Loft-style house: concentration of freedom and creative ideas of self-expression

What is a loft? Is it an exception to the rule, breaking stereotypes, unwillingness to obey generally accepted laws? Probably all together. Resisting imposed dress codes, shapes and sizes. This style is acceptable for those who see an extraordinary space on a gray concrete wall, for those who know how to live in non-residential premises, create comfort with the help of retro devices and an unmasked pipeline. A loft-style home is a home that gives a feeling of freedom.

The loft is considered the most free style, as it allows mixing a variety of directions.

Fundamentals of loft-style premises and home design

The word "loft" refers to the upper floors of industrial premises, converted into housing or office. To understand, or rather to feel the essence and distinctive features of the style, it is worth referring to its origin.

A loft-style house is a platform for bold experiments and unusual design solutions

The loft genre has American roots. Due to the prevailing unfavorable economic circumstances, the owners of factories and factories located in the center of New York began to move production out of the city, and the vacated premises were rented out for art workshops at affordable prices.

Without changing the design conditions, the owners of the workshops settled in the rooms, randomly filling them with furniture, household items, equipping work corners, places of rest and living. This is how the loft-style design appeared.

High spacious premises began to attract not only artists, but also people with good material wealth, who are able to think creatively and perceive new things. Not only bohemians, but also wealthy townspeople began to settle in loft houses.

The features of the layout of housing in the original loft style can be considered:

• large sizes of premises;

The characteristic features of the loft style are the absence of rounded shapes in architecture and a discreet design.

• lack of partitions;
• high ceilings;
• large amount of free space.

The design was determined by the following characteristic features:

• preservation of rough finishing of production facilities;
• filling rooms with furniture and items related to different styles;
• mandatory functionality of all interior elements;
• lack of decoration.

The popularity of loft in the XXI century, which requires a high level of self-organization, mobility, understanding of laws and patterns, is understandable. The desire for emancipation, the lack of adherence to certain rules and canons, the ability to express personal tastes, desires, creative ideas are the psycho-emotional component of this style.

The main rule of the loft style is the presence of an imprint of the industrial past - rough plaster, concrete, brickwork, etc.

Interesting modern projects of houses in the loft style

Every genre undergoes changes over time. Modern buildings corresponding to this trend are separate buildings with different layouts. The proposed photos of loft-style houses show a lot of different projects. These can be whitewashed plastered buildings of a rectangular shape with a ground floor, where garages and technical rooms are located. The buildings are modest and restrained, the white color creates an atmosphere of cleanliness and freshness.

There are many options for buildings lined with bricks that imitate old masonry. They emanate from the romance of the past. They are perceived as timeless mansions. Projects of board houses are offered. The board is laid horizontally or vertically (but always in one direction), visually associated with a shield. This gives the buildings neatness and composure. The board is not painted, a protective coating is applied that preserves the structure of the tree.

Loft house designs may also contain balconies, terraces, verandas. In this style, these architectural parts of buildings look like sites with or without fencing, performing a certain functional purpose. Construction options are considered interesting where the entrance to the house is not on the front side of the building.

Loft house designs often contain balconies, terraces, verandas

Characteristic features of modern style loft are:

• flat roofs of buildings (there are high gable roofs, but this is a deviation from the style);
• large panoramic windows;
• lack of rounded shapes in architecture;
• discreet design;
• functionality of all elements;
• open communications, contrasting with the decoration of the premises.

The frame of such buildings is made of steel or reinforced concrete. The buildings are strong and durable.

Useful advice! If you want to buy a house in the loft style, then you should choose an option in compliance with all the basics of this direction. Changing the shape of the roof, wide round steps, carved railings, etc., deprive the building of the charm inherent in this style.

Typical features of the loft style are brick or concrete wall decoration and large panoramic windows

Features of using the loft style in wooden houses

Is it possible to use the loft style for wooden buildings? Despite the mass of projects offered by developers, which are positioned as a loft, we can say with confidence - no. We can only talk about style elements. A timber house, frame or log, does not have a flat roof, as this is not technically feasible. Installation of panoramic windows is problematic in such houses (and in log houses it is generally impossible). In the best case, if the supporting base of the structure is a frame, you can make a completely glass wall.

Due to the specifics of the construction technology, the height of wooden buildings also has limitations. There are projects where a wooden house is built as a two-storey one, but there is no solid overlap between the floors. Its role is played by beams, which are elements of the style and support the structure. Visually, these elements limit the space, which is contrary to the laws of style.

