Tour an Atlanta Stylist's Light-Filled Loft

Giana Shorthouse is an interior designer, decorator and interior stylist based in Atlanta. Her neutral palette and use of natural materials are two design elements that define her unique style.

Considered an understated minimalist, Giana's kitchen reflects both her style and her way of living. The sleek gray cabinets offer just a slight contrast against the white walls, and the open shelving above offers plenty of display space for her favorite kitchen necessities and plants.

The open concept layout of Giana's historic Atlanta industrial loft allows for excellent flow and conversation between the kitchen, living room and work spaces. Focusing on shades of white and gray helps brighten the entire loft and keeps things classic and timeless.

Previously occupied by Sears, Roebuck and Co. from 1926–1987, Giana's loft is located in Atlanta's Ponce City Market, a mixed-use development with shops, offices, restaurants and homes. The factory windows of Giana's loft are original to the building's industrial and retail history.

With so much natural light flooding the loft through the factory windows, it's easy for Giana to keep her plants thriving. To utilize all of the square footage, the plants sit up on the window sill in a charming arrangement.

Situated just off the kitchen, Giana's home studio is tidy and efficient. The desk is steel and sits on casters for mobility and durability.

The living room area of the loft is the most structured space with tall 5-foot-tall shelves flanking concealed lower storage to hide clutter.

Giana's loft has a great mix of concealed and open storage solutions. To keep her favorite objects and plants on display, a shelving system in the living room simply attaches to the wall with two screws, offering up ample surface space with very easy installation.

With natural light at the top of Giana's interior design must-haves, creating a reflection to bounce natural sunlight around the space was important. A simple round mirror centered above the living room's storage system doubles as wall sculpture.

The focus of Giana's home design is a mix of natural and industrial materials. In her bathroom, you'll find solid painted wood doors, wire signage, a raw steel towel rack and wooden hangers which showcase this curated approach.

One of the smartest lighting tricks in Giana's loft is the transom window. Sitting high up on the bedroom wall which backs up to the great room, the transom allows most of the light from the factory windows to spill into her bedroom.

To add dimension to the bare white walls of Giana's bedroom, she simply added an inexpensive strip of 1-inch by 2-inch primed MDF, then painted both the MDF and the drywall below it the same shade of cream for a layered, tone-on-tone effect.

To achieve a less-is-more look, Giana makes an effort to let her spaces breathe. One of the easiest ways to do this is by leaving a good amount of negative space in a room, then placing low slung furniture against its bare walls. The simplicity also adds a tranquil and calming vibe.

Drawn to the history of the 2 million square feet of space at Ponce City Market, Giana appreciates the space for its original charm, plethora of outdoor gathering areas and city views.