Archive for the ‘Lofts’ Category
Where to Put the TV When the Wall Won’t Work
Saturday, August 20th, 2011
Finding a great spot for the TV is a challenge in many homes. For people with open plan homes or lofts with few walls, placing the television can be even tougher. You can float the TV away from the wall if you follow these practical design tips.
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Tags: furniture arrangement, hide tv, IR repeater, open floor plan, placing tv, Space Planning, television, television placement, tv, tv placement
Posted in Cool Ideas, Design Tips, Furniture, Interior Design, Live/Work Spaces, Living Room, Lofts, Space Planning, Storage Solutions, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Interior Design From All Angles: Dealing With Open Upper Floor Views
Saturday, August 20th, 2011
Lofts and open plan homes often have upper floors or hallways that overlook the main floor. Don’t forget the view from above when selecting furnishings and planning your furniture arrangement and other design elements.
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Tags: balcony, chandelier, chandeliers, coffee table, dining table, Living Room, loft, mezzanine, open floor plan, open plan home, random light, second story, suspension lamp, two story, upper floor, upstairs
Posted in Design Tips, Dining Room, Furniture, Interior Design, Living Room, Lofts, Space Planning, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Portland Interior Designer Shares How to Float Your Bed – Loft Style!
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011
In Portland, lots of us know how to float a boat — plenty of water for that! But this post is about how to float your bed! If you live in a wide open loft or have an extra large bedroom, floating your bed away from the wall can be an option for you — or maybe even a necessity! I have tips on how to handle your bedside tables and lighting when you decide to float the bed.
Tags: bed, Bedroom, floating bed, houzz bedrooms, Interior Design, loft, loft bedroom, Pangaea, Space Planning
Posted in Bedroom, Cool Ideas, Design Tips, Furniture, Interior Design, Lighting, Live/Work Spaces, Lofts, Space Planning, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Could Your Living Room Be Better Without a Sofa?
Wednesday, June 1st, 2011
Do you find that just about no matter where you place your sofa in your living room, it just never seems to work? With smaller homes, the living room may have doorways or windows on almost all walls making it tough to find a good direction for the sofa. Well — did you ever think that maybe you don’t actually need a sofa? After all, there is no “design law” that says you must. Check out these examples of living rooms that work beautifully without a sofa in sight.
Click on the dots under the photo to navigate to other photos. Click on the text below the photo to open up the full Ideabook and also see the comments from other readers. People had definite opinions about this!
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Tags: chair, chaise, couch, daybed, Design Tips, furniture arrangement, Living Room, Seating, sofa, Space Planning
Posted in Cool Ideas, Design Tips, Furniture, Interior Design, Living Room, Lofts, Seating, Space Planning, Trends, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Industrial Style Bathroom Design – Perfect For Lofts
Friday, June 18th, 2010
I love decorating lofts and especially like it when there are great industrial elements to the space. If you are going to decorate your loft in industrial style, carry that look right through to the bathroom. I’ve pulled together a collection of items that would create that look and a couple of industrial style bathrooms I particularly like.
This first bathroom is a spectacularly high end space with a decidedly industrial style. The large concrete tub and steel walls work beautifully with the warm colors of glass in the chandelier. I am drooling!
This bath is on the opposite end of the budget spectrum. The vanity was made by a fabricator who welded the steel frame to which ash wood shelving was added. Matching baskets take the place of drawers and keep items looking tidy. My favorite detail is the mirror mounted on a bar in the middle of the window. I love the idea of putting on my make-up with natural light coming in directly on my face. Can’t beat that! And when the day isn’t sunny, they’ve mounted long narrow light fixtures vertically in between and on either side of each window. Best direction for light to shine on your for your daily beauty regimen (although I wouldn’t choose fluorescent).
source
So, how can you pull together an industrial look? It takes the right accessories and materials. Raw steel and concrete figure prominently. But adding natural elements like wood and natural sea sponges gives it warmth.
The bathroom faucet and shower fittings below are the Waterbridge collection from Sonoma Forge. They are perfect with custom concrete sink & shower surround, or even solid surface materials with recycled glass.
Lighting fixtures found at industrial house continue the look.
The toilet roll holder is from Wire & Twine — but I just can’t imagine even the most basic do-it-yourselfer not being able to whip this up in one quick trip to a big box store. Can you?
So, what do you think? Are you ready to create an industrial style bathroom?
