
Name: interior designer Heather Garrett
Location: downtown Durham, North Carolina
Size: 1250 square feet
Type: a converted Liggett & Meyers tobacco warehouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Lived in: owned for 2 years
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We profiled Heather's store, Heather Garrett Designs, and now you get to see her downtown Durham, North Carolina home. With two kids, ages 6 and 8, Heather keeps her home comfortable but stylish. The loft, once a tobacco warehouse, has 22' high ceilings and amazing natural light. To furnish her home, Heather combines Chinese antiques, thrift store finds, and furniture from Oly, Ikea, and Julian Chichester....


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Apartment Therapy Survey
Style: I'm always remixing pieces from my store, one-of-a-kind collectibles, thrift store finds, and the most unusual lighting I can afford.
Inspiration: My third floor windows provide an amazing leafy backdrop with amazing natural light. It makes me want to fill the space with other materials and ideas I'd find outside. The shell chandeliers were a big part of that.
Favorite Element: The way the place looks at night. Dimming the lights, turning on some music and pouring a glass of wine after the kids are in bed... oh, rapture!
What Friends Say: People love the 22' high ceilings, and many friends have ended up with kitchen envy.
Biggest Embarrassment: Just after moving in, I had a dinner party during summer just before sunset. My apartment faces west, and the light through those 12' third floor windows was blinding and nearly baked us alive. I hadn't yet installed my current roller shades. By the time the sun had set, we were sweating profusely and seeing double. These weren't close friends, so I just pretended everything was fine, but I'd wanted it to be perfect and it was a disaster!
Biggest Challenge: Making a loft apartment work for my 6 and 8 year-old kids. The focus always has to stay on comfort and ease, with the knowledge that nothing upholstered is likely to last very long!
Proudest DIY: Solving my storage problem. I packed one of my tiny bedroom walls with Ikea modular closet pieces, left the doors off, and concealed it all with gauzy white linen panels (also from Ikea) on a ceiling height rod with rings. It's dreamy!
Biggest Indulgence: Expensive, big, yummy down pillows. They make the shabbiest sofa or saddest headboard like a million bucks. With zippered overs, I know I can at least remove the worst stains, bu the beauty of vintage or crushed velvet is that there is a huge "camouflage" factor built in.
Best Advice: Edit ruthlessly, and cut down on the contrast. I was given that advice years ago, after having failed on an early project with too many details, too many colors, and too many themes. It's been treasured advice for me, and I use it as a guide when I'm stuck.
Dream Source/Item: I'd be happy with a closet full of Anthropologie clothes and a house full of Oly furniture.

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Resources:
Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Pure White throughout and Venetial Marble in my bedroom. Custom polished plaster in the bathroom.
Furniture and accessories: Chinese antiques, thrift store finds, Oly, Ikea, Julian Chichester
Appliances: Hand Grohe and Frigidaire in the kitchen, bath fixtures from Hans Grohe and Durolfe
Window Treatments: Hunter Douglas solar shades
Art: paintings by Brad Huntzinger, sketches by Heather
>> Enter Heather's Gallery
Thanks, Heather!
(Images: Briana Brough Photography)

