There is a lot that goes into living in the city, but possibly one of the most commons things people think about when they consider urban life is the industrial loft. Lofts are typically repurposed industrial buildings, which means that they have an inherent factory feel. By playing into the modern feel and adding some cozy touches, you can bring the dream of city living to reality. However, such a wide open space can be challenging to decorate. Here are a few tips on how to manage.

Image via: William Draper Cabinetmaker

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Bedding

It’s fairly rare to find a full headboard in an industrial loft. Most designers choose to let the mattress stand alone on the box spring, which is often lower than what you would find in more traditional bedrooms. One option is to let natural materials contrast with the industrious feel, and pick out a visible wooden platform. You could also opt for a more streamlined approach and use your bedding to cover the platform-less box spring. If you still want some semblance of a headboard, why not paint one? HGTV suggests using an accent wall behind the bed to add a jolt of energy to the space. Or you could install shelves above the bed to create a visual headboard – just be sure to install them high enough that you won’t bump your head!

Image via: Jamestown

Floors

The flooring in an industrial loft can be chilly. After all, it’s unlikely that the building was originally designed for residents. Similarly, unless a wall-to-wall carpet was installed prior to your moving in, the floors are likely bare. Since it’s such a large space, try using a collection of area rugs in various plush textures. This allows the edgy raw flooring to peek through while separating and warming each section of the loft. For a fun and casual look, go for different styles of carpet in fresh patterns and arrange them so they appear less-than-perfectly arranged.

Color scheme

The color scheme is what will truly define the tone of your loft. If you choose white, it will open the space up and make it airy, but will risk making it look too large. If you paint gray, you run the chance of it looking too industrial. The important thing in a space like this is to make sure you’re giving yourself enough room to vary either the textures, the colors or both. For a really cozy look, let hardwood floors be mainly exposed, keep the walls white and allow the furniture, carpeting and artwork to fill up the visual space.

Image via: Peter Molick

Accessories

In a loft, you will likely face some problems with shades. The windows are rarely sized to fit factory made curtains, so your best bet is to opt for custom window treatments. Luckily, discount blinds and shades are available so you can get all the class of a perfectly fitted curtain or shade without the giant price tag. To keep the space from looking spooky, make sure to let in as much natural light as possible, and have a solid system for when the sun goes down. In other words, make sure lamps and light switches are easily accessed, so you’re not stumbling around the huge floor plan in the dark. To separate areas, especially around your bed, consider suspending drapes from the ceiling. Since the walls are probably tall, you don’t have to have floor to ceiling drapes. Simply hang regular sized ones so that the bottoms brush the floor, but the space above is left open.

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Living in an apartment can be quite challenging. One of the challenges that you can encounter is the availability of space, especially in your outdoor patio area. While there are apartments that offer wide floor area but the majority of the units are just enough for basic furnishings. But this will never prevent you from having a well-designed apartment.

Let’s start from your apartment’s patio. Well, you can’t expect this area to be spacious. But this can still be a functional and relaxing patio that you wanted. You just have to maximize the space and learn from the experts.

Image via: Deco Dice

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If you want to know how to decorate your tiny apartment patio, here are some helpful ideas:

Maximize every corner

Using every corner of your patio will definitely help. For instance, choose any L-shape bench that will cover 2 sides of the patio. You can have them customized with your favorite furniture shop for proper fitting. As for your table, prefer smaller ones that can accommodate your coffee or any drinks. Don’t forget to place rugs at the bottom to add accent on the floor area.

Image via: Pinterest

Think outside of the box

This idea simply means you go out of the ordinary. You can actually save space when you forgo traditional table. Try a small side table that can be used as a chair when needed. It’s small but terrible, indeed! Also try the relaxing lounge chairs instead of the traditional patio chairs you know.

Image via: House and Home

Make use of the balcony ledge

You can free up some space if you make use of your balcony ledge. The patio ledge can be utilized as your plants’ rack rather than using the floor area. This should give you a decent amount of space. The empty space vacated by the flower pots can be used for a comfortable bench.

These are just some of the best ideas on how to decorate your tiny apartment patio. Feel free to implement any of these ideas to enhance your small patio space.

For more outdoor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Homemade lamps have never failed to impress people from all generations. Well, the value of lighting at home doesn’t only concern with the intensity of light but also the brilliance it adds into your home.  With impressive lighting, your home will have an amazing touch of radiance especially in the dark.

Homemade lighting fixtures evolve each year. It continues to electrify the structural design and theme to enhance the looks of your home. Just like the Up-cycled lighting system that is introduced recently in the market.

They offer several homemade designs that are so amazing and awe-inspiring. Here are some of the Up-cycled lighting systems that will capture your attention. Thanks Cavender Diary blog for the great ideas!

