Name: Lisa
Location: Downtown — Dallas, Texas
Size: 628 square feet
Years lived in: 3 months — Renting
All it took was a glimpse of the magnificent arched windows for Lisa to fall in love with her loft in downtown Dallas. As an architecture enthusiast, the historic Wilson Building, modeled after the Paris Opera House, was the perfect setting for Lisa to create her warm and modern home.
A designer extraordinaire, Lisa's careful editing eye has taken her industrial loft to a new level: downplaying the exposed ventilation with colorful artwork on the walls (many are her own!) and accenting with flares of colorful fabrics to 'cozy-up' the high-ceiling space. Lisa has a modern style all her own; mixing Missoni and IKEA, the space is full of an energy that inspires and influences her creative abilities.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: I would describe my style as classic with a modern edge. I go for clean lines and an uncluttered feel, bringing my personality in through color and details, with an emphasis on art
Inspiration: The architecture of a space initially inspires what I will do with it. I love lots of natural light and the colors I choose are influenced by the type of light the space gets.
Favorite Element: The large arched windows in the living room are incredible. The architectural details on the building, which I can see so well from my windows, are exquisite.
Biggest Challenge: I've had to get really creative with storage and extremely organized to make it work.
What Friends Say: They love the character of the space and how cozy it is.
Biggest Embarrassment: I'm still working on organizing my shoes in the closet. In the meantime, they're mostly in a pile.
Proudest DIY: I painted a lot of the art and many of the decorative pillows are my design.
Biggest Indulgence: My Missoni bedspread.
Best Advice: I think it's always smart to keep your upholstery and window treatments, if any, neutral. You can bring in color through accessories and art. It's a lot less expensive to change the look with accessories and art than reupholstering or replacing upholstery and window treatments.
Dream Sources: 1st dibs website
Resources of Note:
LIVING ROOM
- • Sofa: Crate & Barrel
• Chair, Side Table, Coffee Table (trunk) and Side Chair: Flea market/consignment store finds
• Entertainment Center: Ikea
• Desk: Crate & Barrel
• Upholostered Parsons Table w/Storage underneath: custom design
BEDROOM
- • Bedspread: Missoni Home
• Love Seat: flea market find that was reupholstered
• Nightstands: both from ebay
• Mirrored Dresser: found dresser at Goodwill and had it lacquered and had mirrored fronts and glass handles made for dresser
• Murano Lamp: ebay
OTHER
- • Most of the paintings are either my own or from ebay
• All table lamps were flea market, consignment store or ebay finds that I had rebuilt
• Decorative pillows on living room sofa are Michele Varian
• All other decorative pillows are my design
• Boiled wool throw on living room sofa from Sabira Collection
Thanks, Lisa!
Images: Micki Howl
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AT your tour is rotating the same pics over and over again can you fix this glitch and I'll check back later.
Some pictures are duplicated but overall it's a nice space. I'm just wondering about the description of "industrial loft" as it is clearly neither. The building served a commercial, not industrial, purpose, and it doesn't look like a loft to me. Just because it has exposed overhead pipes doesn't make it industrial.
Wonderful space! The decorating is colorful, tactile and visually interesting. I love the Missioni
bedspread...great investment. BRAVO!
I really like this space, kudos for such a unique find for the Dallas area!
These days, I think perhaps "industrial loft" is akin to "Indie" music - basically just a label for a type of style, not necessarily literal. This would fit the "industrial loft" style imo.
If that were my shower it would be filled with plants! So sexy.
That shower is cool! Do you have to draw the shade every time or are you not overlooked by neighbors??
I might have some plants in my shower, if only I didn't have a cat that likes to eat them! I do have to draw the shade when I shower so I don't flash the neighbors :)
I love the shower!!!!!
What a great space and beautiful artwork :)
Is it me or is that couch sitting WAY to close to the TV for comfortable viewing?
I love that mirrored dresser - even more so that you DIY'd it!
What happened to the wall to the left of the window (first pic). It looks damaged? Or did you do that on purpose?
I love this place, pretty much everything about it. Deeply, deeply envious of that shower and of the arched window.
There isn't a single wide shot of the living room--they're all tight. I'd love to see the whole room, or as much as possible to see the big picture.
But what I see, I like. Clean and modern without being too cold!
@chrisgal
Seems like it could be... though it's nice to see someone not shamefully hide the TV away for once.
I really like a lot of architectural elements as well as furnishings/decor, but especially the glossy black side chair (flea market find? :( )
Just checking—no formal eating area, neither in the kitchen nor separate? (That's something I'd toss myself if I were in need of space, but I thought it was something ppl liked to cling to....)
