Built in 1925 to house the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, this fantastic red-brick building is currently home to Cucina Toscana, an Italian restaurant on the main floor and two living spaces above. It’s a prime spot, to put it lightly: the lucky owners are hovering above Pioneer Park on the corner of 300 south and 300 West. These two homes encompass the perfect way to live downtown without sacrificing outdoor space.

The designers started stripping away much of what the last tenant had installed in order to reveal all the raw and simple beauty of the space’s original form. From there, they started carefully adding layers back on that worked harmoniously with the industrial vibe. The magic lays in the richness, created with specific materials. Aged, natural, cherry-finished cabinets in the kitchen, dark colors, black painted metalwork: it’s all delightfully juxtaposed by bright white walls and massive windows that allow for copious amounts of natural light throughout the space.

A smart move in retaining this building’s old charm was by keeping the brickwork exposed. The brick walls offer a new look while preserving the history and the original character of the edifice.

The master bath is a dish of gothic industrial: a metal/chain chandelier over a custom, matte-black-enameled tub that’s perched opposite the ebony-stained cabinets. The walls are lined with 48” wood tile planks, which add a lot of texture and a touch more drama. The designers managed to add an organic element to an otherwise very hard and raw space with the grass-cloth wallpaper, and to accentuate the high ceilings, we hung 72” pendants from the ceiling over each nightstand. But the highlight is that double-sided fireplace (so you can take your romance in the bedroom and the living room).

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 interior of the apartment is contemporary and rich in details, integrating artistic elements with industrial ones. The predominant color on the walls and ceiling is white and a dark reflective floor offers contrast along with the dark tones of the side walls that are painted black.

The overall neutral tones create a very elegant ambiance with long white curtains adding privacy and large windows allowing a good view of the surroundings. The lounge area is separated from the kitchen through a large island and the second floor is accessed through a spiraling staircase that also acts as a sculptural element in the living area. Another interesting characteristic of this space is that there is a separate room for the motorcycle so that it also becomes a part of the ambiance.

The Wrigley Lofts are the real deal. This is the type of place you picture when you think of a hard loft. No cookie-cutters here. There are multiple lofts in this former factory – each unit is unique with different finishes and layouts – from the floors to the lighting. The first owners got the space from the developer about as raw as possible so each person put their own stamp on their unit. Because the ceilings are so extraordinary, many units have a mezzanine level and some even have direct freight-elevator access. Like in the movies. Except you are the hero.

Suites feature original industrial windows, 14-foot ceilings, original concrete mushroom-style columns and the exposed pipes and duct work that one would expect in a true hard loft conversion. One of the best things about this building is the uniqueness of individual suites. Original purchasers of this building bought raw space from the developer for about $100/square foot, and each owner made these blank canvasses their own – consequently no two suites in the building are alike.

In 1997, Aderhold Properties began the renovation and redevelopment of the historic Fulton Cotton Mill in Atlanta into a community of 505 loft apartments.

Heirloom Design and Build has outfitted this loft in the Fulton Cotton Mill Lofts.

The building was erected in 1882, and converted to 7 lofts (in 6 levels, so they are LARGE lofts) in 1992. This one is on the 2nd floor, 300 sq meters, with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It’s kept for rent, but its current tenants are enjoying it since 2011, when it was last on the market. It goes for $25k a month…

It was a modernist gem still filled with laboratories, test tubes, files and furniture, as if the workers had got up one day and walked out. They had to save it from oblivion. But how? After years living in one tiny room and learning things they never knew about themselves and each other, they have turned this mass of steel, concrete and glass into a big, bright home full of endless possibilities and bold primary colours. From the building itself to the tiniest utensil, vase or toy car, this couple celebrates the beauty of everyday objects. It has taken seven years of hard work for Judith and Robert to tame the unruly space, but they’ve finally made it into a home. Says Judith,

We were looking for an original house that we could turn into whatever we wanted. It became exactly what we hoped for and more. It has been a bit rough but I’m glad we did it because we love our home. It’s bright, upbeat and light.

The markets, bar and restaurants at Columbia Road, Brick Lane, Spitalfields and Broadway Market are all a short distance away. All of the Olympic sites and the West End / Oxford Street are accessible from the excellent local connections (20 minute bus journey / 15 in a cab to Oxford Street).

The flat is essentially one large room, with a three quarter height kitchen divider separating the living space from the bedroom, and from the bedroom, a door leading to a separate bathroom with bath and shower. The space has enormous windows on three sides – fitted with blackout roller blinds for when needed.

It is fully furnished with design originals including a super comfy sofa and a dining table that seats eight easily. The large loading doors at the end of the space can be opened to let the outside in. There is also an informal space on the New York style fire escape leading up to the entrance where one can take the sun and have a coffee on a nice day. Great mood lighting.

Available for rent at Airbnb, if you fancy

This massive building has undergone quite a transformation since its industrial origin in the 1960s. Holgaard Architects did a fantastic job breathing new life in to the striking apartments contained within – our favorite color, of course, is a prominent feature.

Notice how the sparsely lit rooms are bathed with glossy surfaces. Nothing is so reflective that it catches glare from artificial lighting, but the largest surfaces have just enough shine to brighten the space in a snap.

Some rooms are more “finished” in appearance than others are but, even the most thoroughly sleek modern interiors take cues from this building’s past with architecturally influenced furnishings.

Sgura, who has shot advertising campaigns for Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana, bought the loft just over a decade ago after visiting a friend’s architecture studio in east Milan. The gritty street was lined with old industrial buildings that were being converted to television and photography studios, design showrooms, and residential lofts.

Sgura soon learned about a nearby loft for sale and made the move. The location near one of Milan’s three airports, Linate, was certainly convenient for this photographer on the go. “It’s outside the city, quiet and calm,” he says, “but it’s also very central. I can get to the Duomo in just 15 minutes.”

The stainless steel kitchen is by Antonio Citterio for Arclinea, the photograph is by Armin Linke, and the ceramics were purchased in southern Italy.

The dining table and bench are by Piet Hein Eek, and the chairs are by Mies van der Rohe; the light fixtures are by Piero Lissoni for Boffi, and the photographs leaning against the mirrored wall are by Bruce LaBruce, far left, and Steven Klein, right.

The upstairs living area holds a collection of luggage, including pieces by Bottega Veneta, Hermès, and Prada; the vintage table is Scandinavian, the chair is by Ico Parisi, the photograph is by Bruce Weber, and the floor is teak.

A wall in the master bedroom, paneled in palisander wood, is lined with photographs by David LaChapelle, Irving Penn, Steven Klein, and Melvin Sokolsky; the fur-covered chair is a limited-edition piece by Cappellini, and the chandeliers are of Murano glass.

The terrace’s benches and arbor were designed by Ilias Lefas, the plastic chair is by Gae Aulenti, and the ottomans are by IKEA.