Hanging Wine Bottles in Wine Cellar

This is extremely classic and classy. It’s not your usual chandelier lighting fixtures but rather a new approach of having a hanging lighting system. The wine bottles provide the unique characteristics of lighting.  Also, the shape of the bottle is superbly timeless and very sophisticated.

All images: The Cavender Diary

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Double Pipe Wall Sconce

The design of this lighting fixture will bring you back in time but with a twist of a contemporary touch. It is built primarily on a water pipe metal that makes it looks solid and stable. This design is perfect for your garage or any type of room that has a natural theme.

Modern Chandelier from Pipes

This is another pipe lighting design fixture that shines above the rest. It may be built with pipes but you will never notice it because of its elegance and style. Another great feature of this chandelier is that it is arranged beautifully to have a modern look. This design is great for living room or areas at home where you have a wider space.

These are just some of the best Up-cycled lighting that will provide you with an excellent alternative for home lighting fixtures.

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

See The Cavender Diary’s guest post on Stagetecture – DIY Spice Rack

If you ask someone to describe a cabin, they will probably say three things; small, woody, and rural. There’s nothing wrong about these descriptions. In fact, there are a number of people who love to own a cabin because of these features. But the thing is that there are also people who want to bring an urban setting to the countryside.

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All images via Trendland

There are quite a number of cabin owners who manage to explore their creativity and show off a twist on how cabins are commonly built. You can’t help but appreciate how beautiful an urban cabin looks like. To help you create an urban cabin, here are some helpful ideas from Trendland:

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Upgrade your furniture

One distinctive feature of urban living is the type of furniture available. Urban homes usually have innovative and sophisticated furniture. The unique display of furniture will give the impression of urban design structure. It would be better to choose furniture made up of metal, aluminum, steel, plastic and other materials that are commonly found in the city center.

Hand on modern-type wall decors

You may also include modern designed frames, vases, and wall decors such as clocks or posters. These will provide the desired urban backdrop for your cabin. Painting can also do the trick. However, make sure that it is colorful and lively. Choose paintings that depict modern style artworks and not those scenic views found in the rural areas like mountains, trees, flowers and crops.

Consider repainting

This option is simple yet effective. Typically, a cabin exterior is made up of wood or painted with natural colors. But with a few hours of painting, you can transform your cabin into a whole new space. Select vibrant colors like yellow, green, maroon, pink and blue. Feel free to mix and match different colors to create a stylish modern effect. This will create an urban appeal in your comfy log cabin.

Gear up and equip yourself with the right tools and materials. Initiate change and show off a new standard for cabin’s structural designs and interiors stylish ideas that can be a break away from the norm.

For more architectural ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Just because you love painting your walls, sifting through piles of tiles, and adding accessories to a living room doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to tackle the lofty tasks associated with a career in community planning. And yet, a person who has acute organizational skills, attention to detail, an ability to see the bigger picture of a layout, and a marked sense of both form and function, urban planning could provide an excellent outlet for both the creative and technical skills you embody. Of course, there’s a lot more to it than simply selecting the color of brick for a building or deciding which plants would make for the most beautiful playground. The field of urban planning could require a lot more general knowledge than the average amateur decorator possesses.

Image via

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Consider the challenges and rewards

For starters, the urban planning industry is extremely challenging. It’s not like you’re starting with a blank slate and planning the layout of an entire city. For the most part that has already been done, and the truth is that even a city that had a basic framework to begin with is bound to grow and develop in unanticipated ways. So as an urban planner approaching a project you will have to deal with a lot of pre-existing structures (not to mention infrastructure). This is design at a whole different level and not everyone is cut out for the vast amount of web-weaving and untangling required.

On the other hand, such a career can provide you with incredible opportunities for continued learning, constant challenge, and corresponding personal growth. For example, you will need knowledge of all levels of urban design in order to ensure that any changes or additions you make to a cityscape will work with what is already there (and potentially even what is to come). You must first and foremost be aware of the tenets, goals, and challenges of urban design. But you also need to understand how the urban landscape operates, with buildings, transportation, electrical and water grids, and even people all overlapping and functioning as a seamless unit. And then there are restrictions based on economic, political, and environmental factors. In short, you must be a jack of all trades to some extent if you want to become a professional urban planner.

Image via

Of course, your real objective is to create a space that is needed in a community, do so in a way that is advantageous for all, and ensure that the goals of all parties are met in the end. This means that in most cases you will be something of a glorified mediator, so you can add an emphasis in communications to your checklist of skills to hone. And don’t forget the importance of mathematics; at the root of this profession is a propensity for spatial awareness and a certain ability to “Tetris” the urban landscape in order to complete your projects. Whew! That’s a lot to take in. But with a strong desire to leave your mark on the public spaces that we all enjoy, and an urban planning degree under your belt, you can take your desire to design to the next level and have a fulfilling career that is truly worthy of your unique talents.

