Dear Debbie:We have just moved into a new loft space. We love the design, but somehow the white walls and wood floors feel cold. Could you give us some ideas that would make it feel more like home to us? Thanks, we always follow your advice.
Bonita and Andre
I assume your loft has never been lived in, so has no stories to tell. New buildings will feel cool and strange at first for the very reason that no one has put their personal stamp on it. But the advantage is that it is yours to personalize.
Don’t rush into any major decisions; a few pieces of art on the walls and some area rugs will get you started. I would then find a focal wall, a wall that catches your eye when you walk in the door, and have some fun.
There are so many ways to produce stunning effects on walls, from paint and plaster finishes to the latest in wallpaper designs.
Now you can also design your own wallpaper to create a scene such as the one shown here, custom-made by Ink Shuffle, inkshuffle.com. Those bikes leaning against a stone wall are an illusion, a picture that completely transforms the upper hall. The original photograph has been enlarged and printed in strips that are hung just like other self-adhesive papers. Each roll is marked and numbered. Ink Shufflle offers hundreds of designs for their Easy-Off wallpaper on their site or you can send them a high resolution photo of your own. They make the process simple and fun, and include a step-by-step video on the site demonstrating how to put up your design.
A wall mural makes a stunning impression in any room. It tricks the eye and takes you wherever you want to go. The image can bring the outdoors into a family room or produce a Paris skyline to dream about in the bedroom. And there are lots of modern patterns to make the coolest kids’ room ever.
Dear Debbie: The loft we have purchased is a renovation of an old factory. The space has been divided up into small condos with very high ceilings. We were drawn to the history of the building and its convenient downtown location, but now we’re here, it feels like living in a bright, white elevator shaft.
Barb and Jim
The challenge is how to break up all that vertical space, and bring your rooms down to a more human scale. Why not build a series of high shelves that run across one or two walls. You will require a library ladder built on a rail to slide along and give you access.
This will break up the height as well as give you an interesting storage and display area. There are visual tricks you can play, such as decorating around the top of the walls with deep mouldings or wallpaper patterns. When you break up a wall, no matter the height, divide the space one-third/ two-thirds (not in half) to achieve proper balance.
Otherwise, you will feel like you are living in a box — not much better than an elevator shaft.
Debbie Travis’s House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email your questions to [email protected]. You can follow Debbie on Twitter at twitter.com/debbie_travis and visit Debbie’s new website, debbietravis.com.