Actually, the sofa is further away from the tv than it looks in these shots and no--there is not an eating area. I opted for the desk space instead, since I mostly eat out anyway.
The wall to the left of the window in the first pic does have some damage to the plaster. The building is over 100 yrs. old. I just see those imperfections as part of the character I so love.
Regarding the glossy black chair--it was a flea market find. I had it lacquered black and reupholstered
Lovely. I wondered, though, why the developers went to the expense of putting marble in the bathroom and then put a laminate countertop in the kitchen.
LOVE your home! I'm making an appointment to go look at these apartments! They are so reasonable! Not to derail, but can you tell me how you like living downtown? Are there shops nearby--grocery, coffee, etc? How's parking? I would love to live closer to (or in) downtonwn; I'm currently in far North Dallas.
How do you like this building overall? I'm currently looking for an apartment in downtown or uptown Dallas. I'm a huge fan of old buildings (hard to find in TX), and yours looks amazing!
More pics of the bathroom & shower room please!
Nice mix of "hi & low" furniture pieces. Too bad you don't have two of those cut-work ivory lamps -- it's lovely. Question: does showering on the wood work every day damage the wood? I suppose if it's sealed, then no more than living in a climate that gets daily rain, but still... curious about that issue.
magnificent arch windows, i'd say!
and i LOVE how the bath is a room in itself! how unique!
I took a look at the webpage for the building. For the cost of that rent, I'd get someone from maintenace up there to fix that living room wall, stat!
Add character my eye.
Wow
This is just beautiful.
I agree with the posters above that there needs to be a shot of the whole room, not just the areas of the room. Although my comment about the TV and sofa being too close together, it did make me smile to see someone finally not caring to admit they have a television - it's not a sin no matter how many people on here believe it so.
That shower is pretty amazing!
Everyone should be blessed with an amazing window like that. I was surprised to see that the bedspread was your biggest indulgence. That to me was the only thing I would change - it looked blah and dated - but waybe it doesn't read well on film because your taste is clearly very cool.
I love living downtown and have lived downtown for the last 2 yrs. Downtown Dallas has come a long way and has a great vibe and energy. There is not a regular grocery store down here but, there is Urban Market, which has pretty much anything you might need in between trips to the grocery. There are several Starbuck's and indie coffee houses down here and lots of restaurants/bars within walking distance. The original Neiman Marcus store is also downtown. Other than NM, there isn't any shopping downtown. There's a great park and several more that are being built right now. The Arts District is in walking distance, as is, Farmer's Market. There's an eclectic mix of people and ages. I love downtown!
I lived in another building, across the street, and loved it but, I really love living in the Wilson Building. As you mentioned, it's hard to find old buildings in Dallas and the Wilson is one of the oldest turned residential. It is right in the hub of the action downtown. Parking is reserved in the building, when it's available, and there isn't any guest parking in the building--but, there are lots of parking lots and metered spaces withing a block or two. The rates in the parking lots are very reasonable.
I can't believe they've only lived there for 3 months!! Amazing. It looks so thoughtfully put together - with love, over time. So beautiful. Nicely done ;)
amy*
ps. love the round window. tres cute!
Wonderful mixture of shine and pattern. Comfortable, unique and elegant!
I love the sleek modern lines of this space. Very well done!
Love the space Lisa. We just moved into a new house and are in the process of setting it up. I can't believe you put all this together in just 3 months. Very beautiful and well thought out.
I love that sculpture of the man sitting on the edge with his legs hanging (photos 12-15) and was wondering where you chanced on it? What is it made of?
(Am a Newbie. This is my first comment.)
Giacometti is my favorite sculptor and the sculpture is very Giacometti-ish. The artist's name is Manuel Sarmiento. He's from Dallas. I got it at Rising Gallery in Dallas. I believe it's made out of metal and fiberglass. It's actually very light. Enjoy setting up you new house!
That sculpture actually made me blink for a second, because I made something like it (out of wire and paper mache iirc) in 8th grade art class. A (elongated, anorexic) humanoid figure, and sitting like that. XDDD
Isn't that actually a second (much smaller) tv in her bedroom? (If it's just a computer monitor, I don't see a keyboard anywhere.) She's like my hero or something!!!
(... the funny thing is that I actually don't have a tv.... ._.)
I love your space. The bathroom...I am so jealous, I love when people can really put together a small space and it not look as such...great job!
Regarding the Missoni bedspread she named as being her biggest splurge, I just had to mention that I recently saw it and almost choked to death at the 800 dollar price tag...I honestly can't imagine ever spending that much on a bedspread, but to each their own!
LOVE this.....now THIS is something I actually enjoy seeing on this site....the original reason I came to this site to join......is shown above for interesting looks like this one