Why Own a Loft?

From Montreal to Minneapolis, lofts are a thesmall tea-light candle within them. The candle
hottest thing in city housing right now. Whatwarmed up the stone, which could then be placed
makes them so great? Well, for starters, notat ones feet under a desk, or on a low shelf near
everyone thinks there great. There are definitelya chair. I think this is a classy way to add extra
pros and cons to loft living, and you should bewarmth where you need it. Also, as I mentioned,
aware of this to decide what type of home ishaving area rugs keeps your feet from getting
right for you.cold in a home that typically has wood or cement
One of the things people love about lofts is theflooring.
open space. The large windows offer amazingOne more way to keep the cold from bother you
views and soul-fulfilling natural light. You couldis to look for a loft with a mezzanine, a sort of
never get claustrophobic in a loft, as the ceilingsloft within a loft. Usually, a mezzanine is a way of
are high and the space is open. You can work inhaving a private bedroom in a loft, offering a
one part of the house and not feel cut off fromsecond floor to your open space. Because it is
any of the other areas.higher up and therefore closer to the ceiling, heat
Also, they have an artsy feel to them. The wallswon't be lost as easily as it will on the lower floor.
can easily fit huge paintings. The large space begsIf you live in a really cold city, perhaps your
you have an art studio in one corner, or maybe amezzanine could be your living room and bedroom
small dance floor. They are great for parties asin the winter months. Convenient, maybe not, but
none of that cliquing away in another room canthere's lots of reasons a loft is worth it, if you
happen. You can see and enjoy all your guests atvalue them.
once, and the music in one corner reaches theOne loft resident says he still feels great after a
entire party.whole day spent inside, because he's got the high
However that open space can have itsceiling and floor to ceiling windows to help get that
drawbacks, especially if you like privacy. Whileoutside feel. Another bonus is the passive solar
room dividers create affective visual privacy,heating created by the large windows. Look for a
sound can travel easily in such open spaces. Ifloft facing south to maximize this. Warning, you'll
you have children, or often have house guests,need blinds for the summer months, but in winter
you might want to look for a loft with a separatethe sun's warmth will be lovely. And all the sun's
bedroom. Some people have chosen to hanglight means you're turning electric lights on less.
things from their ceilings to create baffling, a wayThat could well make up for any extra heating
to disperse sound and prevent it from echoingcosts.
across the house. Rugs on the floors have aAlso, consider this: getting a projector and
similar sound-calming affect, and can also help towatching your favorite movies on the ultimate big
add warmth, which brings me to another downfallscreen, your huge white wall.
of the loft concept.The opportunities for doing custom interior
In colder climates, the open space can be a bitdecorating abound in a loft, because they are
hard to keep warm. Because heat rises and theusually sold with very little finishing detail. So you
ceilings are so high, this can be a challenge forhave the chance to finish the place just how you
loft-dwellers. space heaters help, directing heatwant it, or leaving it raw to appreciate the true
exactly where you want it, instead of baseboardlofty-ness about it. Either way, if loft living is
heaters where the heat just goes up the wall. Isomething you think you'd enjoy, there are a lot
recently saw an innovative and arty way to keepto choose from in any city in the world.
warm if the form of stone sculptures that fit a