i've been to many a gathering here and the jar chandelier is even more stunning at night. creates a lovely warmth. it's a beautiful space!

I die for the kitchen storage solutions! Love this space in all it's rawness and can't wait to see how it progresses. Thank goodness you are not into sleek and modern; that would probably ruin it.

This is not usually my cup of tea, yet I find myself not able to look away from the kitchen. All the jars and glass and plates, gorgeous!!!

This should have won that $10,000 Selby contest.
Amazing space and there's no better use of space than making dinner parties.

This is the most creatively badass space I've seen on AT. How do I get invited?

awesome. how a loft should look. love that the chandelier is held up by magnets!

I like the values this space reflects - the fact that dinner parties are a priority, fancy bedrooms are not, usable kitchen, comfort, but also aesthetics. Of course I'd do it a little differently (everyone would put their own stamp on it) but it's amazing.

Looking at the ceiling makes me think....lead paint, lead paint! But...my god is it fantastic. I would do almost everything differently (of course...but not that my way would be better) but I really dig it. It makes me laugh a bit...its always the clueless yuppies that have fabulous kitchen crap but only eat takeout. I brought in a new trophy stove in my kitchen and a friend pointed out that I had more burners than pots or pans and that I had two enormous ovens but no baking sheets. To date, the only baking item that I own is a disposable turkey roasting pan (random and pretty dusty) and an aluminum penis shaped cake mold...planning on making some sort of nasty processed meat salad in aspic in the mold for the next potluck that I am invited to.

Is it wrong that I am swooning at the well organized peg boards. That's just the kind of girl I am!

The organization in this place is ridiculous. I've never seen such a thing. Looks like many hours went into it. Bravo.

Seriously. It's weird and raw and usable and inviting... it's kind of perfectly all wrong. I really just love it, including the parts I would change if it were mine.

Fantastic place - love the creative thinking with the storage and the 'chandelier.'

But I'm disappointed not to be able to read all the text because there's a Bloomingdales ad blocking part of it.

Does it get any better than this? Honestly, I'm smiling from ear to ear.

Biggest Indulgence: Slowly shifting pots and pans to All-Clad

Ahhhhh! I want to start doing this!

Am I the only one who hates the ceiling -- a lot? I guess I'm not a loft fan, if this is what everyone considers the epitomy of loft living. Oh well!

I think he's intending to strip and paint the whole ceiling, Sherry. At least that's what I understood was on his to-do list from the writing.

I agree I wouldn't leave it as-is, but I have seen some beautifully restored tin ceilings.

Very inspiring! I stand in awe of you, sir.

I Love this! I've lurked on Apartment Therapy for years, this made me finally register.

This has got to be my favorite house tour of all time (and I've seen most of them).
Doing amazing things with modest means is what AT should be all about.

This is beautiful and functional. Perfectly tailored to his needs, which any live or work space should be.
And there's not one predictable piece in there. Nary an Eames lounge chair in sight.

It's obviously a creative and unique space and that is admirable, but OY! I get anxiety looking at these pictures. All the clutter and stuff!

I'm in pegboard love. I bet there are *fantastic* dinner parties here.

This is a very usable space for a cook. I love your glass jars on open shelving and the wire baskets (Ikea?). How lovely to combine utility and art. And what about that beautiful candle-lier? I almost didn't see where your stovetop was, its so unobstusive (wonderful). My only caveat would be a regular (read large) industrial fridge. Kudos!!!

I would love to see the sleeping area and the bathroom.
I thonk it would help me understand the overall arch of the space.

Organized chaos. I can tell that some thought(fullness) went in to this place. Thanks for sharing.

Wow, just like a classic Soho artist's loft in the 70's, but more functional and respectful of its gritty origins. Except for the possible lead contamination, a beautiful space and light, and, yes I agree with thrifty hedonist, this is what AT should be all about, and yes, enough with the MCM cliches! Thanks for the tour.

Thanks for the comments, I'm really appreciating the positive feedback.
I'll be honest, the paint chips suck, but really only fall toward the front of the apartment, and only on days of dramatic temperature changes. After I tore out the drop ceiling(at 9' high), I scrubbed the hell out of the ceiling with tough broom, getting a lot of loose chips off, but I won't pretend I haven't sat on my couch reading a magazine, and suddenly startled to feel a large bug land on my head, when in fact it was a small chip. They never fall towards the back-end where the kitchen is.
The baskets were hard to find until I went into a Lowe's, they had handles that I dremeled off.
I work pretty well with my two mini fridges below the counter(next to the oven), which I've always wanted to do. My preference would be the sub-zero drawer fridge, but they are smaller, and cost in the thousands. I also have an under counter freezer under the stove, which is amazingly large enough to keep my Kitchen-aid ice cream maker cold, along with bar glasses for cocktails.
The bedroom is really just my queen mattress on the floor, where it will remain until I build a ceiling over my bathroom and a standing loft level above the current sleep space. I have an old loft ladder from a friend's industrial studio, and will use the lower level as a closet/storage room.
The bathroom is not much to look at, incredibly tight, with skinny shelving for my paper-towels, tp and other toiletries. If it isn't clear, the pegboard with the tools cover the bathroom door, in effect, hiding it.

Love it! Love the chandelier. Amazing how the kitchen went from shoot-myself depressing to freaking awesome! (So much for royal blue being "sexy", per AT yesterday.) Magnets? WIN! Yes, restore that tin ceiling... so much love. The only thing I didn't like was the clothing rack (like, sort it in color order or something?) but the kitchen was so wonderfully organized that the open shelving did not look cluttery. Actually, I was dying with envy looking at that spice rack.

The organization of all the items, especially the peg board with all the hanging tools would make Martha proud! ;)

Really neat space. How do you light the jar chandelier?

Unique and functional.

I am worried about the candle jar light assemblage over the dining table. The fatalist in me things ouch.

Live from Pilsen! I love what my neighbor is up to. Super crafty with some design-pretty going on. This has a good eye-feel.

PS: your landlord should make out with you for shining this place up:)

When next in Chicago, I am available for dinner... I also have spare All Clad.

Also, the whole peg board thing makes me think of Julia Child... fondly.

this post almost slipped by me. I guess I was on vacation. Howdy neighbor! Love what people do with these spaces in my neighborhood. This is an excellent example. Love that that it's optimized for dining functionality. Also, a great example of how creative you can get with a rental property. I got pretty creative with my Pod places but looking back, wish I had done more--it would have really paid off. Great space. If you ever need a set of hands in the kitchen give me a shout.