Heather spent all of her spare time in the weeks after moving in getting to know her new city and discovering the challenges of procurement in a foreign country, combing London’s vintage markets and interiors stores for the perfect pieces to complement the flat. With a mix of personal items, vintage finds, and eclectic eBay purchases, Heather has managed to highlight the open plan living space as well as create a sense of security and charm, something that is often sacrificed to ideals of minimalism in such spaces.

The central living space makes you feel tall and proud. The room’s low pieces (that alluring green sofa, Danish lounge chairs, and paintings and signs that sit on the floor) and layered rugs add so much texture, while the vast windows of the warehouse building fill the room with light and energy from all directions. It’s an invigorating space to spend time in, and it’s perfectly balanced by the comforts of the downstairs guest bedroom and bathroom and the mezzanine level master bedroom and en suite.

While there is a distinct lack of doors on the upper level, some clever roller blinds have been used to shield from view a wardrobe here, a bathroom there. Every room—every space—has eye-catching features that encourage conversation or raise a cheeky smile: a buffalo by the bath, horns above the bed, a naughty cross stitch, and a never-ending calendar won in a high school bet.

Having character is much more important than being perfect,

says Heather.

The large windows may present a challenge to the privacy-conscious, but there are blinds that shield the bedroom and frosted panes in the bathroom. Besides, the building is well-located in an area mostly used for office space and isn’t overlooked by large numbers of neighboring apartments. This means this eclectic London loft has the added bonus of being centrally located but also quiet during nights and weekends—ideal city life. Heather admits that the kitchen, while elegant and functional, is the least-used thing in the whole flat, but when the local neighborhood has such amazing food and drink, that’s easy to forgive.

The ground floor comprises of a living room bathed in light under a glass roof and a high-end kitchen with center island, both enjoying the high ceilings.

The first floor is occupied by two spacious rooms with open views and a bathroom with bath and walk-in shower. The last level houses a large master suite.

The enhancement of old elements such as wood frame, metal elements and the hoist, give this place a unique and resolutely industrial atmosphere. 

You can buy this loft here for € 1,080,000.

The team at Sadie Snelson Architects envisioned an open-plan living room to accentuate the full potential of the warehouse’s space. Dividing walls were removed and parts of the floor were taken away to create double-height areas that maximise light. A new mezzanine floor was added with a steel balustrade and folded steel staircase.

Materials used throughout the property are intended to complement its industrial nature. Walls are left unpainted to expose the plaster finish, and structural I-beams are left exposed. The architects designed the concrete kitchen that the client cast himself. 

Architect:  Sadie Architects
Photos:  Rory Gardiner

Abstract vision

The owners, a painter and a financier, share a keen eye for detail. This loft is one of several in the French capital the Parisian duo have renovated and re-designed. When they aren’t here enjoying the vibrant area, they escape to their country house just outside Paris.

Art and ambience

Rue des Filles du Calvaire is in the heart of the Marais, Paris’ historic Jewish quarter. Cultural and cosmopolitan, the 3rd arrondissement is a maze of cobbled streets alive with cafes, restaurants, boutiques, galleries and museums. And the atmosphere has infused this arty home – eccentric colours and ultramodern décor mean you could easily mistake the living space for an avante garde boutique. If you find time to sleep, there’s a well-equipped bathroom and welcoming bedroom in this Colorful Paris Loft.

A great old library serves as a partition between the office and second living room that also serves as guest bedroom since the sofa is convertible.

The original windows of the nineteenth century building have been reopened, framing dramatic views of the dales to create a spacious and luxurious self-catering holiday cottage for seven guests. It has a large and fully equipped kitchen, a cosy living room, four comfortable bedrooms, two en-suits and a luxurious family bathroom. The reconstruction, designed by Evolution Design, has just recently been finished.

Historic features need to be preserved in a chapel conversion

As the existing building was in a poor state of disrepair and had been vacant for many years, the aim of the reconstruction project was to bring this unique property back to life and to enable visitors to appreciate the history and local architecture while providing a beautiful environment to explore the surround countryside and its vast range of activities.
At the time of acquisition, the property had sustained considerable water ingress due to its state of dereliction and not being maintained. Due to its exposed location, strong winds and driving rain, most of the interior finishes had been damaged badly, besides the main roof had deteriorated badly and the roof rafters required replacement.

Before any scheme or design had been drafted, the first tasks were instructing preliminary repairs for the damaged roof and board the windows and doors to prevent any further water damage. Once this had been completed the project team evaluated the available space to establish the type and quantity of facilities that would suit best the size and location of the Chapel.

New mezzanine floor

The insertion of a new mezzanine floor allowed for planning of three bedrooms upstairs and the kitchen / dining area, the living room, the bathroom and the fourth bedroom on the ground floor. Our approach was to provide solutions that answered the brief, but did not alter the historic details or essence of the Chapel. The main hall was the core element that gives the Chapel its feel of space and with its detailed simplicity it became the heart of the proposed design.

Complement the character of the building

Modern, stylish and yet in the context of the location and its history – these were the main criteria for designing the interior of the new holiday cottage. We wanted to create a space that was modern and yet had a traditional language that would complement the historic nature of the Chapel and appeal to a wide range of guests. This was reflected in our choice of furniture and finishes. All materials and design had been considered in the context of the character and appearance of the existing building and the Teesdale vernacular. Traditional materials were proposed to ensure the scheme respects the character of the landscape and the existing buildings.

