A Midcentury Industrial Loft in Atlanta's Sweet Auburn Neighborhood

This loft update maintains the iconic industrial feel while offering softer, more personal touches and providing flexible live/work space.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Sweet Auburn Neighborhood

Built in 1946 by Ben Golden, this renovated downtown loft located in the historic "Sweet Auburn" neighborhood has a fresh new look that highlights the home's unique architecture and views of the Atlanta skyline.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Putting Up Walls

Playing up the height of the room, fresh white planks were installed atop the loft's original concrete walls to give the entire space a bright and breezy feel. It also made it easier to conceal any new wiring for light fixtures. A pair of minimalist sconces casts a dramatic, gorgeous light on the homeowner's artwork in the evenings.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Triple Duty Desk

No small feat, this sleek desk pulls triple duty as entry table, entertainment console AND work space. The proximity to the loft’s entry was key. The area gets great light so it’s ideal for working from home and thanks to three drawers, the table was the perfect drop zone for keys and mail. It was also large enough to anchor a large wall-mounted TV hung above it. That’s a win-win-win.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Noise Control

As with any modern building built primarily of steel, concrete and glass, the interior could generate a fairly massive echo, especially when the homeowner had guests over or her dogs decided to say "hello" to the postman. Beautiful wide plank cork floors were selected not only for their color and softness underfoot, but for the wonderful sound insulation they provided the homeowner (and neighbors!).

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Style Mix

Mixing a few unexpected and more traditional pieces in with the homeowner's more modern furnishings helped to give the loft a well-traveled and relaxed vibe.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

A Nod to the Industrial

During the loft's extensive remodel, the space's raw industrial feel was dialed down considerably out of necessity, so it was important to include more industrial looking light fixtures throughout the space to ensure architectural continuity.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Space to Work

The homeowner required a fairly large dining space that would function as a conference table when necessary. Additional seating is tucked away throughout the loft so an impromptu meeting is no-problem.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Flexible Gallery

The homeowner makes the most of fresh white backdrop by using it to display her extensive collection of art, photography and fleas market finds. Extra seating along the wall also serves as a place to display books or store frequently used items.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Functionality is Key

When it was time to rethink the loft's original kitchen, the primary focus was making it more functional and MUCH larger. With the plumbing luckily located in all the right places, the reno was relatively painless. Cabinetry in a washed gray topped with butcher block looks clean and inviting. A nice mix of metals feels right at home. A trio of over-scale pendants hovering above the elevated breakfast bar adds just the right amount of drama to the space.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Smart Applications

Simple materials can yield phenomenal results when paired well. There aren’t any super expensive finishes or materials at play here, but it still looks like a million bucks. Taking the subway tile all the way to the ceiling, light fixtures in an on-trend finish, as well as a spendy-looking undermount sink all go a long way toward giving this kitchen a high-end look.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Tread Lightly

The stairs to the loft’s second bedroom were painted in a durable porch paint, then a tightly woven carpet was tacked down to minimize scuffs (and noise!). The pretty blue weave is tough enough to withstand daily use but will be very easy to change out down the road, should the homeowner want to change up the look.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

On Top of the World

The upstairs sleeping space is arranged to showcase the building's beautiful bow ceiling truss. The area behind the truss was painted in a blue ombre to give the illusion of floating in the sky. While the original building housed a cabinet shop and architectural firm, current guests love feeling like they're on top of the world.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Cozy Cocoon

The downstairs bedroom was essentially a bare-bones cinderblock box with exposed rafters with ZERO cozy going on. Embracing the room's low ceiling and the lack of large windows the homeowner's designer created a cocoon-like oasis by painting it a lovely spruce green to complement the warm wood tones found throughout the space.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Room With a View

The lack of a view in the downstairs bedroom was the catalyst for this large-scale photography being hung in the space. The photo is a memento from the homeowner's recent trek to Iceland with good friends. It holds a special place in her heart and was the perfect image to wake up to every day.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Pre-Fab Spruce Up

The homeowner hoped to gain a more functional closet space that could eventually accommodate two people. Rather than go with standard louvered doors, they took it to the next level by customizing several pre-fab doors with a sophisticated plaid. It looks super-polished and helps to soften the space.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Lofty Limitations

Of course, there are certain limitations to renovating in a big city and/or shared building. Whether it's a condo, loft or town home, parking rules, load-in limitations and noise ordinances will present designers, contractors and delivery people with a few extra challenges during your remodel. It's smart to budget a little extra money and time with this in mind.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

A Midcentury Industrial Loft in Atlanta's Sweet Auburn Neighborhood

Related To:

Shop This Look

Sweet Auburn Neighborhood

Putting Up Walls

Triple Duty Desk

Noise Control

Style Mix

A Nod to the Industrial

Space to Work

Flexible Gallery

Functionality is Key

Smart Applications

Tread Lightly

On Top of the World

Cozy Cocoon

Room With a View

Pre-Fab Spruce Up

Lofty Limitations

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