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Although new building materials appear on the market with enviable regularity, interiors do not become more diverse because of this. All of them are very predictable, almost standard. There are only a few styles in which you can challenge established stereotypes. One of the bottoms is a loft style. Such a combination of seemingly incompatible things, however, is very stylish.
What’s this
You have probably come across photographs of interiors more than once, in which chic things are placed against a rough background – brickwork, allegedly poorly processed wooden wall, gray concrete. On the ceiling there are often massive metal trusses and beams, shafts for laying communications, etc. This is the loft style (from the English loft – non-residential, industrial premises).
It originated in the late 50s of the 20th century in large cities of America. At this time, land prices in the city center jumped sharply. In this connection, all industrial enterprises began to be taken out of the city. The vacated buildings did not have time to demolish and rebuild, and were turned into temporary housing. They put up several partitions, provided minimal amenities – a small kitchen and a bathroom. This was the end of the landscaping. It was cheap housing. Until these meters were chosen by artists: to buy huge areas for next to nothing. Equip with minimal cost for a studio or showroom. What could be better. However, they did not worry about the decoration of the walls either. At exhibitions, in studios, everything remained practically the same as it was before the purchase: suddenly you have to resell and move out.
If we talk about exhibitions, then the canvases in a modern manner look even better against such a background. Huge windows of industrial premises gave good lighting, which was also a plus. Ideal conditions for work and sales))
When equipping the studio, they simply brought furniture to taste, which was placed in groups away from the walls: so as not to get dirty. The furniture was non-standard and, most often, chic, but in small quantities: only the necessary. Since the height allowed, they made a horizontal division – they transferred the inhabited part to the second floor, leaving the bare minimum on the first.
This contrast – scary walls and expensive things – gradually migrated to houses and apartments in the center, began to be considered chic. Recently, it has begun to gain popularity in our country: all other styles are too predictable, too similar to each other. But, of course, not all details are transferred, and not all of them are available: high ceilings are not about modern buildings. The style that is present in modern dwellings even received a new name – neoloft, but so far it “slips” only among specialists.
Here, in general terms, is the whole loft style. To make it easier to design your premises, we briefly list the characteristic elements:
- Rough walls, beams and engineering systems under the ceiling.
- Large windows or multi-tiered lighting using pendant “factory” fixtures.
- A minimum of furniture, standing at a decent distance from the walls.
- Lack of trifles and details. Everything is concise.
- Common room and no walls, only partitions. Fenced off, and even then not always, the bathroom. Sometimes the bedroom is closed or partially fenced off. But this is no longer a loft in its purest form, but a neo-loft.
Loft style renovation
First of all, we need to talk about flowers. Since these are former factories, the colors are gray, brown – in different shades and combinations. There are also metallic, shiny surfaces. So that the interior does not look completely boring, one or two bright spots are added, which, like a magnet, attract the eye.
Styling the walls
With a similar design of an apartment or house, you can see a “raw” brick wall. But this is the result of careful processing and coloring. First, all the whitewash-plaster is cleaned off, which, most likely, was on the wall. Then, with the help of narrow spatulas, knives, screwdrivers and any other suitable tool, the seams are embroidered. The wall should look like an unfinished wall, but the seams should be almost even, and they should be a couple of millimeters deeper than the surface of the brick.
If the solution spills out, the seams are embroidered by 1-1,5 cm, then filled with plaster and leveled. The result should be the same: embossed bricks and slightly “recessed” seams.
What to do if there are no brick walls, but you really want to make such a relief? There are several ways to simulate varying degrees of complexity, but it all starts with markup. Standard brickwork has dimensions of 25 * 6,5 cm, a seam of 1-1,5 cm. This is the markup and applied to the wall.
First you have to draw, then glue the “seams” with masking tape.
After – apply gypsum or other plaster to the wall. The layer is about 2 cm. It is not ideal to level, but the surface should be more or less even. While the solution has not hardened, the masking tape is removed, the seams open. Untidy hanging pieces are picked up, the edges are slightly leveled. It turns out quite a decent imitation.
It can be painted in white, gray. Brick red – this is only after experiments, since it is difficult to pick up a natural color. About the same brickwork imitation technology in the video.
There is another way – to cut out bricks from wallpaper with a suitable texture and stick them on the wall. What comes out of it – in the next video.
The next option is to stick clinker tiles, embroider the seams. But this is already a completely tile laying technology without any innovations. Therefore, we will not dwell on it separately.
Loft style is not only a brick wall. Wooden ones look great too. An easy way to make a relief wall out of wood is to split the bars in half, paint them with stains of different but close tones, and then stick them on the prepared wall like this. And unfold so that the chips are the front part. A more detailed description of the process in the video.
In general, it is interesting to work with a tree. You can use different painting technologies. Read more about lining coloring here.
Loft-style walls are not always unfinished. Often they have a smooth surface, but in contrast to the raw ones, they leave the ceiling or several columns in their “original” form.
