| Does the thought of buying a one- or | | | | design. |
| two-bedroom apartment with plain, egg shell-white | | | | The open concept floor plan of a loft allows |
| walls and L-shape layout bore you to tears? Does | | | | owners to divide out the room as they want, or |
| your lifestyle include plenty of action, or at least | | | | leave it completely open. Many lofts have a |
| living in the near vicinity of the action? Then a loft | | | | mezzanine floor overlooking the living space. This |
| may be just what you are looking for. | | | | is usually where the bedroom is arranged. |
| Defined by its open concept floor plan, high ceilings | | | | Lifestyle is definitely the key to purchasing, or |
| and exposed pipes or beams, lofts have become | | | | even renting, a loft. But there are several things |
| a trendy option for young professionals. To add | | | | to consider before making a commitment to |
| to the urban charm, most lofts have beautiful | | | | moving in. |
| wood floors and unique lighting. Because many | | | | 1. By the very nature of the (often) downtown |
| lofts are renovated warehouses or old | | | | district setting of loft apartments, urban noise will |
| commercial buildings, the walls are often exposed | | | | come into play. Sirens, partygoers or just normal |
| brick with floor to ceiling windows overlooking a | | | | conversations below your windows could become |
| busy neighborhood. Shops and coffee houses are | | | | irritating. For people who are at all noise sensitive, |
| usually nearby, as is a variety of night club | | | | the constant hum of the busy streets may be |
| options. Developers who choose to build new lofts | | | | too much after a while. Or this white noise may |
| do so in an upscale part of town, with a chic | | | | easily become part of the backdrop associated |
| design that is perfect for the fashion-conscious | | | | with this living choice, and something that is tuned |
| owners. | | | | out in short order. |
| Depending on the city, there can be two types of | | | | 2. City lights - including neon signs and bright |
| lofts: Hard Loft - conversion of existing | | | | streetlights - could come with loft living. If you |
| commercial buildings that maintain much of the | | | | prefer to have your space feature soft muted |
| original design and integrity of the structure; Soft | | | | lighting, investing in room-darkening blinds will |
| Loft - newly constructed buildings designed with | | | | probably do the trick. |
| original loft components in mind: open concept, | | | | 3. Lofts in converted buildings sometimes come |
| high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. The | | | | with stairs, not elevators, to get you and your |
| newly built lofts are usually smaller, with the entire | | | | belongings up to your home. This includes taking |
| project having a boutique hotel-style appearance. | | | | your pets out for their daily walks or nature calls. |
| Either way, lofts offer a feeling of spaciousness | | | | While this is good exercise, it may not be a |
| and freedom from the constrictions of a set wall | | | | convenient way of living for some. |