Jason's Book-Filled Loft

Apartment Therapy Survey

My style: Loft style — although I don't think we have a particular style really, except that we like handmade and fun objects, books, and art in our space. Our budget confines us to artwork created by friends and ourselves — and our children.
Inspiration: Friends lofts, loft books and blogs such as Decor8 and Apartment Therapy.
Favorite Element: Our kitchen. The kitchen was designed to our specifications and we strived to create a space where we can cook with our two small children. The kitchen is built on a platform which allowed us to save on plumbing costs as the drains, PVC and gas lines run beneath the platform. The platform kitchen also allows us to watch our children play in the open loft space.
Biggest Challenge: Budget. The complete renovation from raw space to move-in was completed within a budget of $30,000. Additionally, the large space meant we could design just about any layout. Nailing down the final design was a challenge, especially with our desire to create intimate spaces while retaining the open layout.
What Friends Say: Most visitors comment on the amount of room and the lovely light, especially in the mornings and afternoon. There are two full walls of windows facing both east and west.
Biggest Embarrassment: We have yet to install trim in the kitchen, bathroom or bedrooms and one knee wall is faced with cardboard … corrugated cardboard.
Biggest Indulgence: Countertops! More than ten percent of our budget was spent on the Silestone countertops.
Best advice: You can do it! Whatever your dream is — a funky home, a loft, green space — you can do it. Not every project requires an unlimited budget, especially if you take it one step at a time. Our loft is half completed, the second half of the renovation, which will take place "someday," includes a master bedroom, office, second bathroom and a media room. We wish we could complete this second phase of the renovation, but we're patient! It's all part of the process. We don't ever feel the space will be "done," there's always something else to work on!