If we omit the basic architectural requirements, then it is quite possible to build a wooden building with a minimum of partitions, decorate loft-style walls with boards, stone or wallpaper (if the surface allows). You can fill the premises with appropriate furniture and, as a result, organize a stylish and comfortable home.

Elements made from rough shapes of processed wood contribute to the creation of a loft style in wooden houses

The exterior of a wooden building must not have:

• carved and figured parts;
• windows and entrance doors of non-standard shape (only rectangular);
• multi-colored elements, including the roof - white, brown (and its shades) is allowed, gray is possible.

The exterior design of the building should show the desire to imitate an industrial facility.

Internal elements made of rough forms of processed wood contribute to the creation of this style: boards-steps of stairs with a fence in the form of a board made of strips, wide ceiling beams.

Useful advice! When planning the construction of a wooden house using the characteristic features of the loft style, it is worth paying special attention to the engineering aspect at the design level. Safe communication from the point of view of fire safety and sanitation in such a building is quite problematic.

The exterior design of a loft-style wooden building should show the desire to imitate an industrial facility.

Regularities of creation interior of houses in the loft style

Bringing the rough and the pleasant to harmony is the main task that must be performed when creating the interior of private houses in the loft style. Brickwork, cinder block is best left open. It is recommended to paint the ceiling beams in a dark color to make them more expressive. On monotonous plastered walls, you can stick wallpaper with a print in the form of a dilapidated wall or imitating old boards.

The floors in houses of this style must be made of wood. Tile, linoleum and laminate with pure color shades, straight lines, tight joints can negate all design efforts, breaking harmony. The use of a plinth is undesirable. If you cannot do without it, you should make it as invisible as possible, merging with the walls.

There are no special requirements for furniture. It can be modern, old, old, but preferably expensive and of high quality. It is appropriate to attach a glass table with elegant metal supports to a classic heavy sofa with carved oak legs. Rack hi-tech will complement the study.

Cluttering, filling the space with furniture is a gross violation of the rules for decorating loft-style houses

Delimiting a room into zones is possible in three ways:

• use the layout, i.e. wall protrusions, window arrangement, etc.
• with the help of furniture, arranging it as intended;
• applying lighting, color shades of walls or floors.

There should be little furniture in the premises. Cluttered, filled space is a gross violation of the rules for decorating houses of this style. A significant amount of textiles is not recommended either. Bedspreads, pillows, rugs must be made of natural material, prints and drawings are not allowed. It is prohibited to hang windows with curtains, curtains, curtains. If it is necessary to close the room from prying eyes, it is better to use blinds.

In the photo of the interior of private houses, you can choose both creative options for decorating the premises, and more restrained, but no less interesting from this.

A house made in the loft style is the very design project that requires a minimum amount of time and money.

How to create a modern home in DIY loft style

What if the house in which you live is more than a dozen years old, and its architecture and layout are hopelessly far from the modern loft style? And these are exactly the conditions in which you want to live ... Much can be corrected with your own hands. And the first thing to start with is to demolish the partitions.

Related article:

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Facade decoration, interior design, basic style elements. How to make the decoration yourself.

This is a cardinal solution, it requires a technical assessment by experts, determining the functionality of the walls (load-bearing or only partitions), making changes to the project or creating a new one. If it is not possible to remove all partitions, it is recommended to remove one interior. The result is a large room that can be furnished in the style you want.

Useful advice! For the reconstruction of a building for the purpose of arranging a loft house, one should undertake only if the ceiling height is at least 300 cm.Otherwise, it will not be possible to create a lot of open space, which means that all design efforts will be in vain.

Loft-style stairs for a home, like wall decoration, should resemble the atmosphere of an industrial room

A staircase can serve as a significant interior element. It should have clear geometric shapes: wooden or metal frames, rectangular steps. The fence must be created only for its direct purpose - the safety of movement, decoration is inappropriate here.

Loft-style stairs for a home, like wall decoration, should resemble the atmosphere of an industrial room. Ladder structures are easy to make yourself, having a bar, solid wood and tools for sawing and grinding. The ability to use a welding machine will allow you to make a metal ladder.

You can open communications: remove boxes, remove decorative grilles, false pencil cases. It is better to paint the pipes not to match the walls, but with paints, which, if they do not create a contrast, then noticeably highlight the elements of heat, water and gas supply.

Paintings on the floor, scales with weights, natural fleecy rugs of small sizes, laid only in places where households step barefoot, are simple details that create a real loft.