As the heart of any home the kitchen and dining space was intended to be open and bright, taking advantage of the Gothic windows and the beautiful views of the surround landscape. The aim was to keep a traditional feel by retaining the roof trusses with a natural finish. The kitchen units were styled to keep a homely rural feel, which is framed by the feature wall tiles. By using traditional tiles to cover the full height of the back wall complemented the generous ceiling height and feeling of space.

Modern and comfortable holiday cottage

Being located in the very heart of the Upper Teesdale, the Chapel is a perfect location for unforgettable holidays spent walking, cycling, climbing, fishing or just relaxing with a book and a glass of wine in front of the log burner. Set high on the rolling hills, the Chapel offers peace and quiet, yet Middleton-in-Teesdale with shops, restaurants and pubs is just a few minutes drive away.

If you want, you can rent this chapel for the weekend at AirBnB

Lounge area

One of the first things you will notice when walking into the lounge is a circular sofa, with eleven uniquely-designed compartments. Different textures, fabrics and colors have been used to create a focal point in the room, which will likely initiate conversation when guests visit the property. Modular sofas also feature in a seating area positioned in front of a large television, and cushions of different sizes and shape adjourn the sofa, which lie in bold contrast to the industrial feel of the rest of the room. However, these elements were already present in the property before the apartment was renovated – the concrete ceiling and wooden floor were discovered by accident when a 200-pound metal door was removed. Contemporary canvas art brightens up the far wall, adding a splash of color and style to the apartment, while mirrors line the ceilings, helping to create a feeling of more space.

Dining area

One of the most impressive features of the apartment is the dining table, which has been renovated and then mounted onto a rough oak worktop. In fact, many interior design elements were made according to the original sketches of the designer. The original objective was to create a unique space with an unusual atmosphere, with many echoes of the classic style of the famous motorcycle brand Harley Davidson. The dining area is a warm and welcoming space ideal for entertaining guests.

Other elements

Other design elements in the home include an original Harley Davidson motorcycle, a gramophone, and two contemporary chandeliers which illuminate the oak table. The kitchen metal worktop has been constructed onto carved food which spells out “eat”, with two wooden chairs on either side. This space is ideal when eating breakfast or grabbing a quick meal. In the bathroom, plenty of gold has been used, whilst floral prints and rustic charm are the design styles used in the bedroom. Contemporary framed art adjourn the hallway walls, which still contain many original elements of the building. As there is no natural light in these hallways, spotlights are used to illuminate the space.

Looking at this huge, honest-looking industrial loft with the old walls of rough brick, cracked wood beams, rusty mechanisms and flaky creaking doors, instantly forgetting that it is located on the top floor of a modern business center, and more recently was a new, blank and impersonal space.

The idea of converting  an empty floor of an apartment buildingto a loft was brought by a customer, and Leo Lugovskoy was happy to help, skillfully transforming a bare concrete space into a lively industrial interior. Good thing, he had plenty of space to work with: the area of the space is 130 sq meters and the ceiling height is 4.2 meters.

The master room all was imagined as a bachelor pad, along with a host experiencing a midlife crisis!

says the architect. Such description says that the customer is okay with humor and irony. In addition, he is an intellectual, lover of music and reading; so the main areas of the loft became a music library and a living room.

A special pride of the architect is the texture of the walls, beams, decking. The effect of the old shabby, “seasoned” surfaces appeared thanks to the artists studio Gregory Protasov.

The effect they have created is so natural

says Lev Lugovskoy

that people, once here, always asked me the same question: Why did you not paint the wall? Did you need to leave the wall to rust and with old paint ?

And that is the main evidence that the decorative component turned out to be very natural.

Equally convincing is the window, with a typical industrial look, old handles and a beautiful arched masonry of old bricks. Many of the objects and ideas in our interior were produced a long time ago – says the architect. We were hunting for them in stores, waiting for weeks of inspiration and joining solutions, dug antique shops in search of the object corresponding to the time and place.

For all his scrapes and authenticity of an old-fashioned loft, it is packed with modern technology: lighting equipment for organ concerts, high-tech sound system for high-quality audio playback and video projection installation to accompany private concerts.

Built around 1861, the property and was fully renovated in 1998. The works took two years and now the tower provides extensive accommodation. The attention to detail is simply breath taking, from the ground floor entrance hall to the original door. The reception room in the belfry has 40ft ceilings and there is a roof terrace with some of the most far reaching views of any property in London. It also benefits from an internal lift, rear terrace and parking for two cars. All in all the property offers approximately 3337 square feet of wonderful space.

Other features include 3ft thick walls, a fire alarm and security system as well as a working original church clock. Being 300ft above sea level, provides extraordinary views from the mid to upper levels.

Gipsy Hill train station which connects to London Bridge is a few minutes’ walk away and there are many bus routes also close by as are the excellent shopping, restaurant and leisure facilities of Crystal Palace all on the door step.

This loft in a tower is now for sale for about 2 million GBP

Also, it’s not only filled with really interesting, eclectic furniture, but it also retains many original church features (stained-glass windows, peaked windows, choir balcony) as well as some quirky additions.

This home retains the church’s original stained glass windows and full-height ceilings, but brand new parquet floors with under floor heating was installed. The kitchen has New York and Corian Concrete work surfaces.

Tha builders had installed bespoke storage, Lutron lighting, Air-conditioning, electronic Velux windows and even a gym.

A balcony overlooks the main space, which includes a living and dining area as well as a kitchen.

This church is now for sale for a whopping 10 million British pounds (that’s 14,8 US dollars)