Are you a loft dweller? Then you might also like:
Defining Space, Not Dividing Space – Interior Design Tips for Lofts & Open Plan Homes
Window Treatments for Floor to Ceiling Windows
Soaring Ceilings and What On Earth To Do With Them
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Tags: Bathroom, bathtub, chandelier, concrete, industrial style, Lighting, loft, sonoma forge, steel, wire & twine
Posted in Bathroom, Cool Stuff, DIY, Design Tips, Interior Design, Lighting, Lofts, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Space Saving Furniture Designs – Perfect for Lofts, Small Spaces & Live/Work Spaces
Thursday, May 27th, 2010
I am always looking for beautifully designed multi-purpose pieces of furniture that work for lofts, small spaces and live/work spaces. In my relentless searching on the internet for these space saving furniture ideas, I’ve come across almost all of these. But I just found this great demonstration video from Resource Furniture in New York, showing how these pieces work. I’m including photos of just one of their designs – but you’ve really got to watch the video to get the full awesomeness of these pieces!
Watch the video here: Space Saving & Multi-Purpose Furniture
The sofa below is beautiful! It SO does not look like your parents’ over-stuffed sofa-sleeper.
If you need extra space for overnight guests and don’t have a guest room, this sofa would be fabulous in the living room. So many sofa sleepers either look big and clunky or they look very skimpy and cheap. I’d put this one in any high-end loft without batting an eye.
If you have a live/work space or a home office set up in your guest room, the desks on the video that can be converted to beds are a great multi-purpose option. It’s all about wise use of space.With the advances in technology making it possible for more and more people to work from home, it’s nice to know that advances in furniture design are making it possible to have more flexible use of your space.
Although these pieces run more than your average sofa, desk or bed – when you think about the fact that you are buying only one piece of furniture to take the place of two, and you save all that space, they are a pretty smart use of your design dollars too.
Related posts:
Ten Great Tips to Make Your Small Space Look B-I-G-G-E-R! part 1
Ten Great Tips to Make Your Small Space Look B-I-G-G-E-R! part 2
Designing a Home Office That Works for YOU!
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Tags: bed, desk, Home Office, live-work, Lofts, multi-purpose, open plan homes, Resource Furniture, small spaces, sofa
Posted in Bedroom, Cool Ideas, Cool Stuff, Design Dollars, Furniture, Home Office, Interior Design, Live/Work Spaces, Living Room, Lofts, Seating, Space Planning, Storage Solutions, Trends, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Portland Interior Designer Shares: Where to Shop In The Pearl District – Lux Lighting
Friday, March 26th, 2010
Portland Interior Designer Shares: Where to Shop in The Pearl District – Lux Lighting
(Photo: Pearl District Bridgeport Condo featuring monorail lighting, George Kovacs Floor Lamp, Kartell pendant lamps – interior by Pangaea Interior Design)
If you are moving to the Portland, Oregon Pearl District from somewhere in California (who isn’t? — I did!) or any other sunny place, you are probably noticing that there just isn’t as much light here with the cloudy and rainy days we often have. In fact, for the whole first year I lived here, I would think it was around 5:00 or 6:00 in the evening when it was only 2:00pm!! So today I’m sharing a little of my expertise on designing lighting plans and where to buy the coolest contemporary lighting fixtures and lamps.
Many of my clients living in the Pearl District are in one of the wonderful Lofts, Condos or Townhomes in buildings like 937 Condominiums, Bridgeport Condos, Streetcar Lofts, The Elizabeth, Indigo @ Twelve West, The Encore, The Wyatt or The Henry – just to name a handful. If you are not lucky enough to have a corner unit, although you may have floor to ceiling windows, they are probably all on one side and you have big lighting issues further back in your home. To complicate matters, you may have concrete ceilings or walls and steel studs. Enough to stop the DIY design enthusiast in their tracks! Many of my clients call me for help in designing a lighting plan for their Pearl District loft or condo. If you want a truly unique and upscale look, I have many “To-The-Trade” resources. But lots of my clients hire me to help them come up with a lighting plan, and they want to do their own shopping at retail stores to keep their costs down. They then run their favorite options past me for advice before making their final decisions.This is a great way to avoid any expensive mistakes! With a lighting plan consultation you can be sure you have all your lighting needs addressed and that it all looks great together.
So, I’m sharing my favorite retail lighting specialty store in the Pearl District. It’s Lux Lighting on the corner of NW Glisan & NW 13th. Their showroom will just knock your socks off with the latest in modern, contemporary and transitional lighting. They carry a huge array of brands. Some of my personal favorites are Foscarini (I have their Big Bang Chandelier in my own entryway – fabulous!,) Flos, George Kovacs, Luceplan, Modernica, Robert Abbey, Pablo and many, many more! They have amazing and unique high-end light fixtures and lamps as well as amazingly affordable and beautiful designs. I have always found Lux Lighting’s sales staff to be knowledgeable and willing to help with tricky lighting design issues.