Ok . . . when can I move in?
The use of light in this home is UNBELIEVABLY beautiful.
Fantastic!!!!!!!
view Limeliteshines's profile
Is there any chance the pitcher next to the french press is something I could find, and not a unique thrift store item? I love it!
view theresaclare's profile
I have kitchen AND furniture AND lighting envy. I just wish there were more pics.
view Cassis's profile
Very lovely! Love all the light and space!
view suzy8track's profile
That kitchen ... I'm speechless. So gorgeous!
I have to admit that, as a Durhamite, I have been a bit embarrassed by some of the other warehouse lofts from the Bull City that have been featured on AT. However, this one redeems them all. Spectacular!
view Nougat's profile
Beautiful! Is that a pink coffee table? Where can I find it?
view rhiana's profile
Great lighting.......where did you get the capiz chandeliers?
view bali2's profile
where on earth can i find that rug or something similar?! i love it! if anyone knows where to buy a persian-inspired rug with such modern and bright colors, please share.
view nevnyc's profile
The kitchen is my favorite. This is all so beautiful.
view baileyb's profile
I love the kitchen, you gave me a fresh idea for shelving (something I'd been struggling with for ages), THANKS!
view Rucy's profile
Love the bedding, are you able to tell us who it is by?
view Jodie's profile
I luv this place.
view toniannette's profile
Such a lovely space!
view jacasi's profile
Beautiful loft! Tell us where you got that white shelf as well. :)
view ETalanda's profile
Lovely space but curiously I see no evidence of the children.
view h144's profile
agree with others, great place. Shows what nice lighting can do to a place too. You even managed to make a straight on shot of the toilet look good!
view Sassy in SF's profile
I love the mirrored armoire in the living space. Where did you find that piece?
view LPiper337's profile
the pink coffee table is amazing! where can we find it?
view rene1's profile
Love it.
view frenchfry's profile
Oh boy, more pics please. I want to see every nook and cranny. Amazing.
view rebeldress's profile
Now that I'm thinking of it, after a second tour and reading over the intro again, pictures of the kids rooms? We want more!
view rebeldress's profile
not 100% my style but i love how it is designed-absolutely seamless. the appearance of two coffee tables is unexpected and the tv blends right in. i don't think i have EVER seen wallpaper successfully done in a kitchen before. i love the contrast of the matte wallpaper against the shiny subway tile. i'd love to see your children's rooms!
view SpanishOlives's profile
Beautiful. Does a faint scent of tocacco float in the air? I'm not a smoker but I'd like that. Thanks for the tour.
view hrhprincessfiona's profile
FABO!!! This place is beautiful...the light, truly incredible! More pics, PLEASE!!!
view indygirl's profile
MY dream loft, too! The space is gorgeous to begin with, but I was really struck by what you did with lighting- really beautiful. And I love your style - great color palette, use of pattern, etc. etc. etc. :-)
view mabaihua's profile
This place is perfect. It is both chic and homey. I could happily curl up with with a book and a glass of wine. This is my own personal rating system.
I am particularly in love with the chandeliers in the main living space. They are elegant and very fun. Well done.
view GirlInATower's profile
Beautifully done and the photography is superb.
view Anusha73's profile
Beautiful space. Could you share where you got the 'O' sculptures from? Thank you :)
view see's profile
speechless it's so "good".
view creative*type's profile
So warm and homey...very nice.
view sea9262's profile
Simply fantastic -- the lighting, the furniture and accessories -- it's all perfect. Thank you so much for letting us get a look into your home. :)
Laura
http://www.grafxnerd.net
view grafxnerd's profile
Wow. Wow. Wow. Congratulations on a stunning home.
view LizzardtheBlizzard's profile
My 20 minute break simply wasn't enough time to take in all of the splendor that is this loft. I love it!
Where did that rug come from?
view Midwestdiva's profile
Beautiful! I've got to know where that white modular bookcase came from. It's exactly what I've been looking for to replace my IKEA one!
view mudfaerie1's profile
gorgeous job, heather! love the use of space and all the lighting. i too am a big oly fan, been considering saving up for the phillippe dining table.
oh, and....lets see the kids rooms!! :)
view Kpaige13's profile
Your place looks like a super-chic hotel – but I mean that in a good way. Wow. So inviting and..well..chic!
Love it!
Anf fun to see a loft that's not "loft-style", one doesn't have to go for minimalistic insdustrial style in a loft.
view Lilli K.'s profile
Lovely! (And loved the "faint scent of tobacco in the air" comment) The entire space has beauty and emotion.
More pics and more resources please! You are an amazingly talented person!!!
view cvillian's profile
So happy you guys are enjoying my apartment! I wasn't sure these photos would be included in a tour, so I didn't send the kids rooms, but those photos are on the way! Some answers to resource questions: coffee table by Julian Chichester, armoire and chandeliers by Oly, bedding by Brocade Home. The rug is an antique, but I sell rugs by Davis & Davis which offers many similar Oushak styles that can be entirely customized using your choice of colors.
view Heather Garrett's profile
I love your living area! Where is the white, modern bookcase from? I want one!
view ashlykf's profile
Where is the low white buffet from? (In the hallway.)
Thank you again for sharing your beautiful space!
view cvillian's profile
Hi Heather, what about the O shaped sculptures? Thanks!
view see's profile
Beautiful place! Where did you get the circular mirror over the bed?
view chinacapri's profile
Beautiful space, really well done. To add to the list of questions, I love the counter stools in the kitchen. Source on those?
view Jay Roberts's profile
That kitchen....ah...I die! I live in Elizabeth City, attended college in Chapel Hill, and have a dear friend that moved to Durham on June 1st. I think a visit to your store is very likely before summer's end. Plus, my eyes made a beeline to the tiered shell chandeliers in your loft, which I hope you carry in your store. Whether you're at home or at work, you must smile constantly.
view DigNDesign's profile
Lots to like, even love, in this apartment. However, I have two quibbles: (1) What are the antlers doing in the kitchen, other than being knee-jerk fashionable; and (2) how often is the angel statue on the top of the toilet knocked over by the kids?
Thanks for introducing me to Oly.
view AustinSarah's profile
Brilliant.
view kushkush's profile