Amazing things hit our inbox...yesterday we received an email from Poland, with a link to some really great photos of an open plan loft. Even though the loft is very large, we saw so many smart and space saving design ideas used that it inspired us to look to it for solutions that would translate to small spaces, too.
From the main photo above the jump -
Good ideas for the kitchen: Back lit open kitchen shelving and a simple, single prep table keep the kitchen looking visually interesting yet clean, professional, uncluttered and far from "kitchen-y", which is a bonus since it is completely open to the rest of the space, an issue that studio dwellers often deal with. Raising up the kitchen area just a step (and changing out the flooring) makes a very distinctive shift from dining room to cooking area without adding walls.
Good ideas for the bedroom: The bed sits behind a wall that doesn't reach the ceiling, which functions as a privacy partition, but doesn't interrupt the flow of the space. The built-in headboard provides shelving, lighting and another good storage area, in the two side table "boxes". The floor to ceiling white drapes accentuate ceiling height, always a good thing, both in open lofts for playing up the drama and in small spaces for accentuating the vertical space, thus relieving the feeling of a confined area.
Good ideas for the bath: the glass partition is functional yet adds no bulk or visual clutter to the space, while the floor to ceiling mirror behind the sink and vanity expands and modernizes the space.
Good idea for storage: squeeze it in wherever you can! Bookshelves and boxed storage sit up above the living room, where the ceiling is dropped to a lower level. A series of up lights celebrate the good looking idea and the ingenuity rather than hiding it, as well as providing another source of illumination for the space.
Good idea for a sink area: The sinks are installed on a "floating" vanity, with clever towel racks installed underneath. The towel placement would be good in a small bathroom for several reasons - they are close at hand, they hide the plumbing pipes underneath and are not taking up wall space.
Check out the Polish blog about the loft here.
Thanks for sending, Slawek!
Photos: loft.blox.pl
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
I think this loft is actually in Brussels. In any case, it's gorgeous and features some incredible space-saving solutions, even though there's no need to save space here. The blog features tons of inspiring in-progress photos, too.
view visualingual's profile
Place is awesome...The bath is die for. Perfect.
view michaelc's profile
well heck ya, that space is awesome. it's huge and compartmentalized very cleanly. however, the part i like most of all is that quite a lot of it is furnished in NEO Ikea, or at least something Ikea knocked off. From the couch (Tylosand), the bed, nightstands/boxes and shelves(Malm and Lack) and more... make me see some new ways to look at some of ikea's flagship products in a new (ahem) light!
view ubertimmo's profile
Is it just a visual illusion, or do you actually have to stand (ouch!) on rocks in the shower? Visually, that's terrific, but even after appropriate caffeination I couldn't ever hack that. And even if I could manage to stand without excrutiating pain, I don't think I could move around and bend as I do on a regular ol' tiled floor.
view RonnieO's profile
Are those rocks in the shower floor? How does that work? Do you have to wear flip flops?
I'm not sure about that one.
view knars's profile
My favourite features are the beams. They look great in this contemporary space.
sam -www.sandseurope.com
view autumnleaves's profile
There's really nothing I don't like about this space, especially the bath and kitchen. I just wish there was more info and pictures.
Also, the stones in the shower are rounded, not sharp, like the ones used in massage therapy and very easy on the feet. No pain, no need for flip flops and plenty maneuverable for most showering activities.
Werner Aisslinger used this same set-up in the Loftcube and it's showing up in a lot of boutique hotels, usually wit a mechanism for heating them first.
view Daniel Michael's profile
The shower floor is cool, but how do you keep it clean and free of unwanted lifeforms?
view dblitz1's profile
Yes-- I was wondering about how to clean that shower too!
view PhillyLass's profile
fun family..
view dailydesignspot's profile
those rocks look cool but the hard to reach areas might be hard to get clean even with an old toothbrush or bottle scrubber. i like the idea that they are smooth, massaging and i did the heating feature... but i'm still not sold on this idea cuz of the cleaning factor.
:-/
view little flower's profile
sorry i mean i dig (not did) the heating feature
***spastic typist***
view little flower's profile
ohh cinderblock headboard wall...hehehe not my idea of romance.... but to each their own
view little flower's profile
Hot damn that is a great space. I'll even stand on the rocks while I'm in the shower, if you let me hang there
view jennifers's profile
I want that floor. gorgeous. That shower floor would be especially cool if it was heated...like a riviera beach, but I suppose that would only encourage lifeforms more.
view kollros's profile
Yes, please someone chime in on what to use to keep the rocks clean, without buildup, and that's environmentally safe.
view twolibrans1969's profile