For more career ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Even if you don’t have a bit of earth to call your own, you can still enjoy gardening’s many pleasures. A single large container planted with herbs and vegetables on a sunny patio or balcony is all that’s needed to enjoy a delicious harvest. With the right amount of sunlight, the proper soil and little care, you can easily grow all the ingredients needed for dinner with friends and family.

Landscape Design

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Choose a Location

Start by choosing the best location for your mini-garden. For optimum growth, most herbs and vegetables require six hours of full sunlight. If you can’t find a location with that much sun, stick to cool-season vegetables like lettuce that can tolerate shade.

The Right Container

Choose a container that’s around 24 inches wide and 18 inches deep. Glazed pots, plastic containers or wooden tubs are good choices for containers as they help retain moisture. Make sure that the containers have a hole in the bottom for proper drainage. You can find great containers for around $30 to $50.

Traditional outdoor planters design by cleanairgardening.com

The Proper Soil

Purchasing quality potting soil with a time-released fertilizer built right in makes container gardening easy. Potting soil mixes contain ingredients that help retain water as well as organic amendments like compost that are rich in nutrients. Bags of potting soil cost around $15 each.

Choose Starter Plants

Vegetables can be started from seed, but the easiest way to grow a vegetable garden on your patio or deck is by purchasing 3-inch starter plants in the spring. Many starter plants are available in triple packs for around $10. The plants listed below will grow well together. Plant one or two of each in a wide, 18-inch-deep container.

Eggplants- Eggplant foliage is as attractive as the fruit it produces. The variety “Black Beauty” is a gardener’s favorite.

Tomatoes- You’ll need a few garden stakes to keep tomato plants tidy. The variety “Bush Celebrity” is compact and produces most of its crop in a short period.

Peppers- The type of pepper you choose will determine its heat. The variety “Anaheim” has a mild yet spicy taste. “Ariane” is a good choice for a sweet, orange pepper.

Basil- The variety “Purple Ruffles” has a mild taste with a touch of pepper. You can begin harvesting basil as soon as the plant produces about six pairs of leaves. After that, the plant will begin to flower and will lose some of its flavor. Pinch back the plant frequently to extend the harvest.

Watering

Container soil dries out quickly. It’s important to keep the soil moist but never soggy. You can test for moisture by inserting your finger an inch into the soil.

There’s nothing quite like vegetables straight off the vine. For the best taste, serve and enjoy the vegetables soon after you pick them. When the season is done, you can pull out the plant, roots and all, add fresh soil and plant a round of cool-season veggies for a fall harvest.

Melanie Levy can help you find your next apartment in Houston, TX. She is part of a team of licensed real estate professionals born and raised in Houston with over 30 years of experience in apartment locating.

For more outdoor living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

When I was visiting New York last week for New York Fashion Week, the ability to move around the city quickly and efficiently has always been a challenge. Many natives and tourists take to the underground subway system daily to avoid hopping in a cab…. or dreadfully – driving!

Image via: Trendland

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Today I ran across this article in Trendland about a concept to make a unused trolley terminal into a incredible green space. It’s an ingenious concept that will enable commuters to enjoy a ‘central park aesthetic’ below ground. Here’s more about this project:

‘Inspired by the amazing success of Chelsea’s High line, architect James Ramsey and Dan Barasch introduced the Delancey Underground project, aiming to convert an unused trolley terminal beneath Delancey Street (just under the Essex Street Market) into an extraordinary subterranean public park– nicknamed the “LowLine.” Local businesses, residents, community leaders, and political stakeholders alike have voiced considerable enthusiasm for the idea. They are now focused on increasing this broad public support, and are preparing in earnest to make this vision a reality.’

“…it also represents cutting edge design and a new generation of green technology. It is at the heart of a broader global discussion about the potential of remnant urban infrastructure, and the need for cities to re-invent the meaning of space– above and below ground.”… Trendland

What an exciting project, I can’t wait to see it come to fruition. It’s always nice to see out of the box thinking, especially in high density urban areas. There is no excuse not to bring a touch of green into every piece of the world… especially underground!

For more green living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

In two days I will be traveling to New York City for Brizo’s Fashion Design Event. For the last few weeks I have been salivating over Selling New York on HGTV and thought about how it would be to live in an urban loft. While it isn’t for everyone, the industrial finishes, exposed brick and masonry, expansive windows and views… I could definitely get use to it!

Here are some urban lofts that caught my eye, let me know which ones are your favorites!

Urban chic loft

This kitchen set amongst the expansive glass and exposed steel beams is a beautiful idea. Love how the green paint of the wall and the steel structure set the scene for the dark accents in this space.

