Before & After: A Plain Modern Loft Was Transformed Into an Incredibly Colorful, Patterned, and Playful Home

published Sep 9, 2019
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Credit: Adrianne Hawthorne

Adrianne and Seth’s loft apartment is located in a new building in Chicago, a modern space with concrete floors and ceilings, white walls, and metal surfaces. It’s cool and sleek, but not exactly the couple’s style. “While I appreciate the modern touches, I didn’t like how cold it felt when we first moved in,” writes Adrianne in her house tour. “My goal was to add warmth and life to the space through color, pattern, texture, and maximalism.”

Credit: Minette Hand

“Also, this is Seth and myself’s first apartment together. It was a challenge to merge his stuff with mine, but I think we’ve made it work,” Adrianne also says.

Credit: Adrianne Hawthorne

One of the biggest and favorite transformations in Adrianne and Seth’s apartment was the accent wall in the living room. They took one could have been a pretty bland space and totally transformed it with color, plants, and fabrics. It’s a much more inviting space to hang out in now.

Credit: Adrianne Hawthorne

The living room accent wall is actually a DIY project (Adrianne’s favorite), and it’s even more impressive when you learn how she did it. “I did the pattern free-hand, with only a vision in my head,” she writes. “That’s a little scary but once I started, I saw that it was turning out pretty good so I just kept going.”

Credit: Minette Hand

Adrienne used “Bay Coral” and “Bright Teal Surprise” by Glidden on the DIY accent wall in living room.

Credit: Adrianne Hawthorne

Above, the kitchen looked clean and modern before, but modern is not something Adrianne and Seth like. Below, they added color and life with paint, art, and hanging fixtures.

Credit: Minette Hand

Seth’s favorite element in the apartment is the “[o]range sherbert paint job under the counter.” The actual color is “Swan Beak” by Valspar.

Credit: Adrianne Hawthorne

Above, Adrianne and Seth’s bedroom before they added fearless color and lots of art, as seen below.

Credit: Minette Hand

“Yucatan Yellow” by Clark + Kensington is the bold wall paint color in their bedroom.

Thanks Adrianne and Seth! See all of their daring home in their house tour.