Brooklyn Artist Loft filled with natural light

This dramatic conversion by BWArchitects of a light manufacturing warehouse to an artist live/work loft studio in Brooklyn New York juxtaposes the gritty, industrial character of the building exterior with warm, expansive interior spaces flooded by natural light. A retractable translucent wall divides the living and working areas. When closed, its translucency directs filtered light from the linear skylight and northern exposure rear facade towards the library and studio areas. A large sloped skylight acts as a space definer between the live and work areas and a white steel and glass staircase connects the lower level with sleeping rooms and a large roof deck occupying the floor above.

Photos: Christopher Payne Photography

Greenwich Street Penthouse with NY skyline views

This stunning penthouse sits atop iconic Greenwich Street in New York, meticulously crafted to exceed conventional luxury standards, and customized to enhance the prolific architecture of Winka Dubbeldam. The duplex is comprised of 3,560 square feet of living space, it is a work of un-paralleled sculptural architecture: The creation of something beautiful and thought-provoking is an abstract turned reality with a unique facade of double story, western exposed glass, through which one can view sunsets over the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty from every vantage point in the apartment. This spectacular backdrop provided the canvas for interior architect Sally Rigg to draw from the world’s best materials, appliances and fixtures, to stylishly landmark this penthouse with its deserved global renown. The grand living spaces, replete with gas fireplace and home theatre, lead to a magnificent terrace that runs the full width (almost 50 feet) of the property facing west.

The kitchen is fully customized by Boffi, with Miele, Sub Zero and Gaggenau appliances: adjoining is an intimate, glamorous dining area. There is a guest bedroom suite, or study, on this floor and a powder room. Upstairs the seductive master bedroom features a dramatic en-suite bathroom with a free-standing tub: the two walk in closets are equally impressive. An additional bedroom suite features a private terrace. An elevated study can also serve as a fourth bedroom and there is an additional half bathroom: the windowed laundry room is an amenity both luxurious and practical. With the entire home outfitted by SONOS’s ZonePlayer and ceiling speakers in every room, the audio experience of the penthouse is commanding without intruding into the aesthetic.

This fabulous penthouse is listed for sale at $14,000,000, from here.

Grey Loft attic reconstruction in Prague by OOOOX

Grey Loft is the brilliant reconstruction of an existing attic apartment in Ostrovského, Prague, Czech Republic by design studio OOOOX. The designers slightly modified the 1,097 square foot (102 square meters) layout, especially in the bathroom where they connected the glazing to the bedroom. The center box with bathroom and toilet is separated distinctly by colored dark pearl paint. The other spaces throughout the apartment are bright in color with various hues of gray in accents walls and furnishings, bleached wood floors, industrial light fixtures and a stainless steel center island in the kitchen.

Photos: Martin Zeman

Carpenter’s workshop transformed into loft: Box House

Three hundred ballot boxes turn an ex-industrial space used for carpentry into a spacious and original loft in Florence, Italy designed by b-arch architecture. The property was once a dyeworks in the nineteenth century, a carpenter’s workshop in the fifties, today ‘Box House’ is the residential loft of an architect whose design language and signature style is the fusion of modern and antique. Alessandro Capellaro and his partner Sabrina Bignami of B-arch architecture studio are both interested in the integration of contemporary language ​​into historical contexts.

The architect has the challenge of foreseeing the potential of a space that might look very different from the final project, renovating it in a modern key, and adapting it to modern aesthetics and ways of life that still preserve the charm and essence of the historic atmosphere. As soon as Capellaro saw this space, he knew he wanted to transform the ex-industrial carpentry area into his own living room. “Behind the saws and planers that submerged from the wood, I saw an open space, free from conventions and full of memories.”

His design aimed to free up the space, removing partitions and replacing extant small windows with much larger ones that go all the way up to the vaulted ceiling, in order to create extra-large, bright space. But the memory of the old carpenter’s workshop is not dismissed, but it is indeed evoked in a new, original and fun way through the distinctive furniture which is the true, leading character of the house.

