Lofts give “open concept” a whole new meaning, but there is a way to create a cozy, livable design in a wall-less space. Challenged to make this rectangular studio in Little Rock, Arkansas feel like home, Marty Mason and his crew started by dividing the space in two, to create separate living and sleeping spaces.
The design team created a floor plan that placed the “bedroom” on the side of the space closest to the closet and bathroom, while the “living room” sat opposite the kitchen and adjacent to the natural light from the exterior window. An open shelving unit and translucent drapery divided the two spaces, while still allowing natural light to travel through to reach the bedroom.
Unlike a home with separate bedrooms and living spaces, a loft with such fluid space must merge its elements together. The color palate of the living room needs to flow into the bedroom, and the furniture style in the bedroom can’t compete with the furniture in the kitchen.
To achieve a cohesive design, a palate of blues, lavenders, and taupes (with a trendy neon pop of orange!) was chosen to be used throughout the loft design. Shades of darker wood were used in the flooring and furniture selections as a way to balance the cooler colors of the design.
To maximize the small space, dual purpose furniture pieces were chosen. The bench at the end of the bed can be moved in to the living room for additional seating, the dining area can become a work area, and the kitchen island can also be used for storage.
While elements like shelving unit are obvious dividers, lighting plays an important role in the separation of the space. There is overhead lighting throughout the space, but floor and table lamps were chosen for the living room and bedroom, respectively. Adding different wattage bulbs to each space – dimmer for the bedroom and brighter for the living room – will evoke appropriate moods in each space, ultimately making it feel like a bigger space.