Used in the design of apartments, especially small ones, OSB (OSB), and in its raw form. I mean unpainted. You can cover it with stain or water-based varnish, the main thing is that there is no shiny film.
And so that attention is not fixed on the “unnaturalness” of such a finish, the wall can be painted. A stencil or graffiti is what you need for this case.
Fixtures
Lighting should be bright, but not pompous. Simple shades hanging on wires or flexible legs, sometimes deliberate hooks to which everything is attached. Imitation of the situation “in production”.
If such ideas don’t “warm” in any way, it is allowed to use minimalist or high-tech chandeliers. They harmonize well with raw walls and ceilings. But the color scheme, and the materials used, should echo those that are in the interior.
Chandeliers, in our understanding of the word, can also fit into the loft style, but for this you need to try very hard and play on contrasts, opposing the pretentiousness of the lamp to the simplicity of decoration.
As you can see in the photo, sometimes it works. And even the decorations do not look like an alien element, although they clearly belong to a different style. But the eye, of course, attract.
Stairs
If the ceiling height allows, they arrange a second floor, where they transfer the most “private” areas – a bedroom, maybe a bathroom. For representatives of “serious” professions, it may be convenient to make an office in the second level.
As you probably guessed, the stairs in the loft interior are most often made of metal. Simple steps, smooth, smooth railings. No curls or pretentiousness.
Reinforced concrete products fit well: the most industrial texture, the right color. Only when pouring, high-quality concrete is used, which gives a smooth, slightly shiny surface.
The same color – gray – can be used for filling floors. Some even furniture and countertops are made of concrete. They fall into the style 100%, but how convenient such furniture is to use is a question.
Loft style design
Consider some of the characteristic techniques that designers use to create such a technocratic-bohemian design. They will help you develop your own design. There is nothing complicated, but out of ignorance you can get into trouble: buy the wrong thing.
Living room
In the living rooms, as a rule, there is a sofa group – upholstered furniture, concentrated in a certain space. Only the loft style suggests its location in the center of the room, so that there is enough space up to the walls: you can walk freely.
Please note that there is almost no cabinet furniture. there are racks, tables, sometimes shelves. Cabinets, if any, are very simple, sometimes metal. They often serve to zoning space: there are also few walls.
What is good about such interiors – if desired, they can be decorated for mere pennies. Go to the flea market and buy junk. The most expensive thing is usually a sofa. The form is not exactly defined, but definitely not mass “consumer goods”. The main thing is to be able to put everything together. There is even a direction – a hipster loft – in which the use of old or deliberately aged things is considered a special chic.
It is also worth talking separately about racks and shelves. They are either metal – like warehouse ones, or wooden, but very simple. Often wood is painted “under the metal” or concrete.
In general, in the photo there were already many different types of tables, chairs, shelves. All of them have several common features: simple shapes, soft colors.
Bedroom
The loft style in the bedroom is the most “sore” topic. The idea is that the bedroom should be open. But few people agree to such experiments. The rest – the walls (or one wall) of rough processing, on the floor – a carpet and a luxurious bed. Everything from the situation. If you need a wardrobe, it can be hidden behind a door, which can be invisible against the background of the wall.
This interior has a touch of bohemianism. And again, most of the furnishings come from the flea market. But, given our recent past, this style is unlikely to be widely popular. Still, neoloft is more suitable for even the most extravagant personalities.
Kitchen
Another difficult corner of the apartment to decorate. In the “original” version, it was a small nook with a stove, sink, refrigerator and a small table, which could be called a “dining” table with a stretch. But, our realities are seriously different, and the kitchen in most apartments is one of the most beloved places. Therefore, even in the “industrial” environment, she is given a respectable place.
All the signs of the style are evident: simple forms of furniture, open communications, pendant lamps and a table on powerful metal legs. Even the refrigerator has an unusual look – the doors are even, painted under the “old metal”.
But such a kitchen is only a special order, and in everything, to the smallest detail. It costs a lot of money, and such equipment will look only in a large room. Therefore, often when decorating an apartment in a loft style, the kitchen is equipped in a minimalist or high-tech style. They, as we know, coexist well in the same interior.
Bathroom
Any style is multifaceted, and the loft is no exception. For some reason, this is especially acute in the bathroom: too different approaches to performing the same task. For example, in the photo below, this is only a formal fulfillment of the requirements of the style: simple, even forms of plumbing, the same simple shades, restrained colors. Only a slight touch of style, which, nevertheless, is clearly discernible.
In another version, you can see such a design, as in the photo below. The complete opposite and non-standard approach. I don’t know how about a similar interior in an apartment, but in the country, many, I believe, will like this idea. In any case, it makes you smile and look closely and is definitely remembered.
Loft style in the interior: photo
Such an unusual combination of opposites awakens fantasy, makes you take a fresh look at many familiar things. And so that there are a lot of ideas, below are some interesting interiors and fragments that may be useful.