Get this look...
This is Tilevera's cover page for our Loft segment of products as featured in our newest catalog - Life's Tiles. I think it's a good visual representation to introduce my tips for what one might explore in order to achieve this spare and functional lifestyle. Though I'm having a bit of fun with it- in general, I feel that when working with your design clients or on your own future loft space, the following are good guidelines for loft success-
SPACE
Of course, it helps tremendously if you happen to have an abandoned factory- cement, sugar, steel:) An exotic locale is also great, but these amazing spaces can tend to eclipse any of their surroundings (which can be particularly worthwhile if you're in the stockyards of Kansas City).
For those of us less fortunate- I find that many folks are opting to gut traditional homes in favor of clearing the way for more austere and open spaces. It's a lovely contrast to the standard home, turning any traditional or tract home into an internal loft-like oasis.
PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE
But If you've managed to stumble upon the perfect old warehouse or factory space- it deserves the finest professionals. I'm generally all about DIY decor, but something of this grandeur deserves more than a saws-all and great ideas. For the Ricardo Bofill homestead, his supreme engineering took the disparate sections of his momentus factory and brought it together, cohesively. My sons use the word "genius" to describe anything. But I can't think of a better word to describe Ricardo Bofill's professional guidance here.
APPLIANCES & FIXTURES
Industrial spaces require industrial-sized products. Anything less, gets reduced to E-Z Bake proportions. My own favorite would be a full sized AGA. And for food storage- Sub-Zero has a great big retro -style fridge that should be able to hold it's own. For plumbing, wall-hung toilets and commercial faucets and fillers will sustain the form/function requirements, perfectly.
FURNISHINGS
Post-modern furnishings are a timeless addition to loft spaces. And since it only makes sense to actually have a live/work lifestyle in a live/work space, post-modern furnishings already lend themselves to an office or studio purpose. (Those post-modernists - both whimsical AND functional!!)
TILE AND SURFACES
The cubic-feet inherent with this look means steep heating bills. So wood flooring can help out this particular loft liability, but it doesn't hold up like tile, stone or concrete. Some of my favorite tiles are perfect for such spaces- terra cotta, quarry, and stone tiles are all durable and once warmed will retain heat. I highly recommend as much radiant flooring heat as you can get. My ultimate loft fantasy- walking around the big spaces barefoot on warm tile floors. Certainly not the "greenest" fantasy!
Big floors generally mean big tiles, and terra cotta and stone can both be supplied in large sizes. Cotto Barbetti has always been a favorite terra cotta supplier, and they have been making them from their stunning factory in the heart of Tuscany for nearly a century.
Stone tiles can be specified in any size, but for modern spaces, I'm very partial to large rectangles right now - 12"x24" at the very smallest.
And for loft spaces- go neutral for color. Color can be tricky in large expanses unless you're feeling very cheeky. So to play it safe- I recommend any of the neutral colored stones that will best accentuate all the concrete grey and exposed wood and steel. This could be Beaumarniere, Portuguese limestones, and of course- any of Tilevera's Neutrals. They're all beige or "greige" and just right.
I would stay away from Carrera or Calacutta, however. The white and gray tones can make large spaces feel really cold. However, be sure to save these two stones for the bath and counter areas as they are absolutely perfect for their surfaces - both wall and floor.
And speaking of counters- marble and limestone are coming back around again for counter surfaces, thank goodness. In large sweeping spaces, marble veining and extravagant colors are perfect for small feature areas.
I recently saw a green/brown/white Brazilian marble with an acid-etch finish that looked like a remarkably green google satellite image. Very martian- but in an earthy way- if you know what I mean:) This is the kind of stuff you want to be generous with for your small hard surface areas. In these areas eccentricity rules!
And for walls, splashes, etc, my 2010 Tile Trends post couldn't be a better illustration of perfect wall finishes for loft spaces. You know that if industries are turning their heads toward a particular lifestyle- it's going to be on the radar for quite some time.
CONCLUSION
I could go on and on (I think I have!)- with all the little detail stuff. However, if the Loft lifestyle calls out to you, you're already getting the picture. And if you do a "loft search" at some of my favorite blogs- you'll find so much more to guide and inspire your own loft space. (Victoria at sfgirbybay.com continues to be a big Tile Envy inspiration- and her loft posts are exceptional.)
Ricardo Bofill's home is what happens when we dream big. But I do believe it's worthwhile to envision the possibilities especially as we endeavor to reuse structures, instead of bombing and rebuilding. Structure reuse should be at the very heart of our "green" building initiatives. It is definitely at the heart of the loft lifestyle.
tiles in this post can be found at clé - www.cletile.com