Three hundred wooden boxes – authentic ballot boxes from the 1940s – are arranged in every room, acting as creative boiserie in the dining room, a mobile counter in the kitchen, as a cupboard, couch, desk, and even bed. Sensing the enormous creative potential in these boxes, the architect purchased them en bloc at an auction with the intention of turning them into shelves or real base modules with which to design very personal furniture.

The natural wood tones are also found in the industrial hardwood flooring that paves all environments. The harmonic shades of this material are maintained and matched in relation with other materials used, such as cement which accents soft and natural atmospheres, or iron; originally used as coating in the bathroom.

Even more fascinating is the contrast of the colorful design pieces that architect has surrounded himself with, collected over time, or of the vintage lamps of his own production, paintings and vases. Original Robin Day chairs from the sixties surround the old dining table and “readymade” found objects that come directly from the streets are located at the entrance, such as the operating-room lamp.

In this modern loft in the heart of the historical center of Florence, pieces of personal life relate dialectically with recycled objects in an installation that relates both to collective national memory and to fresh, real life.

Tire company warehouse loft conversion in SoMa

CCS Architecture is best known for their modernist creations and interior design firm Woodson & Woodson Interior Design, is not linked to a particular style, but has work that is more traditional in nature. What happens when the two work on a South of Market condominium in San Francisco is an electric combination of aesthetics. The concrete building was originally built in 1926 as a warehouse for the B.F. Goodrich tire company. Although the building was turned into condos in 1996, it retains metal factory-style windows, exposed ductwork and concrete walls and pillars. Via

The homeowners relocated from a larger, more traditional home. Smith chose celebrate the existing style, but reorganize the spaces around a central core. The effect is a doughnut shape where most of the living and entertaining space is in the ring, while the hole, or core, contains office spaces, workout areas, bathrooms and closets. “We chose to put the rooms that don’t require as much light in the center,” says Smith. “The rooms where people gather, like the kitchen and dining room, are built around that.”

The dining room is framed by two large metal support beams. Smith wouldn’t have it any other way. “I like how they define the space,” he says.

The homeowner says that, in her former residence, she had a set of Chippendale chairs around a dining room table. The chairs didn’t work here, so she and Woodson purchased a set of Chippendale-style chairs and had them lacquered, giving the traditional style a fun update.

Smith chose to do the kitchen cabinets and countertops in a muted shade in order to have the area blend into the open space plan. “Because it’s so visible, I didn’t want it to stand out as a separate room,” he says.

The media room is outfitted with four swiveling chairs. They can remain stationary for conversation, or turned toward the television or the living room.

The master bedroom shows how two styles can live in harmony. The baroque bed is flanked by two metal nightstands and sits in front of sleek cabinetry.

Photos: Paul Dyer & Courtesy of CSS Architecture

Stunning penthouse loft in the heart of SOMA

This spectacular loft spotted on Sotheby’s is situated in the heart of SOMA, San Francisco, California, combining warm brick and timber structure and contemporary finishes all on one expansive level. Conceived from raw loft space in 2007, this 3,550 square foot penthouse level unit has been renovated to include a spacious chef’s kitchen, multiple living spaces, two large bedrooms with ensuite baths, a sizeable enclosed office, and one half bath. The dramatic deeded roof deck has a sheltered outdoor kitchen, a free-standing fireplace and views to Twin Peaks and Potrero Hill.

This stunning loft is listed for sale at $3,550,000, from here.

