The real brainchild of the industrial age - styleloft. This attic style, which non-residential premises turns into a completely tolerable home. Not only is it bearable, it's still fashionable now. Probably, the style of loft in the interior is just a squeak of fashion. True, in the Russian interior design this style is not yet presented in its pure form, but it is already actively used in the design of elite housing. In the West, loft-style apartments have become a familiar phenomenon for a long time, so it is quite predictable the rapid entry of this style into our mass housing. This is especially true for megacities and large industrial cities, since the loft is a purely urban product. What is hidden behind such an unusual concept for us? What is its peculiarity? Let's figure it out.
The appearance of the loft style
The meaning of the English word "loft" is an attic,room on the top floor, the upper floor itself. To designate this word a new interior style began recently, although the style itself originated in the first half of the twentieth century in New York, in the factory district of Manhattan. It was there, in the forties of the last century, the first to use the cheap premises of old industrial buildings for housing and offices. How did it happen? Everything is very simple. As a result of the rapid rise in the cost of land in the city center, industrialists were forced to relocate to its outskirts, and the vacated factory buildings began to be occupied by young and poor representatives of creative professions. It was very beneficial for artists and musicians to build spacious rooms with high ceilings and good lighting for living, not only because of the affordable price. It was still a convenient and profitable solution for the light of combining living and working space, an apartment and an art studio (studio). At the same time, such elements as untreated brick walls, beams, pipes and other signs of industrial designation of premises were left untouched, which did not interfere with the inhabitants of these premises and gave some originality to the interior. It was this originality that began to develop as a stylistic trend the famous architect and designer Andy Warhol, and behind him other interior design masters in America and Europe. In just a decade or so, the original loft-style dwelling was considered to be exceptionally elite and there were already few artists and musicians who could afford it. 
Loft style concept
Despite the fact that the new style is called"Loft", loft creates a new concept of the organization of the interior space. In the loft-interior there are practically no isolated rooms, all separate "rooms" are conditionally separated functional zones. At the heart of the concept of loft style lies exactly this special open plan. Partitions are practically absent (with the exception of the bathroom, toilet and utility rooms), and the zoning of the premises is carried out using the texture and color of the wall, ceiling and flooring materials. So, for example, the living room has brick walls, and the next bedroom is finished with plaster, in turn the ceiling beam or bar counter can indicate the border of the kitchen. In addition to this method of zoning in loft interiors, the separation of "rooms" by mobile partitions - screens and shelves, furniture - is also used.
Loft style features
Loft interior is, above all, a lot of airand light. Therefore, the key spatial and design characteristics of the loft style are emphasized precisely by the volume and "infinity" of the living space. The main features that shape the space of this style:
- openness (absence of bearing partitions);
- high ceilings (sometimes higher than ten meters);
- a large area (from hundreds to thousands of square meters);
- wide windows (sometimes the whole wall).
Design features loft style akincharacteristics of minimalism: a minimum of furniture and a minimum of decor with a maximum of open space. Unlike minimalism, which tends to a functional and convenient simplicity, the loft features simplicity elegant and even refined. This is facilitated not only by the minimal amount of furniture, but also by the emphasis on it. All interior space should be just a modest background for furniture in loft style. For example, a sofa in such a room (with its immense dimensions) can be just one. But at the same time he must attract attention to himself due to brightness or unusual shape. The windows behind which the urban landscape can be seen are certainly up to the floor. There are no curtains on them that prevent the penetration of light, and even light and transparent curtains and tulle. The windows in the loft-interior are only decorated with blinds (vertical or horizontal). The texture of the interior decoration in the style of the loft is a combination of ultramodern materials (glass and steel) with an under-modern, and, as it were, unfinished finish (bare brick, uneven plaster, rough boards and beams). Smooth painted or brick walls, plank floor and ceiling beams will give the right tone of the union of exquisite modern (or rarity) furniture with unpretentiousness and deliberate roughness of finish. Indeed, it is the comparison of the old and the new and the maximum sense of spaciousness - these are the main features of the loft interior. 
Furniture and accessories
Features of furniture in the interior in the loft styleare conditioned by the basic stylistic concept (minimalist sophistication). Therefore, furniture should emphasize the openness of the interior space and at the same time be the focus of attention. Surprisingly, the furniture of the loft-interior must simultaneously be noticeable and bright and, at the same time, as if dissolve in space. How do designers achieve such a contradictory effect? Firstly, the furniture of the loft-interior is never tied to the walls and thus does not emphasize the boundaries of the room. An exception in this case may be open shelves or racks near one of the walls. All the rest of the furniture - it's transformers and easily moving individual items. For example, chairs and a hanger on wheels, folding chairs and tables, long, bending in different directions, sofas. An indispensable element of fashion or antique furniture for this style is the metal elements of the design or finish (and even the material itself). These are chrome frames for shelves, metal legs for beds and sofas, cast-iron baths, metal hangers. At the same time, furniture for loft-apartments can combine materials that are incompatible at first glance - plastic and natural wood, stainless steel and fur, expensive exquisite fabrics and synthetics. The color of furniture is always bright and eye-catching, but only one. Forms - unusual and varied, from rigid cubic to curved and smooth forms of rococo. The unity of style is emphasized by the use of furniture with the same design elements. All this allows to make the interior in loft style unusual, stylistically seasoned and unique. The uniqueness of the loft-interior is also promoted by original accessories. There are no familiar wall panels, pictures in expensive or sentimental frames, family photo galleries. Accessories for the loft-interior are very peculiar. In their quality, what usually surrounds any resident of a large industrial city is used - advertising posters, road signs, graffiti or signage signs. Of course, you can use the usual elements of decor, but they should be as close to the overall urban concept and not to violate the stylistics of the premises. If these are pictures, then abstraction, if the photos, then black and white with urban or industrial landscapes, if the floor vases, then massive. Pictures, for example, can be located directly on the floor, remaining only leaning against the wall. Revitalize the interior in loft style and give it the appropriate atmosphere can also soft puffs, unusual trinkets and other accessories that will emphasize the profession or hobbies of the owner. 
Addressing the style of the loft
And now about the most important: for whom this new urban style fits, and to whom it is directly contraindicated. It is clear that you always want to follow fashion, including interior design. However, the loft style does not suit everyone. You can understand this by agreeing with some statements or, conversely, refuting them. So, the loft style is just perfect for those who:
- prefers the free planning of their housing;
- adheres to the tendencies of minimalism in interior design;
- welcomes in his house an abundance of light, air and free space;
- likes furniture and household appliances of clear and concise forms;
- adores order in the house and orderliness of living space;
- lives in a modern house or apartment with a very large area, high ceilings and huge windows.
Style loft categorical does not suit all those who:
- wants to have his own, separate room in which you can retire and have a rest;
- does not like excess free space in the house;
- prefers cozy and very "home" styles of the interior;
- likes to cook and spends a lot of time in the kitchen;
- wants to live in a multi-room apartment or house;
- adores interior decoration, prone to sentimentality;
- has a large family that lives in the same house.
Hence we can conclude that the loft-interior,which is distinguished by its spaciousness and the absence of secluded corners, is suitable mainly for people who are creative and not burdened with domestic chores. Why? Because the loft style features give an unlimited space for self-expression and creative experiments. Today this New York style is preferred by wealthy individualists, artists, artists, people of public professions, and recently many young couples. Perhaps because the loft is not only a special home, but rather a lifestyle.
