using wheels along a track -- in the fourth-floor unit of the poured-concrete building that once was a Chevrolet dealership.

Her studio, part of next Saturday's Downtown Loft Tour 2009, features a wall of factory-style windows with a view stretching from the Richmond Coliseum almost to the Diamond.

The open kitchen-dining-living area and single bedroom form a u-shape around the bathroom. Concrete beams and pipes are exposed in the high ceilings of the industrial design.

"Guests aren't restricted to certain areas of the house," said Wall, a business analyst for a health insurance company who shares the space with her dog, Annie Bir. "I love to cook. I really like having people over and cooking with them or cooking for them."

She hopes to add a kitchen island to better delineate the kitchen/living areas. Since the unit has no closet, Wall purchased a screen and sectioned off a corner of the bedroom to hide bars where she hangs clothing.

Lofts and transitional-style homes, which have become popular within the past two decades, pose the challenge of creating harmony in an open layout. We asked loft owners and interior designers how to tackle spaces that aren't defined by walls or doors:

Walk around the space and map out areas for working, relaxing and entertaining. Imagine the area divided into little "rooms."

Think of creative ways to divide spaces. "Of course, one can always make use of screens for extra privacy, but usually a designer utilizes the placement of area rugs and furniture to delineate the function of one space from another," said Maura Flynn of Janet Brown Interiors on West Cary Street.

Jennifer Stoner of Mosaic Interiors in Richmond suggests dividing spaces with bookcases that are open on the front and the back or hanging fabric from the ceiling that can be closed for privacy but draped to the side to enjoy the open space.

The "separate" spaces should have one identity to avoid looking too choppy, Stoner said. "Keep your wall colors fairly consistent and pick one great accent color to repeat in each space," she said.

Lofts are best suited to contemporary style furnishings, according to Shari Hiller, host of HGTV's "Room By Room." Clean lines and combined smooth surfaces of wood, glass and metal enhance the unique architectural features, she said.

Scale can be tricky in a small space, but Stoner said nothing works better than a large scale piece of art to make a statement. "Small spaces don't always call for small furnishings, so keep an open mind for using larger pieces that make an impact," she said.

Bob Scudder and Dougie Bowman used neutral wall and area-rug tones in their Vistas on the James condo, but provided splashes of color through light fixtures and artwork. Too many colors throughout the space may make it appear haphazard.

Vintage ads and posters are ideal for lofts. Wall's flat is decorated with city posters, license plates and photos, giving it a chic downtown feel.

Add mirrors to magnify the size of your space, reflect a beautiful view or enhance the amount of sunlight.

Since they're usually in plain view, stainless steel kitchen appliances, both large and small, will blend with contemporary décor.

Use furniture and objects at varying heights to fill in spaces with high ceilings, Flynn said.

Contact Julie Young at (804) 649-6732 or jyoung@timesdispatch.com.