Loft Living in New York City

• LazerLordz

  27 Jun 05, 18:21

  Ah..the loft.I'm going to share this property dream of mine with you guys..
  
  The Loft (103)
  FineLiving.Com
  Join us as we examine and celebrate the loft. Once industrial spaces with limited appeal, the popularity, availability, and costs associated with these live/work areas have increased since their early appropriation by artists in the 1950s and 1960s.
  
  Loft Facts:
  
  * A loft is a live/work space with high ceilings, natural light and an open floor plan.
  * Andy Warhol's first "factory" was in an old hat factory in SoHo (the area south of Houston Street in New York City).
  * The most expensive zip code in New York City is in TriBeCa, one of the city's original loft districts.
  * New York's SoHo loft district was born thanks to a failed highway project that caused manufacturers to abandon the area, but attracted artists with its cheap industrial space for rent.
  * The high ceilings, wood or concrete floors and wide-open space of lofts makes them attractive, however, they also make it louder than the average home.
  
  Financing a Loft:
  
  * Because they are now in the mainstream and include kitchens and bathrooms, the price per square foot advantage of lofts has all but disappeared.
  * To many banks, a loft is either an industrial space unsuitable for living or a commercial property that should command higher rates.
  * If you're looking to buy a loft, make sure you work with a lender or mortgage broker who understands that just because a space doesn't have a defined bedroom, living room and dining room doesn't mean it is not a home.
  
  Reducing Loft Noise:
  
  * Use area rugs and wall coverings.
  * Consider separating your sleeping area from the rest of the space with a screen or sliding door.
  
  Loft Conversion:
  
  * When estimating the cost of converting raw space, count on spending between $25 and $125 per square foot.
  * Keep in mind that a loft conversion is unique, some contractors are more qualified than others, and some problems don't come up until you actually start working.
  
  What to Expect From an Architect:
  
  * An architect will charge you from 8-15% of your total construction budget, or between $50 and $150 per hour.
  * You'll get a series of rough sketches (which you should be able to revise at no additional charge), blueprints, and close supervision of all phases of construction.
  
  Resources:
  
  The International Book of Lofts
  by Suzanne Slesin, Stafford Cliff, Daniel Rozensztroch
  
  Loft Style: Styling Your City-Center Home
  by Dominic Bradbury
  
  Lofts: Living and Working Spaces
  by Fransisco Asensio Cerver
  
  Loft Living
  by Peggy Vance
  
  The New City Home: Smart Design for Metro Living
  by Leslie Plummer Clagett
• LazerLordz

  27 Jun 05, 18:27

  
  
  
  
  These are more minimal in design.
  
  I would love a loft with wooden flooring, brick walls, light colours to contrast the clay of the walls, lots of lighting, and open verandah to watch city life go by, and of course, looking rustic yet modern.
  
  A few Macs sprinkled around the place would be nice..
• Rhonda

  27 Jun 05, 18:41

  Hey, I've always thought it was kewl to live in a loft because of the large space you get!
  
  When I was in NYC, I passed by a neighbourhood with loft apartments and at night, when they lighted up their homes, you could see inside. It was amazing!! Soooo much space!!
• Rhonda

  27 Jun 05, 19:50

  Hey, there's this nice Bed & Breakfast loft apartments hotel in Manhattan, NY! Look at some of the photos from this site! http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/ppf/photo/618807-00/ListingPhoto.aspx
  
  
  
  
  
  Look at all that space!! I think the drawback is that you can't separate the rooms as there's no clear delineation.
  
  Hmm... not bad for families when the mom and dad need to do stuff in their corner of the house but they can still keep an eye on junior(s)!
• The man who was death

  27 Jun 05, 20:09

  U should try trailer living, u can move around and build a small town anywhere with other trailer living ppl!
• AngelMissy

  3 Jul 05, 12:18

  it's really nice to hv a space like this n designing it to be the perfect home.. i love high ceiling... no floor plan area so that i can design it to my liking... seen many series over the TV on how they redecorate lofts... simply wonderful.
• Gackt247

  3 Jul 05, 13:10

  My dream bachelor pad..
  Duno when will i be able to afford it..
  
• Lance_han

  3 Jul 05, 20:26

  Originally posted by Gackt247:

  My dream bachelor pad..
  Duno when will i be able to afford it..
  

  eh...start saving..???
• Pion

  3 Jul 05, 20:31

  hehe..nice play to set up laser strike playground..or convert to indoor go-kart arena
• LazerLordz

  3 Jul 05, 20:34

  Movable dry walls with woven overhangs and heavy wooden shelves to build up this oriental look.And they can serve as privacy screens too.
• Gackt247

  3 Jul 05, 21:19

  Originally posted by Lance_han:

  eh...start saving..???

  Go calculate the cost for such a big land area for a land-scarce SG.. *dreamz on*
  
• LazerLordz

  3 Jul 05, 21:21

  Originally posted by Gackt247:

  Go calculate the cost for such a big land area for a land-scarce SG.. *dreamz on*
  

  You can't live like this here unless you and your spouse bring home at least 15k in monthly income, and not to forget kids?
• Gackt247

  3 Jul 05, 21:27

  Originally posted by LazerLordz:

  You can't live like this here unless you and your spouse bring home at least 15k in monthly income, and not to forget kids?

  Argh!! Ok.. I'll tink thru when i'm in camp.. how to make money fast. Take care guys.. me go book in le.
• Pion

  4 Jul 05, 20:23

  I think I should resort to selling my body........
• Lance_han

  4 Jul 05, 22:27

  Originally posted by Pion:

  I think I should resort to selling my body........

  for a house like tis???
  
  eh...always rmb..home is where the heart is