Here in Portland, and especially in the Pearl District’s high rise lofts and condos, coming up with a great lighting plan is important to feeling good in your home.
** The first layer of light, ambient lighting (or overall general lighting) can be addressed through ceiling fixtures. Monorail and track lighting are two solutions that give a great amount of flexibility to your lighting through the myriad choice of spot lights and pendants. This will be especially important in the deeper recesses of lofts, condos or townhomes that have windows on a single side. Balance the amount of light so you have as much light toward the back of the space as you do near the windows.
** Task lighting is the next layer. Reading lamps and above counter lights in the kitchen are two good examples of lights that make it easier for you to function in your home. Think about the tasks you perform – cooking, reading, working at a desk – and add extra light to shine directly on your work space.
** Accent lighting is what really brings your space to life and adds that designer look. This includes lighting for your art, “up lights” that wash light onto the ceiling, and decorative lamps that are beautiful in their own right. Since many of the newer construction buildings feature lofts or condos with high ceilings, this is the perfect opportunity to add drama with a spectacular chandelier.
I also want to recommend Red’s Electric as my go-to resource for installation of all lighting elements in high rise condos, lofts and townhomes in the Pearl District. They have experience in these buildings and know how to work with all of the concrete, steel and special restrictions. Please tell them Pangaea sent you!
If you have one of these great Pearl District lofts, condos or townhomes and need help lighting up your space, call me today to schedule a lighting plan consultation! 503.816.4394
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Tags: 937 Condominiums, accent lighting, Ambient lighting, Big Bang Chandelier, Bridgeport Condos, condo, floor lamp, Flos, Foscarini, George Kovacs, Indigo @ Twelve West, Interior Design, Lighting, loft, Luceplan, Modernica, monorail lighting, Pablo, Robert Abbey, Streetcar Lofts, task lighting, The Elizabeth, The Encore, The Henry, The Wyatt, track lighting
Posted in DIY, Design Dollars, Design Tips, Interior Design, Lighting, Lofts, Pearl District, Shopping, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Kitchen Design: Modern & Minimal, “Hidden” Kitchen
Thursday, March 18th, 2010
Just a minimal post today about minimal kitchen design. Saw this modern “hidden” kitchen today by Allmilmo, via 3rings (read their full post here). I absolutely love the clean, contemporary lines warmed by the use of book-ended teak veneer. When I get to remodel my own kitchen this is what I want to do! It brings the idea of closed storage solutions to a whole new level! Waaaaay better than an appliance garage! People who have lofts, open plan homes or live-work spaces would benefit by being able to hide the kitchen anytime they want. And it’s still a beauty wide open!
Tags: 3rings, Allmilmo, contemporary kitchen, Kitchen, kitchen design, live-work, Lofts, minimal, storage, Storage Solutions, teak
Posted in Cool Ideas, Cool Stuff, Design Tips, Interior Design, Kitchen, Live/Work Spaces, Lofts, Storage Solutions, Trends, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Amethyst Inspiration Room Photos
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
Today I’m getting ready for a color consultation with a client who has a great studio loft in The Wyatt, located in Portland’s Pearl District. I’m thinking Amethyst for her accent wall because of other furniture she already has and because of the colors in her artwork. I’m selecting inspiration photos showing bedrooms and living rooms with various shades of Amethyst. Shades of purple, including amethyst and plum, are HOT this year. Try pairing it with oranges like in the natural amethyst crystal in the photo. Stunning color combination!
This Rock Star glamorous bedroom is sensational with it’s silver chandelier and mirror frame. I also love the crisp white headboard, bedding and accents next to the slightly smoky amethyst wall in the room below, right. My client’s style is a cross between the two. Hollywood glamorous curves, but using more white than silver. Below center, the deep amethyst walls with taupe furnishings is a very rich and restful combination.
For help pulling together the latest color trends in your home, get my FREE Ezine on Design Trends, Trade Secrets, DIY Tips, & Design Advice. Or, give me a call and we’ll set up a visit to help you get started surrounding yourself with color that you love!
