Are you in the mood to renovate your house or condo to a loft-like feel? In the majority of cases, it's the details that make the difference. If you want your reno to be perfectly up to date, take note of a few suggestions. Just make sure your home is in an area where this type of renovation will appeal to the average consumer once you decide to move.
You're in luck if you have a crush on vintage design. Many manufacturers have produced lines that are based on lighting and plumbing fixtures of days gone by and industrial design. Have a look at any tile store, and you will find the showroom full of subway tiles, penny tiles and geometric tiles reminiscent of groovier times. These have been updated in color, size and finish. Concrete-like tiles are available in large sizes never seen before. Go big!
Wallpapers are making a huge comeback. Today's versions are printed and stamped on eco-friendly papers and backing, giving a nod to today's green consumers. Materials such as grass cloth are in full swing in the most vibrant colors, and surprising finishes such as foil and flocked finishes from the 1960s are now very 2020. Try doing just one wall as an accent.
Restoring wood floors is a must in today's renovations. Most everyone loves the warmth and durability of a wood floor. Never ever tear one apart. Wood floors are considered a luxury, so restore them at any cost. This will save you money in the long run.
The most urban look demands that your floors be finished in an ebonized tone. Even sanding them and waxing the board will give your place a more industrial attitude.
Tired of plain old drywall? Why not cover the walls of an entry hall or laundry room with reclaimed wood? A trip to a lumberyard or a review of the wanted ads' miscellaneous listings might be a good source for reclaimed or used wood that could be perfect for your project. Use this wood in any way, shape or form: sanded, varnished, painted or in its original multi-tone state.
The norm in most traditional homes is to conceal electrical and plumbing lines. Nothing is more of a game changer than to expose as many of your systems as possible. The shine of gray metal immediately conveys transformation, industry and reuse. Your contractor will look at you strangely, but you will love the image it conveys and the flexibility of putting almost anything anywhere you want.
Even though your goal is to urbanize your place, if there are any old moldings, cornices or interesting architectural design features, keep those. They will give your home the air of a truly rehabbed facility. Exposing any of the building's structural materials is yet another way to make your home feel like a loft. Any overhead beam, brick or wood wall can be exposed and turned into a featured item of your design.
Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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