Competently combining furniture with decorative elements, you can smooth out the roughness of brick walls, creating a rather interesting effect

How easy it is and without significant costs to make a renovation in the loft style

Overhaul with redevelopment, replacement of cladding layers, pipes, windows or even window openings can change the style. But there are not always funds for such repairs. You can create a loft style in the house without significant costs. To do this, you need to examine the material from which the walls of the house are built. If it is masonry, it is elementary to achieve the desired wall decoration: you need to remove the plaster and smooth out the protruding bulges.

If this option does not work, you need to sew up the walls with a board. There are enough products on the market that, when applied, will make this material "old". If it is unrealistic to get to the beams or there are none at all, you can clean the ceiling to concrete (or to plaster without layers of paint) and make a lattice from a bar with a small cross-section with cells about 1 m2 in size, tinted it with a darker, or, conversely, white color. which depends on the base of the ceiling.

With this type of repair, it will not be possible to get rid of doorways, therefore, it is necessary to make new doors in the loft style or subject the existing structures to processing to achieve the desired effect - "aging". Glass doors in a metal frame look organic. If the house has swing door designs, they will have to be replaced.

The design of loft style furniture itself should be extraordinary with unexpected details, elements

It is recommended to change the coating (if possible) of the floor, window frames, window sills, internal trims from glossy to matte.

Additional living quarters cannot be ignored. To create a loft-style balcony design, you should use the same types of decoration as for the main rooms. You can imitate masonry using decorative facing bricks. It will be possible to highlight the ceiling with the help of lamps used to illuminate industrial premises by laying open wiring.

An uncomplicated metal-frame bookcase with a tinge of roughness, consisting of wooden shelves, will nicely coexist with a low armchair and a light table with a white polished surface. The furniture on the balcony should take up no more than ¼ of the space. The principle of minimalism, functionality of all elements for this room is no less relevant.

Having familiarized yourself with the features of the loft style, we can say that this is a design project that requires a minimum amount of time and money.

Materials used in the design of the facades of loft-style houses

Loft-style houses are inexpensive. The organization of such facades does not require a presentable finish. The main types of materials used in the design of house facades in this style:

• brick;
• concrete;
• plaster;
• front panels;
• reiki.

Brick cladding is an old, reliable and proven method. The emergence of new types of this material has expanded the design possibilities: "torn", "old" bricks, with mineral chips, etc. are used depending on the desired effect. Loft-style brick is the most common facing material.

Concrete and plaster (textured plaster is not typical for this type of house) create smooth and uniform surfaces that need to be painted.

The main types of materials used in the design of the facades of loft-style houses are brick, concrete, plaster, facade panels and slats

New elements in the design of building facades can be considered metal or plastic facade panels. They have strict geometric shapes, the surface can be smooth or embossed. Houses clad in this way are similar to modern industrial buildings or beautifully decorated trailers.

Rack systems are also a relatively new way of cladding loft houses. Their peculiarity is that traces of fasteners are not visually visible. Simplicity, brevity, straightforwardness create the necessary perception of the building.

Wooden slats are easier to manufacture. You can prepare them yourself if you have a simple woodworking machine, for example, a thicknessing machine. However, slats require not only preliminary, but also constant processing during the operation of the house, since wood without a proper protective layer is exposed to precipitation and temperatures.

Metal rack systems are more durable, but the method of their fastening is quite difficult. The slats are spaced to allow the base material used to build the house to breathe.

Loft-style brick is the most common facing material

Useful advice! When choosing a facing material, it is imperative to take into account its compatibility with the main building materials. A metal rack system is not suitable for aerated concrete structure, and the facade of a house made of cinder blocks should not be decorated with a wooden batten.

The specifics of lighting loft-style country houses

Lighting plays a special role in creating a real loft style design. During the daytime, the room is filled with a stream of natural light, provided by large windows. The artificial lighting system has a triple function:

• design creation;
• delimitation of zones;
• the actual lighting.

One of the most successful design solutions is the placement of spotlights on the beams. They must match the rough decor of the beams, so metal-framed light bulbs or closed shades are often used. Consecutive connection of ceiling lamps and exposed wiring give the room a style expressiveness. Position the lamps so that the border of the illuminated area is clearly visible.

Large area that implies loft design Is a great opportunity to use a variety of lighting fixtures

It is optimal to use LED lamps, which dissipate light close to daylight when the appropriate temperature is selected.