Photo sources: Via Harmony and Home – Home-Designing – Apartment Therapy
Tags: accent wall, amethyst, Bedroom, color consultation, color palette, Interior Design, loft, orange, Pearl District, plum, purple, studio, The Wyatt
Posted in Bedroom, Colors, Interior Design, Lofts, Pearl District, Trends, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Bold Moves: Thomas O’Brien Validated My Creative Interior Design Instincts
Sunday, January 24th, 2010
Today I got a big boost of validation for my creative interior design instincts from Thomas O’Brien! Not that he has any idea he did this, of course. But I found out today that I have something interesting in common with this famous designer who has designed residential interiors for the likes of Giorgio Armani and Ralph Lauren, and who has become known to the masses with his Modern Vintage® line of home furnishings and accessories for Target just to name a little of what he has done. At this point in my career I can’t name celebrities as my clients and so far my designs are not found at Target. So what could have happened that makes me feel that he and I are in sync regarding interior design and that he would approve of my instincts?
I’m getting there, but I’m going to make you wait for it another minute or two.
If you know me, you know that I totally love lofts. I’m crazy about their open space and the total freedom to arrange your space any way you like. I want to live in a loft! However, my husband and I live with our six cats and two dogs in a 1970′s modern tri-level house. It’s architectural style is very contemporary with a pretty open floor plan, which we love, and it is in the forest next to the Sandy River, where we have total privacy. As much as we love it, and are grateful to have this home, there are some aspects of the floor plan that just don’t work for us and that have bothered us more and more lately. Here goes — it has a big sunken living room facing South with big windows and fantastic views of the river plus a big family room off the kitchen that opens onto a deck over the river, also with fantastic views. It’s just the two of us, so we don’t need both. Also, we recently got rid of our old sectional, so the living room was empty and unused. While these two rooms face South and have loads of natural light, the master bedroom is on the Northwest corner of the house, so it gets no morning light at all – dark as a tomb! – and it doesn’t have a view of the river. Another negative is that the en suite master bath just has a shower, no bathtub. My husband and I love bubble baths and the only tub is in the downstairs bath just off the living room. To top it off, my husband has been affected in a very pronounced way with Seasonal Affective Disorder and the lack of natural light in our bedroom has become a HUGE issue. Add two big dogs and their beds into the mix, and the room was crowded!
So, about a week ago in a burst of defiant creativity, I decided it was stupid not to use the house in the way that works best for us, and I moved our bedroom into the living room. Yes, that’s right. I have turned the living room of this 2100 square foot house into our master bedroom. We LOVE it! Waking up to have this enormous volume of space and big tall windows letting in all of this light has been so good for us. We now have a fireplace next to our bed which we’ve used every night. And, there’s a lot more room for our dogs and their beds so we aren’t tripping over those anymore. The bathroom with the tub feels as if it is our en suite master bath, and our guest room on the same level is going to be my new giant walk-in closet. We’ll put the guest room upstairs in the old master bedroom. After all, it’s just me and my husband so who cares where we sleep?
So, back to Thomas O’Brien. Today I was in Borders Book Store and I picked up a copy of Elle Decor’s “So Chic: Glamorous Lives, Stylish Places“, written by Margaret Russell and the Elle Decor Staff. I usually just flip through these books looking at the pictures, but for some reason actually began reading the story on Thomas O’Brien’s New York City 1100 square foot, one bedroom apartment. And yes, you’ve probably figured it out by now. Thomas O’Brien moved his bedroom into his living room. He also concluded that his apartment wasn’t being used to it’s full potential and he just went for it. He loves his living-room-turned-master-bedroom too!
I just can’t begin to tell you how happy that made me! I had been embarrassed to let anyone (especially clients) know that we had moved the bedroom into the living room. I thought people would think I was out of my mind and that I didn’t know what I was doing when it came to good use of space. But when I read that a famous and wonderful designer like Thomas O’Brien had come to the same conclusion in his home and took the bold move of using his space however it suited him, I didn’t feel embarrassed anymore. In fact, I just realized that I’ve been wanting an open loft to live in all this time, and without having to spend a dime to remodel, I was creative enough to create a loft out of the space I have.
Have you ever used a room in your home in a completely creative and unexpected way? Did it work out for you? Did people laugh at you, or were they envious that you had the nerve to think outside the box? I’d love to hear your own stories. And Thomas, if you ever read this, thanks for sharing your unusual and creative use of your living space. You made my day!
Tags: Bathroom, Bedroom, creative, en suite, Giorgio Armani, guest room, Interior Design, Living Room, loft, master bedroom, Ralph Lauren, So Chic: Glamorous Lives Stylish Places, Space Planning, Thomas O'Brien, walk-in closet
Posted in Bathroom, Bedroom, Cool Ideas, Design Tips, Interior Design, Living Room, Lofts, Space Planning, Uncategorized | No Comments »