Amazing worked in and lived in artist lofts

Posted by Mr Wong at 8:27 AM 0

A reader requested a post on artist lofts - live/work spaces way back in October. Shamefully, I'm just getting to that now. There are so many great examples out there that I'm going to have to save some for future posts.

Here are some good examples of real spaces. Even if you don't have a loft, maybe you can still find some inspiration.

Great dining/kitchen area!







The above is from a loft in Williamsburg, Brooklyn - an artsy neighborhood I lived in for a year back in 2006/2007.
via Willow Decor via Ochs Design

The above is an artist's loft you can rent for getaways.
via artistsloft.com



Even with the exposed brick wall and factory-style windows, homey elements like the houseplants, pictures, and rug make the space more than liveable.

I'm not a fan of cowhide rugs or of bull fighting, but this bedroom is a good example of how loft dwellers can make an industrial space cozier- notice the room divider on the left

This is the area of the loft carved out to be office space.

The loft above is actually for sale in Pawtucket, RI.
via OLX

love the windows!

via Apartment Therapy via New York Magazine


The studio/work area of this tribeca loft

via NY Locations

I really like the look of lofts but I don't know if I'd be happy living in one as I tend to like small, cozy spaces and being able to shut myself in a room alone. How about you have you lived in a loft, did you like it? If not, do you think you'd like loft living?

A tour of my Brownstone studio apartment

Posted by Mr Wong at 2:54 PM 0

I was really flattered when Marcela of Deco and Design asked me for a little house tour. Unfortunately since I am currently "without house," I had to send her photos from a very cute studio apartment I lived in a couple of years ago. It was on the ground floor of a brownstone in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope. I was even lucky enough to have my own little backyard. When I signed the lease on this apartment is when I really started to get interested in interior design. I had no idea how to decorate a studio and finally didn't have any roommates and could decorate how I wanted. Most of my furnishings are hand-me-down or cheap finds, as my entire budget went to rent on the place. So, really, this apartment was my first stab at decorating.

You can read her post on my apartment here.
MOSTRÁ TU CASA - LA CASA DE ASHLEY


The apartment had a lot of charming little built-ins, like the pantry above - and the desk and shelves below


The apartment did have a separate eat-in kitchen, which was really nice.


I was always changing things around as you can tell

This is the cooking area. The counter had been covered in a hideous, old, stained yellow laminate, so I went and bought some cheap textured drawer liner and resurfaced the counter for less than $14. It help up surprisingly well. No air bubbles or leaking into the seams or anything.


A non-working fireplace in my living room/bedroom.

I loved the shutters, hardwood floors, and tin ceiling.

Sorry another blurry shot - this cupboard was also built-in.

So, I know it's not much, but I love looking back to it!

Kathleen Kelly's "shabby sweet" studio apartment in "You've Got Mail"

Posted by Mr Wong at 8:32 AM 0

I've been wanting to feature the adorable studio apartment of You've Got Mail's leading lady for quite sometime. It's an adorable and charming blend of Shabby Chic and Laura Ashley. I think it's especially endearing because it's like a little country cottage in the middle of the city, and because it fit's Kathleen so well. Her meal ticket is selling children's books, and her home looks like it's straight out of a fairy tale. What do you think? Would you change anything?

The above image is her home in the opening scene





After the store goes out of business I noticed her studio was rearranged, and was filled with objects from her shop. I like the bed placed at a diagonal as it is below.

I love her headboard and quilts








Her kitchen is really sweet - who'd think to put a little lamp in the kitchen?


all images property of Time Warner, Inc.

Great ideas to make the most out of a studio apartment

Posted by Mr Wong at 2:03 PM 0

I've lived in one studio thus far and if I stay in NYC, I'm sure not my last. So, I'm constantly gathering up visual snippets of how others have made it work...

Monochrome is especially striking in a studio...





This apartment is a Brownstone studio in Brooklyn, I used to live in a similar one, and she's done a beautiful job!

I'm really liking the use of white sheers - it really makes the space "glow"
above via Apartment Therapy

A dreamy and romantic studio - I love the sheers - so romantic!



Read the article on Furniture for Small Spaces for specifics


A few random helpful pointers:

•Use up some vertical space to add storage to your small studio apartments. Don’t limit yourself to one cute basket or trunk at the end of the bed. Make sure you buy some sturdy baskets or boxes with lids. Stack them up three deep. You have tripled your storage and created a fun focal point into the room. Old wooden and leather trunks work well like this as well. Stacked baskets also work well as a night table. Stack them to the appropriate height and top them off with a piece of clear beveled glass.


•Curtains are fabulous way to hide an entire storage wall. Install a curtain track at the top of your ceiling, the kind meant to hold drapery. It should be bout 16 inches out from the wall. Use that hidden space to install shelving, hooks, and clothing racks. You can make any space into a visually appealing closet this way! To save money use colorful sheets as the curtains. If you are really tight on money you could use push pins or upholstery tacks to install you curtains to the ceiling. Just make sure you use loots of small panels so you can open these curtains whenever you need t get to something.
via Associated Content