Image via: French by Design

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Exposed finishes make urban loft living unique

Years ago, in urban living interiors the exposed finishes was looked down upon. Today, the more exposed finishes the better! From brick and masonry, to concrete floors, and exposed mechanical ductwork above. The industrial feel of urban lofts combined with the soft textiles and furnishings is what makes urban loft living unique.

Image via: House and Home

White loft idea

While many urban lofts have dark influences, white lofts with plenty of natural light is a wonderful twist on urban lofts. This white loft could be a home or a business, but I love how the floors, walls, and furnishings welcome in the sunlight from the skylights. The two story atrium space is another amenity that urban loft dwellers love!

Image via: Pinterest

Urban loft love!

For those of you who don’t want your ordinary loft space, this one offers a swanky aesthetic.The bookshelves, exposed ductwork, unique lighting, and what looks to be custom furnishings are too cool! I could see great parties being held in this wonderful space.

Image via: Loft Designs

Urban loft living may or may not match your lifestyle, but you have to admit, it sure is sophisticated!

For more urban loft ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

]]> https://stagetecture.com/the-sophistication-of-an-urban-loft-lifestyle/feed/ 1 22951 https://stagetecture.com/guest-blogger-green-architecture-under-water-skyscraper-concept/ https://stagetecture.com/guest-blogger-green-architecture-under-water-skyscraper-concept/#comments Fri, 29 Jul 2011 09:21:45 +0000 https://stagetecture.com/?p=16783 Guest Blog #133, Entry #602, July 29, 2011

Architecture has always been an intriguing part of my life, as it has led me to where I am today. I remember in Architecture school – Tuskegee University where I studied, my classmates and I would love to makeup concept ideas for future buildings in space, water, etc..

Today’s Guest Blogger gives you a look at a green concept architecture building that is a skyscraper under water! I absolutely loved the idea, and had to share it with you. Enjoy!

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As ocean levels increase around the world, there are creative people who are now thinking about building skyscrapers for the ocean, instead of the land. The idea is to make these building suitable and durable enough for life under the water. This is the thinking behind water-scraper, a revolutionary, fully-sufficient underwater city.

There was a particular emphasis given to this design in the eVolo Skyscraper Competition, as the concept builds on the idea of a floating island. However, this takes it to another level, as it has become a real underwater skyscraper. Besides that, the design also allows for the consumption and retention of green energy and is able to grow food.

The designer, Sarly Adre Bin Sarkum’s Water-Scraper brings together a number of different green technologies to create the self-sufficient floating city. The way in which it creates its own electric is by using environmentally friendly energy sources of wind, wave and solar. It is able to create its own food stores through farming, aquaculture and hydroponic techniques.

Image courtesy of Popsci

The exterior of the underwater skyscraper is able to sustain a little forest, and the lower level of the building contains the spaces for people to operate in. The structure of the skyscraper is also unique and futuristic as it contains tentacles just like a squid, which can generate kinetic energy.

This project has been envisioned by architects who see the way the world is going, and see a near future when our natural resources of land will be scarcer. As such, they see that we will need to create our own living surfaces and that the ocean makes the prefect solution as it covers over seventy percent of the earths surface.

Should climate change bring drastic changes on land, and submerge much more of the cites around the world, we may need to populate the oceans in order to survive. This might seem like a bleak future, but at least there are people who are able to create positive ways of preserving life, should this occur.

Image courtesy of 360th

The idea of an underwater skyscraper is just one of the possibilities that are being imagined by forward thinking people. These initiatives, along with eco-friendly solutions will let the human race evolve and flourish in an ever changing world. There are technologies that allow incredible innovation which could help to preserve life, should extreme climate change become even more severe.  Of course, there is no need to sell your house just yet.

Pat Lindle is a conservationist who believes heavily in the benefits of applying green energy technologies to business.  He is constantly looking for new green energy ideas to bring to his metal deck / steel decking company.

For more architecture ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

There is something so chic about living in a loft! Whether it is an urban loft looking over the busy city below, or one that is high atop a building looking over majestic views.  Lofts are typically open space floor plans with exposed materials and structure.  In more recent years, interior decor has taken industrial materials like concrete, metals, hardwoods and exposed brick to evoke a feel of modern urbanism into loft decor.

What I love about lofts is that they are perfect for smaller families that don’t need a lot of room, but who need to be close to resources in their city.  What used to be called a ‘Studio’ apartment is now the modern ‘Loft’.  Take a look at these loft inspiration images.  Which one would you love to stay in?

I like how the color orange is used in this loft subtly but enough to make it known.

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Exposed concrete, wood floors, and exposed metal heating/air conditioning duct work makes this the perfect industrial feel loft.

This loft uses a good mix of soft textiles to soften the hard industrial edge finishes.  The white plush area rug and vertical orange wall hanging are perfect against the hard concrete.

Can’t forget about a gorgeous loft kitchen.

For more Stagetecture decor ideas for your home, click here.