Pendant lamps are also used, the design of which also involves geometric shapes and the absence of decoration. Chandeliers placed in the center of the room cause a certain difficulty in choosing. Here Edison lamps can come to the rescue. They themselves have an interesting shape, and additional shades are not required.

It is almost impossible to buy a chandelier that matches the loft style. However, with minimal knowledge and ability to use a power tool, making it yourself is a completely feasible task. Side lighting fixtures and pendants located in different areas cannot be of the same type.

Old-style sockets and switches, which, however, are not so easy to obtain today, will be a great addition to the design.

The most popular loft-style lamps on tires, the main advantage of which is the ability to adjust the direction of light

A photo of the loft style with the image of various methods of electric lighting will suggest the most unexpected options for the placement of lamps and other lighting fixtures.

Loft style cottage: internal eclecticism and unity of landscape design

To highlight the design features of a project in the style of a loft cottage, it is necessary to take the following conditional differences as a basis:

• this building always has two floors;
• the architecture of the cottage is more sophisticated;
• the building has all the necessary communications;
• cottage villages are most often located in picturesque countryside;
• there is necessarily a small adjoining land plot.

Based on the above, we can only talk about the features of the external design of the building and its place in the general landscape of the site.

Loft-style cottages are most often located in scenic countryside

The design of the cottage, its colors are of decisive importance in the design of the backyard space. Paths, areas adjacent to the main structure, hard surfaces must either repeat or have a color close to the design of the building. If the building is white, the hard surface may be grayish in color; brown brick cladding implies a covering of natural stone of similar shades, etc.

The vegetation is mostly free of variegated and bright shades. Wide mowed lawns, a minimum of shrubs and trees. Tall plants are concentrated in one place, the freedom of space must be ensured in the personal plot.

Additional structures (gazebos, sheds) are made mainly of the same material or resemble the cladding of a cottage.

If eclecticism prevails in the interior design of buildings, then in landscape design all elements must correspond to each other.

The loft style provides for freedom of space, which must be ensured in the personal plot.

Useful advice! When decorating a loft-style plot, it is better to use perennial plants. Among them there is a large selection of decorative deciduous, non-flowering flora representatives.

Advantages and disadvantages of one-story loft-style houses

The recognition and popularity of the loft style is primarily determined by its main positive features:

• loft house design is always individual, unique;
• it is an opportunity to be creative;
• does not require large financial costs;
• the absence of unnecessary items, restraint and minimalism create comfort and facilitate care;
• free space contributes to good rest, relaxation;
• use of natural, environmentally friendly materials.

The loft design of a one-story house is always individual and unique.

Listing all the indisputable advantages of this modern style, it is necessary to note its disadvantages:

• the absence of partitions, a large area of ​​premises create problems during the heating season, since the building takes a long time to warm up and it is difficult to keep heat in it;
• large windows contribute to weathering;
• the costs of paying for utilities are significant;
• this style of interior is not perceived by everyone. It is especially unacceptable for people of conservative views.

Useful advice! It is recommended to involve household members in the development of the loft style. Compromises will lead to a positive result: everyone in the house will be comfortable and cozy.

Loft-style house: advice and warnings from design specialists

A photo of a loft-style design is a demonstration of the unlimited creative imagination. It often happens that adding additions to a ready-made idea or the desire to do it as creatively as possible has the opposite effect: instead of style, chaos appears.

Loft design in the interior disposes to receive a large number of guests, which means there should be a maximum number of seats

A few tips from design experts will help you avoid design mistakes:

1. If the room is relatively small, placing furniture in the center to indicate a specific area will significantly reduce the space.
2. Delimiting zones with a long cabinet will also lead to a visual reduction in free space.
3. Special lighting is required for each zone. In the absence of conditions for hanging stationary lamps, you can install floor lamps.
4. Large carpets reduce space, so it is best to use medium sized products.
5. The introduction of exclusiveness should be dosed, since an overabundance destroys an idea. For example, stools in the form of inverted tubs are quite enough; experimenting with the table will be superfluous.
6. Replacing the plank floor with linoleum will significantly change the overall perception of the design of the room. Equally, you can replace the board only with brushed parquet.
7. The abundance of small details overloads the interior.

As for the material that is used for loft-style houses, it is leather, stainless steel, plastic, aluminum, textiles

The loft style, like no other direction, does not accept templates. Living in spacious rooms created by your own imagination, taking into account personal taste preferences, is the key to comfort and freedom. Large volumes expand inner freedom, and energetically charging streams of light fill it with meaning and content.