Exceptionally beautiful duplex apartment in Sweden

This unique and completely renovated duplex apartment spotted on Alvhem is situated in Linnéstaden, Sweden. Old and new are combined in an exemplary manner between the two floors that are connected via a white and almost floating white painted custom built staircase with a fitted wardrobe underneath. Quiet and protected on the top floor, one can enjoy fantastic views from the sunny terrace into a beautiful inner courtyard. The 979 square foot (91 square meters) home also features a fully renovated luxurious bathroom, separate laundry area, renovated open kitchen, plenty of storage and a subtle mix between the turn of the century details and modern design. Freshly painted white walls mixed with an exposed brick wall and painted white wooden floors runs like a thread through all the rooms on the lower floor, clean and very tasteful. The kitchen and staircase is at the heart of the home and on the upstairs level there is an impressive living room with dark heated floors, electronic operable skylights with rain sensor, inset spotlights, exposed beams and a glazed side which can be opened up completely to the lovely terrace with views of the open courtyard, and the neighbor’s rooftops.

Historic warehouse loft conversion on Market

Market is a two-storey penthouse loft designed by Rad Design Inc., situated in an old historic building built in 1858 that was once a wholesale grocery warehouse along the waterfront of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. When designer Golbou Rad first entered this loft, green and red walls are what greeted her, along with dim lighting from the lack of large windows as well as dilapidated interior finishes and old appliances. The re-design of the two-level, 1,200 square foot space begun with a fresh coat of white paint to brighten up the space for the young professional clients.  The designer selected subtle materials and finishes in the loft, being careful not to take away from the well-worn texture and colors of the exposed brick.

Bright colored cabinetry and walls lightened up the space and allowed the wood structure and exposed ducts and piping to stand out, which emphasized the industrial character of the building and gave the loft a raw appeal.

The clients both have sailing backgrounds, and wished to add some of their own decor to the design, such as the ship’s wheel displayed on the exposed brick wall.

The clients requested a less-is-more bedroom; they ended up keeping the striped bedding and navy blue throw pillows from one of our favorite stores, West Elm, that Rad used for the photo shoot.

An antique lighthouse lantern anchors a bedside table vignette, adding another nautical touch to the room.

The new sliding barn doors allow enough space for the drawers of the new vanity to open with ease.

Prior to Renovation:

Photos: Courtesy of Rad Design Inc.

Elegant loft interiors in the Sugar Warehouse

David Howell Design brings us this incredible apartment located in the Sugar Warehouse building in Tribeca, New York. The first action the design team took was to reclaim some classic loft elements that had been obscured. Exterior brick was exposed and the grand height was accentuated. A key component was a generously large kitchen for the chef owner. Additionally the master bathroom was pulled from the small-scale interior of the apartment into the prime space with high ceilings. With small windows in the massive brick facade, natural light was limited. New lighting throughout helped to supplement the limited daytime sun while creating a warm inviting setting at night.

Photos: Andrea Brizzi & Brooke McGowan

Modern loft perched atop a rocky seaside cliff

Perched atop a rocky seaside peninsula in Los Angeles, California, this loft renovation is an efficient response to the problem of limited space with simplicity and restraint being the guiding principles of the design solution. Designed by Horst Architects, the clients wished for a design which would accommodate office work by day and intimate social and familial gatherings by night. The interior spaces have been completely reconfigured into an open plan evolving around a double height entry volume containing the principal stairway. Sliding partitions and fabric behind frameless glass have replaced traditional means of enclosure and spatial transition.

A sculptural interplay of material, light and form define spaces, which are intimate and communal, sheltering yet expansive. Indoor and outdoor living is integrated by frameless, bi-folding doors. Windows are positioned to embrace the view of the harbor, while second skin systems such as wood shutters mediate the late afternoon sun and provide privacy. The changing play of light on surfaces, the breezes that move through and around the structure, the touch and smell of walls and gardens, the play of colors, the sound of spaces all play a part in the reception of architecture as it is lived in, and are important determinants in our well-being.

Simple and modern hanging light fixtures beautify the staircase.

Horst believes in keeping an open space open to nature. Here is the beautiful Southern California Newport Harbor.

Modern and gorgeous back stone wall.

We see here how form meets function with the bath tub and sink.

Photos: Courtesy of Horst Architects