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